Area church continues efforts in Haiti

For the past three years after the devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, Zion Lutheran Church’s global mission teams have worked to help rebuild a church in Carrefour, an area within the country’s capital of Port-au-Prince.  The Strait Gate church was totally leveled following the earthquake, much like many of the homes and other buildings in the area.  Worship services were being held in a tent with a generator and a few lightbulbs.  

“Despite all the terror and destruction brought on by the earthquake, the enthusiasm and faith of the congregation never faltered and, in fact, intensified even with the makeshift tent and the very tough living conditions,” said Tom Thul, Zion’s director of global missions.  “I was able to attend a Wednesday evening church service in the tent in August of 2010.  The place absolutely rocked!  That is when I knew we needed to help in some way.” 

In early 2011, Zion established a short-term sister church relationship with the congregation’s pastor, Jean Philippe.  Over the next two years the goal was to assist Pastor Philippe to rebuild and restore the congregation’s place of worship.  The relationship was truly a partnership between the two churches.  It started with the Haitian church members pouring the foundation and providing the first floor outside walls.  

“This was completely their work and resources in the first phase”, according to Thul.  

The second phase focused on pouring the concrete for the balcony and completing the second story outside walls.  It was followed by the third and final phase of completing the roof.  

“In the second and third phase we provided financial resources for materials, as well as, to pay for part of the labor.  As a result of our partnership, the church building can now offer seating for almost 700 people,” said Thul.

During this time, Zion sent three mission teams to Carrefour to work with its sister church.  The teams provided school supplies, medical clinics, dental clinics, Bible programs for kids, clothing items, medical supplies and worked on construction projects, including a new roof for the church’s school and even some help with the pastor’s house.  The teams also worked with Life is Wealth, an orphanage in another part of the city that houses 70 girls.  

For Zion, 2013 is a time of transition for its global mission work in Haiti.  A team of six recently returned from Haiti after examining how the future of mission trips to Haiti may look.  

The team of Dr. Tom Bieber, Jon Snow, Pastor Kirk Wilcke, Cathy Bancroft, Megan Watson and Tom Thul have all been involved in previous Haiti mission trips and all have a passion to continue the church’s work in Haiti.

Toward that end, Zion recently partnered with Global - Read More Via e-Edition