In just under 90 days, I
will be on an aircraft somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean Sea. Our
destination is Mare Rouge/Bellevue, Haiti in the Northwest mountain region. Our
purpose is to encourage and disciple local pastors in a remote region of the
poorest country in the Western hemisphere.
We will be working with my friends
Terry and Carolyn Routon who are fulltime missionaries to Haiti. They have been
working with communities around Mare Rogue teaching the Gospel, providing basic
education to local children, supplying material needs when they can, and equipping
people towards economic self-reliance through teaching trades.
Some local congregations have
been supportive of their work, but they have encountered a culture of exclusion
in the Haitian church. Established Hatian congregations often seem uninterested
in reaching out to their own people. Unfortunately, this extends to the
relationship between pastors as well.
In Haiti, there are so-called
“big pastors” who have some schooling, a little money, and prestige. Then,
there are “little pastors”, who are not as well resourced, lack education, and often
preach in buildings we would not store our lawn mowers in. These men are generally
disregarded by the religious powers that be; this immediately brings to mind
James 2, and his warnings against favoritism. Furthermore, I am reminded that
in the Kingdom of God, the last will be first and the first will be last (see
attachment).
These men and their wives are
hungry for encouragement, and hungry for the Word. So, fellow pastor Greg Bunn
and I will pour truth into these “little pastors” and their wives for five
days. We will “love on them”, pray with them, and do all that we can to build
them up and equip them to raise up leaders from their own congregations to send
out into the harvest field.
We will depart August 14th, be
in Mare Rouge a total of twelve days preaching and teaching, then head back
home on August 26th. I am trusting God to provide for this mission in every
respect.
Please join us in this journey
by praying for the following:
¶ provision
of financial resources
¶ traveling
mercies (smooth and safe travel)
¶ wisdom
on what to teach and preach
¶ opportunities
to reach people with the Gospel
¶ good
fruit from our labors
Please contact me using the
information below if you have any questions.
Grace and Peace,
JP Williams
Luke 14: 12-24
You can reach me here:
PO Box 195
Archie, MO
64725
816 430 5515
PRAY FOR MARE ROUGE
encouragement mission to local
ministry families
August 14th – 26th
The encircled area is an approximation of where we will be spending our time. Mare Rogue/Bellevue
To the top, Terry Routon (hardly able to be seen behind interpreterJ) encourages some of the “little pastors” in the personal walk and their ministry.
Below, Greg and I and the Routons. Please post this somewhere prominent in your home and remember to pray for us over the next few months, in particular August 14th - 26th.
http://www.routonshaitiblog.blogspot.com/
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