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Ministry Stories :: French Ministry
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BTGMI Asks Prayers for Haitian Staff
January 14, 2010 | French Ministry
As the news continues to flash photos of the devastation in Haiti, urgent prayers are needed for the staff and students working with Back to God Ministries there. As of Thursday, January 14, we have had no word about the status of BTGMI national administrator, Sem Hypolite, nor his assistant, Marguelita Petion. (Haiti staff pictured left, Dec. 2009)
In addition, thirty-seven Haitian volunteers work with 900 students enrolled in the BTGMI Bible study by correspondence ministry. All of these brothers and sisters certainly have been affected by the earthquake, but we have no way of knowing at this point if they survived the devastation.
"This is tragic," said Rev. Paul Mpindi. "It is hard for me to bear the fact that many of our listeners are under the rubble; wounded or dead. But we trust our Lord who sometimes allows suffering in our lives. Our prayers are with our beloved brothers and sisters in Haiti."
BTGMI has broadcast in Haiti for more than 20 years, but until recently did not have the resources to do on the ground discipleship. In December 2008 a new collaborative ministry with Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM), working with indigenous partners in Haiti, made it possible to begin the Bible study discipleship program which has been so successful in Africa. Over the past year Lesley Millar Toussaint, CRWM/BTGMI staff member from North America, recruited staff and volunteers and launched the new ministry.
We received word from Lesley on Wednesday that she was alive, but had not been able to contact Sem or Marguelita. With the vast damage to the city's infrastructure, communications from Haiti have been minimal. CRWRC staff confirmed that the BTGMI/CRWM ministry office in Port-au-Prince was still standing, but we don't know if it is structurally sound.
"If we have lost the building, this will have great impact on our ability to continue ministry at a time when the Haitian people will need the hope of the Gospel now more than ever," commented Rev. Mpindi. "But even more, I am so concerned about the lives of our staff and volunteers."
As you pray for the people and situation in Haiti, please pray specifically for Sem, Marguelita and their families; for the 37 volunteers and 900 Bible study students. Pray first for a miracle of safety and relief. Pray also that God would bring to mind the Word they have studied, that God would bring them hope and comfort as these brother and sisters face an unknown future.
**For ongoing updates on the situation of ministry partners in Haiti, please see the Help Haiti website.