Pray for Haiti on Sunday, December 15, 2013

Lectionary Selection: Luke 1: 47-55

Prayers for Haiti:
“Like Mary our spirits rejoice in You O God, our Savior, for we know we belong to the One who is merciful, who fills the hungry, who exalts the humble and who keeps every promise. Such knowledge encourages us to live as people of hope.

We pray this same hope for Haiti and her people as they, too, stand on Your promises for strength to meet each new day. Lord God, we ask that this nation will once again realize abundance; abundance that will allow her people to work lands that yield good harvests and help families to have the dignity of work as they seek to educate and feed their children. Raise up wise leaders who will position themselves alongside the people as they strive to build a thriving homeland.

We bring before you the ministry of CONASPEH as it offers educational opportunities for primary and secondary level students; for those training in healthcare and nursing; for pastors who study Your Word and learn leadership skills to shepherd congregations; for young adults learning a trade in the Vocational program; and for young adults seeking a university degree. Pour out Your wisdom on those who work to meet this lofty vision of educating the people of Haiti.

We come in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Mission Stewardship Moment from Haiti:
Tim is a man who routinely has mountaintop experiences. Every other month or so he climbs for some 20-25 minutes on carved stone steps that lead to a CONASPEH-partnered church on top of a mountain. There he is met by a group of smiling women who are part of a ROSCA savings group he helped to start some months ago and they are keen to let him know that a number of them have received their monthly lump sum of money from the group’s combined savings efforts. They chatter away about how they have used their individual savings: for their children’s education; expanding their roadside market stands; medicine or doctor’s visits; and simple housing needs. The true mountaintop for Tim is working with people who have realized their own strengths and abilities.

Interesting enough I thought I was well prepared for the fall classes at CONASPEH’s St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary but have found that I am routinely doing extra research to find answers for the pastors’ many questions and comments. In our time together both students and I are learning not only about God’s Word, the church and her history, other faiths and the world but are also learning about each other. We’re building education in such times but we’re also building relationships through meaningful prayers and songs as we begin each class and in our times of shared laughter as well as in our times of deep thought and lively discussions. Blessing comes in many shapes and forms.

(Prayer and Mission Moment by Diane and Tim Fonderlin)

Mission Partners in Haiti:

Video resources about Haiti: HAITI: Watching Hope Form (CONASPEH)

More information on Haiti: http://globalministries.org/lac/countries/haiti/

Global Ministries Missionary in Haiti:
Diane Fonderlin, a member of Howland Community Church in Warren, Ohio, is serving a 4-year term with the National Spiritual Council of Churches of Haiti (CONASPEH), beginning July 1, 2012. She is teaching Theology at CONASPEH’s at St. Andrew Theological Seminary and is Co-Administrator of the Seminary.

Timothy Fonderlin, a member of Howland Community Church, Warren, Ohio, is serving a 4-year term with the National Spiritual Council of Churches of Haiti (CONASPEH), which began July 1, 2012. He is the Sustainable Community Development and Micro-Savings Consultant with CONASPEH.