RMI Leadership Summit

At the end of January, RMI hosted the first annual RMI Leadership Summit to strategize and plan for RMI's future activities and direction.  Those present were from the US: Dan Shoemaker, Kim Rose, Rob Thompson, Andrew Tlucek, Mariah Blanco, and Julie Fuller as our secretary; from Haiti, Benjamin Altema and Benson Joseph (via Zoom); from the Dominican Republic, Jim Starkey and representing the RMI Board, Board Chairman John Peterson.

RMI has met periodically with our field leadership as needed, but as we grow, we are implementing an annual leadership retreat for prayer and fellowship, discussing current situations, and strategizing for the future. Much is going on in the US and the Caribbean that is or could soon impact RMI, which could hinder some areas and help grow the ministry in others. As a result of these issues affecting our work in Haiti and the opportunities of our new work in the DR, we felt it was a good time to come together to discuss topics, focus, and opportunities for both countries and RMI in general.  It was refreshing to see one another in person and catch up throughout the time together.

We started with a good time of devotion, prayer, and worship. The Haitians have a saying that “Man proposes, but God disposes.” It was a good time to remind ourselves that the Lord controls the good, the bad, and the impossible.

From there, we jumped into discussions concerning Haiti and the challenges RMI faces there, especially with the capital still controlled by the gangs, with little hope for this to change any time soon. This has hurt the whole country in terms of out-of-control inflation, scarcity of goods, difficulty in travel, security issues, etc. The Haitian people continue to suffer in myriad ways, impacting our staff, Sister Churches, and ministry in every area of life.

We are so blessed that the law and order officials have kept the gangs out of southern Haiti. This has enabled us to be able to continue to accomplish the vast majority of our ministry in the area of our Hope For Kidz Child Sponsorship Program (2900+), Hot Lunch Program (15,000+ kids), construction projects, our solar design and installation program, and much more in the 200+ communities that we impact.

Our biggest concern about Haiti has been our inability to have teams come to minister to their Sister Churches. This lack of face-to-face contact going on for 5 years now has been a strain on the partnerships. However, due to the lack of progress on the security situation in the capital, we have had to cancel teams again until there is a significant change. We have also had to put off several growth projects for the ministry until we see real change. It has also resulted in the need to pause the opening of the Ezra Institute of Leadership Development until there is straightforward and easy travel to and around Haiti.

We see the Lord's purpose in RMI opening the Dominican Republic as a new field last year. There are opportunities for our current C3 partner churches and new churches. We are actively looking for church leadership, medical, and sports teams. Of course, there are teams to encourage Haitian and Dominican churches.

If your church is interested, please let us know. We will be glad to contact them and share more information. 

These were some of the conclusions we reached together, along with many others. We left feeling excited about the time together and the goals ahead of us. Pray for Haiti. Pray for the security of the country, the people, and the RMI staff. Pray for continued safety and openness for ministry in the south of Haiti. Pray for new teams and churches for the Dominican Republic ministry. It is wide open for ministry. Pray the Lord will encourage churches to get involved. This involves funds, so pray for RMI as we share the needs with churches and friends for God’s continued provision. 

More Than Education

In America, when you get sick, you go to the doctor.  When you cut your finger, you put on a band-aid.  Broken bones are put in a cast to heal correctly.   

What happens when there is no doctor, transportation, or way to pay for services?  The need for medical care is an ongoing issue, no matter where you live.  But in Haiti, trying to see a doctor is a challenge.  

Hope for Kidz offers assistance for medical issues, from ringworm to broken bones, hernia repairs, and eye exams. As part of our sponsorship program, our kids get a helping hand.   

We shared a story a few years ago about a young man who needed a prosthetic leg. The medical fund helped him get the leg and keep it updated as he grows. He has grown quite a bit and is still doing very well in school.

Three students saw the eye doctor during the school year, and two now have glasses to help them see better. This will improve their everyday lives.

RMI Co-Founder Has Passed Away

It is with great sadness that we inform you that Rev. Herb Shoemaker, RMI's co-founder, passed away on Thursday morning, Feb. 13, 2025. He, his wife Shirley, his son Dan, and his wife Debbie co-founded RMI (Reciprocal Ministries International) in 1988. He and his wife were married for 68 years and were in full-time ministry for 60+ years until their retirement in 2010. They have three sons, 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

He attended King's College, where he met his wife.  Shirley had served as a summer missionary in Haiti twice and had developed a significant burden for the Haitian people.  Herb proposed to Shirley, saying, "Don't you think that the Lord could use us both in Haiti?"  They were married in 1956.  Before going to Haiti as missionaries, he served as pastor of Second Cape May Baptist Church, Marmora, NJ, for a year.  

They joined the West Indies Mission, which became World Team, and arrived in Haiti in 1960.  After serving in a variety of capacities, Herb became the Director of the MEBSH (The Evangelical Baptist Mission of South Haiti or Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d'Haiti) Bible Institute and started the Theological Education by Extension Program for the Bible Institute.  They lived in Haiti until 1972 when they moved to the U.S. for their children to attend high school.  He became the area-campus representative for World Team (Chicago area), and in 1982, they moved to Miami, where Herb worked with World Team as Director of the Southeastern Caribbean.

In 1988, he co-founded RMI and served as president until 2005, when his son, Dan, became the president.  He continued to minister with RMI until 2010.

Herb was hospitalized in Naples, FL, near their home, on Saturday, February 8, 2025, with a severe infection.  Dan and his mom had a good, positive day with Herb on Wednesday, and the doctors were looking forward to releasing him into a rehabilitation facility the next day, Thursday.  However, his heart stopped Thursday morning, and they could not resuscitate him.

It was a shock for Shirley and the family since they thought he was on the mend.  Pray especially for Shirley.  Her eyesight is failing to the point that she can't read, and she relied heavily on Herb to take care of the day-to-day details of running the house.  He even read books out loud to her every evening.  He and Shirley were real soulmates.  They were a rare example of marital oneness.

Herb was a visionary; he was instrumental in establishing RMI's foundational program, the Sister Church Program (currently called the C3 Partnership Program). He left a legacy in Haiti; he trained many pastors all over southern Haiti.  He touched many lives everywhere he served in the US.  His spiritual legacy within his family extends four generations.  His steadfast love for the Lord was a great example to all those who knew him.  He was a faithful man of God and a man of prayer.

A memorial service will be held; time, date, and place will be announced.  In place of flowers, please donate to the Herb Shoemaker Haiti Memorial Fund, c/o Reciprocal Ministries International, 5475 Lee St., Suite 301, Lehigh Acres, FL  33971.