When you can’t
physically visit your Sister Church, how do you stay connected with them?
HaitiConnect is RMI’s answer to this and one of our newest initiatives.
To keep C3 Partnership relationships alive, we have developed HaitiConnect, a
program by which we connect our Sister Churches virtually, via the
internet. One way is by bringing church leaders to our Cayes office to
speak directly (via live translation) with their counterparts in the US via
Zoom. Another way is going to a Sister Church, setting up a portable
StarLink system, and enabling various groups from the Haitian Sister Church to
speak directly with the US church's leadership or a group in the church.
We anticipate connecting US Hope for Kidz child sponsors with their sponsored children
via a school program broadcast live. We want to connect various groups (women's
and men's groups and others) in the Haitian church to those groups of the US church.
This way, they can catch each other up with their latest news, events, and
prayer requests. Eventually, we hope to have some live interaction during church services.
Our hope is
that these virtual meetings will help invigorate the US C3 partners and that
they will realize that their Haitian C3 partners haven't forgotten them and
pray regularly for them. We also hope the Haitian C3 partners will realize they are not forgotten either.
So far, about a
dozen calls between church leaders have taken place. Each one of them was
very thankful to get the chance to connect with their C3 partner church.
Rob Thompson, RMI's Director of Ministry Development, reports:
"...[there
were] Warm greetings from both sides on all of these calls! It's
incredible to watch these reunions happening! Praise the Lord! God
continues to work through our partnerships.
We've heard the same thing on every call... The Gospel continues to
spread in Haiti and the US. We've heard a few common themes. First, every
partner in Haiti and the US has strongly communicated that they are 'thirsty, as they say in Haiti,' to be together again as soon as God
opens that door. Secondly, every Haitian Church is receiving so many people who
have been displaced from PAP. Schools are busting at the seams.
People have arrived with very few resources, so it is the church that is
doing all they can to care for the families and provide education to the
kids... many have arrived from PAP with only the clothes on their backs.
Schools are out of space. Homes have many extra people living in them.
Resources are spread very thin. The church and community are swollen with
people from PAP. The church is doing all it can do to serve those from PAP, but
it can't help everyone as its resources are limited. HFK sponsorships and the
HFK Hot Lunch Program are having an even bigger impact than ever. As these
resources are being provided, it allows the Haitian church to serve those who
have arrived from PAP.
It seems all of our partnership schools in Haiti have increased by probably 25%
or so. Probably even higher. That's just my guess on a number, but it
seems to match with what I'm hearing from all of these pastors."
HaitiConnect
has already shown positive results in the US and in Haiti. Both have been
encouraged and delighted to spend some time together. It has also shown
the new challenges that our churches are facing. Dealing with displaced
people is very difficult in a place where life is being stretched almost to the
breaking point. But they are doing their best. Pray for our C3
churches that they will find the resources they need and that they won't become
weary in their well-doing.
