This week we have had a letter from the pastor of the project which supports Bedline, our Compassion child. Jean Dieumarc is pastor of the Church of the Nazarene of Sarrazine, ministering to Bedline at the Child Development centre in Mirebalais.
The community of Sarrazine has about 30,000 people who live mainly from agriculture. They face problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, low self-esteem, teenage pregnancy, inadequate health conditions and juvenile delinquency, and the church seeks to minister to the whole community in a variety of ways. He says ‘the church evangelises the community, engages in maintenance, helps widows and visits some prisons and hospitals’ as well as ministering in the Child Development Centre, which Bedline attends. There, 300 children are able to go to school, receiving the bread of instruction given and engaging in games, films, training and Bible studies. Since the opening of the centre last May, all of the children who attend have changed considerably as they are guided in ‘their spiritual, physical, and socio-economic growth.’ The centre aims to ‘prepare them to become responsible citizens and productive in their work for God and for the community in general.’
We are privileged to be able to sponsor Bedline and help to make a difference in her everyday life. Jean writes, ‘the church has the responsibility to spread the Gospel around the world under the power of the Holy Spirit; it would be impossible not to impact the community where it operates.’ We too believe that the church needs to do this and our partnership with this church in Haiti and with Bedline in particular is part of our commitment to spreading the Gospel around the world under the power of the Holy Spirit. Please keep praying for Bedline and for Jean, her pastor, that God’s word may be established in Haiti and lives changed.