Haiti 2009 Conference Report

It is with immense gratitude and joy that we write this brief report on the beautiful World Challenge conference that took place in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 27th – 29th, 2009. Much prayer and fasting has gone into the preparation for this conference. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and the spiritual, economical and social darkness is fierce. God has answered the prayers of partners around the world and given us a breakthrough that will bear eternal fruit.

Over 1,400 pastors and their wives came together in this historic conference. A thousand were expected, but over 400 more pastors joined in, drawn by the Spirit of the Lord. The message began with a call to purity by Pastor Gary Wilkerson, who challenged every leader and pastor present. The conviction was powerful as pastors prayed passionately in a solemn moment of repentance and consecration.

The conference brought together an unprecedented number of pastors from various denominations, associations and Christian movements in a divine moment of reconciliation, conviction, hope and unity. The response to the messages was incredible as each session turned into an upper room of passionate prayer, intercession, surrender and healing by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Mayor of Pétionville, Haiti and the leaders, presidents and bishops of hundreds of ministries joined in with pastors and leaders from all over the country as God renewed our vision, courage, passion and determination to reach Haiti for Christ.

Through the generosity of World Challenge partners, over 5,000 meals (breakfasts and lunches) were served during the conference. Pastors were sponsored in order to be able to attend the conference and traveled great distances from all over Haiti to come to be refreshed and in many cases, restored by the ministry of the Word and of the Spirit of the Lord.

Sister Catherine Logan ministering to the women
(More images)

Sister Catherine Logan, President of Mount Zion School of Ministry and long-time friend of World Challenge, came specifically to pray and minister to pastors’ wives and other women in ministry. Her ministry was anointed and mightily used of the Lord. She prayed individually for hundreds of these precious ladies as God ministered through her, often times for hours, one woman at a time. This ministry was extraordinarily significant in a country where life is hard and women carry unimaginable burdens in a culture that is often extremely difficult for women.

Many testimonies are pouring in. The messages from the conference will now be heard by hundreds of thousands through radio, television and the Internet in Haiti. The committee of Haitian pastors and leaders did an incredible job. They worked, prayed and labored tirelessly and God blessed and multiplied. The General Superintendent of the Federation of Evangelical Churches of Haiti addressed the pastors gathered at the conference with these words, “This is the answer to our prayers of many years. For decades, a conference bringing together so many pastors from so many different segments of the Body of Christ in our country seemed impossible, but for God, all things are possible. What we have received of the Lord during these days can and will change the course and future of our beloved Haiti. God has spoken through His servants and by His Spirit. The future is now in our hands, with God’s help.”

As I close this report, allow us, on behalf of over 1,400 Haitian pastors and leaders, to thank the Lord for World Challenge. Many pastors and denominational leaders now speak of a “before and after” Conference ’09. Others have made a solemn commitment to meet monthly to continue praying and partnering in the spirit of the conference. We believe this World Challenge conference in Haiti will be used by God as a catalyst for new Kingdom collaboration, unity, faith and determination to reach thousands for Him. The impact, fruit and reward will be mighty and only measurable in eternity.

In Him,
Pastor Claude Houde
for the Haiti ’09 Conference Committee