We were traveling by SUV over the worst roads I’ve ever been on; up and over mountains which had very little vegetation or soil due to massive deforestation. Haiti is typically known as the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with two-thirds of its population not having a formal job; but we had traveled there to visit a few programs that were making tremendous strides in reaching communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in training its people how to change the health of their community in spite of apparent lack of resources. The possibility of World Challenge Missions partnering with such programs weighed heavily on our minds.

The first place on our journey was the town of Ennery. We were ushered into a small blue wooden building where we sat in front of 12–13 people sitting behind a table full of jars of jams and preserves. This local committee of church members, assembled through the community ministry program, identified fallen, unused fruit (destined to rot) as a source of income and was trained to process them into goods for sale. As proud as they were of the fruits of their labor (jams and income), their enthusiasm was more focused on the restored relationships within the community and the many lives that had come to know Jesus as a result of their efforts. To date, a total of 30 non-committee families (many of whom would not speak to one another) are now involved in the program. During our three-day excursion, we would experience many such programs.

Neighbor-to-neighbor training
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Community ministry seeks the spread of the Gospel and an increase in health and prosperity simultaneously through neighbor-to-neighbor (relational) training. Christ Himself based His ministry on the Word of God and in building relationships to bring people out of spiritual and physical poverty; and it makes us rejoice that the Lord would count World Challenge Missions a worthy vessel in these potential partnerships.

World Challenge Missions continues to identify critical needs of hurting people in extreme poverty areas in Haiti with the purpose of achieving community transformation by the spreading of the Gospel, in word and deed.