School Bible Challenge

Teaching biblical principles from a young age is something that is very important in the HOM schools.  The children begin learning Bible verses and stories from their very first day and continue until their very last.  In first grade, the children begin learning about how to be a leader in the church, so they can someday grow up to be teachers and leaders in their future churches.  Starting last year, Nadege Gay (Prinicipal at Blanchard) noticed a lack of enthusiasm in this area from the students.  She understands the importance of this part of the children’s education, so she wanted to create some way to encourage the students to deepen their biblical knowledge.  The Bible challenge at Blanchard and Cite Soleil is a way for the children to be engaged in their studies and work towards achieving an award for their hard work.  The students are asked difficult questions about Bible verses and stories.  The students at both schools have been competing against each other for a school wide winner.  The school wide winners have been selected and will join for an overall winner soon.  This is the first year that the schools will compete against each other for a trophy.

Visit our Gallery to see more photos of this event.

America, Haiti Is Watching… And Praying For You

By Pastor Luc Aristhene
Senior Pastor, Blanchard Church

It is quite often we hear our American friends say that they are praying for us and our country, Haiti. It is so encouraging to know that they really are, as we have gone, and continue to go through, trials and challenges as a nation. Some have carried Haiti in their hearts in many ways, including hanging a sign or a piece of art, others have made significant financial contributions to help make a difference in the life of our people, and some go beyond financial giving to commit a week, a month, a year, or even more, in order to come and be physically involved in making the difference in our country.

Interestingly, more than the personal involvement of American friends and churches, is the general influence America has on the day-to-day happenings in Haiti and many other countries. The recent presidential election in America is an example. The world was tuned in, America! The Haitian media covered the long process of the election through Election Day with as much enthusiasm and interest as one of the rare good elections held to date in Haiti.  We can say with no exaggeration that America sets the tone for the world, whether we want to admit it or not. In our case, most of the current influential leaders of our country – religious or political – are people who were either educated in America or have simply lived and worked in the United States for a number of years.  No wonder our life style and culture are so American oriented!

It goes without saying that when good things happen to and in America, it is good for us and, when bad things are happening in America, the rest of the world is so guided.

Now with that being true, what a privilege it is for individual American Christians and churches to continue to find ways to reach out and influence the world for Jesus! What a responsibility for America to remain true and consistent to values and beliefs that once made America the contagious and influential nation she has become!

We are praying for you America! We are praying for the Witnesses of the TRUTH to be bolder and more determined than ever before in passing on the right influence to a world that is always ready to jump at the next trend, no matter how evil or disastrous it is.

May God bless America! May He re-commission the Christians and may His churches continue to influence the world.

Popular Canadian Musician Lends A Hand

Thanks to the support of Paul Brandt, Canadian Country Music artist, HOM has begun the construction of a recreation field on our Repatriote complex.

Paul has shared with us his meeting with Leon Dorleans, HOM Executive Director…

“Pastor Leon and I met while I was on location in Haiti filming a Television series called “Build It Forward” which identified local need in Canada in families at risk of homelessness. Families in the series were asked to help their neighbours in developing countries by building homes and working on infrastructure projects in those countries. In return, each of the Canadian families received a new home of their own.

I’ll never forget meeting Pastor Leon for the first time. His passion for loving people, God’s work, and building God’s Kingdom is palpable. He enthusiastically showed me a vision of a soccer field and play area that he had for a property we were visiting. Later that day, I had the opportunity to play soccer with young men who live in Cite Soleil, the worst slum in the Western Hemisphere. It was explained to me that these young men and boys were in opposing gangs, and would normally be fighting and killing each other, but that since the creation of a soccer program in the area, their energies were being positively focused into sports, and they were having the opportunity to hear about God’s love for them, and hope beyond their current circumstances. I hoped with Pastor Leon that we might one day see his vision come to life.

Today, in partnership with the Town of Slave Lake, Alberta, The Build It Forward Foundation is in the process of funding this vision at a church property in Repatriote, Haiti. 25% of funds raised in a Build It Forward relief fundraiser in response to the Slave Lake fire were graciously re-donated by the town of Slave Lake to Pastor Leon’s work in Haiti. Facilitated by The Build It Forward foundation, neighbours are helping neighbours, both locally and globally.

The soccer field and playground in Repatriote will be used as a refuge. It is a place for young people to play, constructively compete, and most importantly learn about the transforming power of the love of Jesus Christ, and the effect that He can have on their lives.

The Build It Forward Foundation exists to raise money and awareness to help people around the world in practical ways. The focus of the foundation is to raise funds and awareness of issues facing widows and orphans, the poorest of the poor, people who are often forgotten, and people in emergency need both in North America, and abroad. We encourage neighbours to help neighbours, and facilitate service opportunities and education about issues facing the majority of the world’s poor. These activities are done in the example of Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of loving our neigbours as ourselves. In our activities and projects, we look for opportunities to gently and respectfully share the message of God’s love through the good news of His son Jesus Christ.

We encourage you to partner with us in helping Pastor Leon and his work in Haiti. A special fund has been set up through The Build It Forward Foundation to enable you to give directly to Pastor Leon through a special agency agreement we have in place with Haiti Outreach Ministries and the cooperation of the Canadian Government. 100% of funds donated to The Build It Forward/HOM fund will flow through to HOM’s activities and be diligently accounted for.”

For more information about Paul Brandt, visit his website: www.paulbrandt.com

Pastor Leon Offers Seminar

Last fall, Pastor Leon delivered a seminar to around 130 young adult members of the Blanchard church. The members had requested this time with Leon to learn more about his younger life and how he reached the position where he is today. Leon spoke at length about his childhood, his dreams, the mistakes he has made, and most importantly how he used those mistakes to learn valuable lessons. He stressed the necessity of having a goal and a vision and being willing to work through the stressful times. Leon also challenged the students to not neglect education, stick to their plan, and above all never give up on attempting to follow God’s will in their lives.