I wanted to share some stories from our school of Ministry. This school is a two year program for preparing Pastors and Leaders to lead their churches in a Life giving way. Students are taught and trained to lead like Jesus. They are taught how to be good shepherds of the flock they are entrusted with. They learn to serve the people in their communities and lead people to new life in Christ, instead the ways of religion and tradition which dominates most of the existing churches in Haiti.
The students are in class five days per week. They go back to their home villages on the weekend. While in their villages they each have someone they have chosen to mentor and share what they are learning with. Each student also has activations for the time that they are back at home in their villages. An example of some of the activations would be to pray for over those who are sick, to feed the poor or to lead someone to a new life in Jesus. This June we will be graduating our first two year class. We are very excited as we believe this school is pivotal to our ministry. As we plant new churches it is important that the pastors and leaders are all congruent in their teaching and ministering.
Deiodinase is in her second year of the Good Shepherd school of Ministry. She is forty years old. She has been married for four years and has a child who is two years old. She has been a Christian since two thousand and seven. Deiodinase was raised in a home that practiced voodoo and witchcraft. Deiodinase shared that the demons used her father and he worked for people as a witch doctor. When Dieodinase was young she shared that she used to dance vodoo and bring food to Satan, she helped her parents to serve the demons. She shared that satan killed him at a very young age. After her father died she said that these demons asked her to substitute her father and serve them. She refused them and said that she quickly yielded her life to Christ Jesus.
When asked how she felt about becoming a pastor or leader in Christian ministry she shared that since two thousand and thirteen she felt God was calling her to a higher level of ministry, but she wasn't interested until she became eighty percent blind. She told us that she could not see hardly anything and she was useless to her family. When she met Pastor Geffrard, the head of our School of Ministry, he taught and encouraged her. Then last year he encouraged her to attend the School of Ministry.
When Deiodinase was asked how her eyes are now she said last year she struggled to take notes and to write and study, but this year God has worked so powerfully in her eyes that she can see and do things on her own.
She shared that school has changed how she does ministry. In the past when she opened the bible to preach she used to speak about herself and her own problems but thanks to the Ministry School she has learned to speak about Jesus and him alone. She is also learning to rely on the Holy Spirit and God's power to do his job. She has realized that it is not with her own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit that she can do things for God. Deiodinase says the school motivates her to live a model life for her family and community. She shared that it is a great blessing from God, she feels that she can answer God's calling in her life.
When Deiodinase was asked, what is the difference between religion and tradition and the life giving church? She responded that there is a great difference, The traditional church is acting according to the philosophy of this world nevertheless the life giving church is driven by the Holy Spirit. It can bring sanctification, new life and so much more. When she was asked about her favorite message from Pastor Mike, she replied "The message that was talking about the lost son that came back to his family. It taught me so much and looked like my personal life. It encourages me. It is going so deep into my heart".
Acevoix is an assistant pastor. He attends first year in the School of Ministry. He is thirty seven years old. He has been married for six years. He has one child that has passed away. He makes his living as a gardener. He accepted Christ in two thousand and eight. He shared that he had a specific dream that showed him that someone would bring the gospel to him and he received that message happily.
Acevoix was born into a voodoo and witchcraft family, He shared that he was doing things that really displeased God, but fortunately Christ redeemed him.
He first thought about becoming a pastor or leader in Christian ministry after his conversion. The Lord started giving him the desire to be a pastor, but he didn't think that it could be possible but God has made it true. He has helped lead a small congregation for the Lord for eight years. Acevoix says he thanks God for using Pastor Mike to plant this School of Ministry, it has changed his life for the better. The school through the teachings, helps him progress and is improving the way he is doing church. He shared that as a father, he has more love for his family and he fears God more. His whole church and his wife testify to the change they see that the school has brought to his language, his behavior, as well as the fruits. He shared that he has just heard the message from Pastor Mike that asks him to take the cross and follow Jesus and to have love for others.
Acevoix says he appreciates all that is being done in the school, because it is good for both the soul and spirit. He appreciates the course entitled introduction to the Bible. When asked what's the difference between religion and tradition and the life giving gospel of Jesus? He replied, "The life giving gospel of Jesus is the real church of Christ. God will visit this kind of church. The religion and traditional church teaches their own stuff. It's a deadly church".
He asked if we would pray for him to find more grace from God to help the church grow up. His wife is not healthy, she needs good health from God through our prayers. Thank you so much for partnering with us to reach the people of Haiti.
Blessings,
Chris
