Grace Point Church of Northwest Arkansas

The Haiti team has returned. Here's a note from them:

The Haiti team has arrived home safely! We were only missing one bag upon our return and were told it wason the next flight in. We had an incredible week of ministry. There were 58 decisions for Christ and discipleship to follow up and give the new belivers a good foot to stand on as they begin their new walk. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support this past few weeks. They were definatley felt. God moved in a big big way this week. Please continue to pray for the 58 new Christians, as well as them team as we recover from the challanges of Haiti.

John, Kay & Tim Rodgers; Phillip & Sarah Toto; Grant Bearfield; Jennifer Lettner; Collin Lagree; Mindi Ford; Paul, Felicia, Adrieen, & Lauren Staudinger, Joe and Norma Patterson

The team conducted a children's Bible school, sewing classes, men's and women's Bible studies, and worked at local orphanages and children's homes. There were evangelism teams working daily, and evening worship services at Joy House.

Within the past five years, Grace Point has sent five teams to Gressier, Haiti to work with Joe and Norma Patterson of Joy House Ministries. Trips to Haiti are challenging as it is, with rough conditions and extreme heat; but these teams have faced some challenges way beyond the norm, with dangers of political unrest and the dealing with the stronghold of voodoo.

5 teams sent (including the 2008 team)
28 individuals going on these teams
11 of these individuals going on multiple trips:

John & Kay Rodgers made 5 trips (John actually made 6 trips by going on a 2nd trip in 2007)
Daina Kennedy (Kay’s sister) made 5 trips
Grant Bearfield made 4 trips (started going at the age of 16)
Tim Rodgers made 3 trips (started going at the age of 10)
6 other individuals have made 2 trips

Teams have completed the first floor of the Joy House building enabling teams to lodge there. The 2007 team was the first team ever to stay at Joy House.
Taught Bible School to sometimes up to 200+ children a day.
Taught Basic Hygiene classes to help people live healthier lives.
Taught Sewing classes to women.
Presented the message of salvation in every class taught.

Hope…God does not give up
By Kay Rodgers

Do you remember playing hide and seek as a child? It has to be one of the all-time favorites of most young children. But at that age, the attention span was short and search times didn’t last long. If the hidden person wasn’t found within about two minutes, it was time to “give up” and move on. Or what about baseball…have you ever been on a team that was losing by 20 points in the bottom of the ninth inning? The first thoughts as your team gets up to bat go a little like this… “What’s the point?...There’s no possible way to win!...It’s time to just give up!”

But, that was when we were kids playing games. Now that we are adults in real life, we don’t do that anymore…right? We don’t just give up when things get hard…we just think about it and wish we could give up. I’m afraid if we are really honest with ourselves about this, we probably “give up” on more than we should.

Now, think about this question. Aren’t you glad God didn’t give up on you? None of us deserve the chances that God has given us and the salvation that He offers. And, His gift of salvation and forgiveness was not “easy”, in fact, it cost Him everything. But, He never quit then and He has not quit calling and drawing men to Himself today. But, what about people who continue to say no to God; who push God out of their life and claim voodoo as their national religion – does He give up on them? As an outsider looking in, it would be easy to say that God has given up on them. But it is a totally different perspective from the inside.

When darkness is so dark that you can’t see your hand in front of your face; even the tiniest light will get your attention. This is how I describe Gressier, Haiti. The spiritual darkness is almost overwhelming throughout Haiti, but the light of Christ shines bright in a group of believers at Jesus Church at Santos in Gressier, Haiti. This church is growing spiritually, standing up against the practice of voodoo, and sharing the hope of Christ that they have found. They have become missionaries to their own neighbors. Just as a light in the darkness is difficult to hide, the light of Christ that shines through these believers is seen by all in this area. And just as we are told to set our light on a lamp stand, these believers meet, literally, on the highest point in Gressier – for all to see and find hope. A place where God is at work.

Without God, without a relationship with Him; there is no hope and without hope it is easy to give up. But, God brings hope and with hope there is optimism and confidence. With hope there is expectation and dreams.

“When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.” Isaiah 41:17 (NLT)
Christ has given us hope through salvation. If we live in hope, how can we deny it to anyone who is walking in darkness and without any hope? How can we keep it to ourselves and not share that hope that was shared with us. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, THE HOPE OF GLORY.” Colossians 1:27 (NIV)

God has not given up on Haiti…and neither should we. God is still at work in Haiti, and we should continue to GO and join Him in His work there. Maybe not all are able or called to GO, but ALL CAN PRAY. Never stop praying for Haitians to find that hope in Christ. And never stop praying for Jesus Church at Santos and Joy House Ministry to continue to be that light of hope drawing Haitians to Christ.