No outsider can meet the needs of a local community in the way a local believer can. The Scripture’s model of missions shows Paul going into an area, preaching and building relationships, then leaving the Christians of that area to continue with a local pastor. However, Paul continued his relationship with these Christians long after his initial time with them was finished. We see this through his New Testament writings to churches and individuals.
In Haiti, poverty often hampers the ability of Haitian Christians to do the work of ministry in their own country. At the very basic level, many Haitian Christians must use the vast majority of their time and energy just to do what is needed to survive. Therefore, they have a difficult time focusing on evangelism and the ministries of their churches.
It follows that if survival is a struggle and there is little to no discretionary income, Haitian Christians often do not have the resources to adequately support the ministries of a local church or to get systematic Bible training. In Haiti, church planting and church growth largely depend on outside support in the form of finances and personal relationships.
Since many churches preach the gospel in Haiti, it is not a mission field which needs Christ introduced. In fact, it is our belief that American Christians could learn much from Haitian believers in the way they live their lives in trust, submission, and mutual edification. Instead, Haiti is a mission field where economic opportunities and personal relationships are necessary to help Haitian Christians and pastors move beyond mere physical subsistence to evangelism and systematic Bible training that will spur church growth and additional church planting.
This is our mission at Haiti Awake - to walk alongside Haitian believers as they identify and meet the needs in their own communities.
