Celebrating Growth & Progress | |
|
Greetings Ministry Partners,
We are almost halfway through the current year, and summer is here. I hope you have some great things planned for summer. I am working with a student and certified trainer to share the ministry and potentially have the student begin classes at First Baptist Church of Rocky Top this summer. The pastor and the student are long-time friends who share a passion for discipleship. Below is an update on what's happening in North America and the Caribbean.
| |
|
We appreciate your prayers and support.
Ric Hesse
CCI N. America & Caribbean Regional Director
| |
Haiti & The Dominican Republic | |
|
Our Haiti Regional Coordinator for West & South Haiti, Pastor Jean Louise Calixte, teaches and visits classes in the Port-au-Prince areas and maintains the inventory of Creole language books in the country. Additionally, Pastor Calixte is working with our Area Coordinators, Dorestant Clotaire and Maxene Mecien, to train and equip them as co-laborers with the staff in Haiti to promote CCI and expand the ministry. Calixte traveled to an embittered region of Haiti last month to encourage the local teacher, Pastor Massillon, who had temporarily stopped classes due to the civil unrest in the area. Together, and with meetings with some of the students, they have made plans to resume classes this month with some additional security measures in place.
Our other Haiti Regional Coordinator for North Haiti, Pastor David Castille, remains active in teaching and overseeing classes in northern Haiti and working with Haitian teachers in the northern areas of the Dominican Republic (DR). David continues to teach four classes per week and travel to visit the other classes and students in the outlying five locations. He has recently started a new class in Gonaives (see photo below). David travels three hours over mountainous roads by motorbike each way to lead the class in Gonaives.
| |
|
Pastor Louise Saindius (on motorbike), Area Coordinator for Upper Artibonite and Northwest Haiti, is actively working to expand the ministry despite the challenges of social distancing and travel restrictions. He continues to teach four classes and oversees three other trainers in the area. Pastor Saindius is working with David Castille to lead the new class in Gonaives.
Pastor Dorestant, Area Coordinator for the Southern Region in Haiti, regularly visits his region to promote the ministry and follow up on new classes. From April 26-29, he traveled to Payan to assess the teacher's effectiveness and visit a class. The students remain engaged in the class.
Pastor Maxene Mecien, Area Coordinator for North & Northwest Haiti, traveled to Borge from April 13 to 15 to visit Pastor Diogene, who is conducting classes there. Maxene provided support and guidance to the classes and teachers. In May, Pastor Mecien made two trips along the coastal region of northern Haiti to share the ministry of CCI and coordinate the starting of new classes in Port Margot and Pilate.
| |
Noah Joyner (front), the president and founder of the Hispaniola Institute for Theology (HIT), led the graduation procession of a recent class who had completed the CCI training in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (DR). HIT provides pastoral and theological training to residents in the DR in both Spanish and Haitian Creole, using local leaders, teachers, and mentors to provide the knowledge and ministry skills for effective ministry using the CCI training curriculum. | |
Keith Arnold, the Area Coordinator of Mexico, will assist the Central America Regional Director, Dr. Ray McKenzie, lead a group through Book 2 in Honduras later this month. Keith leads four classes in Northern Mexico and assists several pastors recently trained as trainers to begin classes. Below is a picture from that training (TTW). | |
|
Please pray for our ongoing ministry in Canada, particularly our partnership with Faith Evangelical Baptist Church (FEBC) in Winkler, Canada, and their pastor, Mike Comtois. He is currently leading three classes each week and several classes that have already completed all books.
Additionally, Dr. David Nelson will be visiting our partners in Canada during the CCI Fall Tour. In conjunction with FEBC, he will be conducting a conference from October 4-6 with more than 200 pastors and leaders in the area. Through this partnership, CCI is expanding into other cities in Manitoba and the other regions of the country. Pray that God will continue to expand his Kingdom through the faith teaching of Pastor Mike and the partnership between FEBC and CCI.
The Fall Tour will visit multiple states, from Texas to California and then up to Canada. Click here to view the Fall Tour Schedule.
| |
Prayer Requests & Praises
- Pray that those with whom we present the ministry of CCI will see the need and be compelled to teach and start classes.
- Pray that our meeting with the Romanian church is fruitful and that we will develop more relationships.
- Pray for us to have the strength and wisdom to make wise choices regarding teacher certification and class development.
- Pray for the Haitian graduates of the training in Barahona, DR, who have been faithfully taught by Pastor Thesee from Fort Lauderdale over the past five years. Thirty-four (34) students will graduate in July. Pray that God will use them to advance his Kingdom wherever He leads them.
- Pray for the new class starting in the US, Canada, the DR, and Haiti.
- Pray especially for the safety and security of the people and our staff in Haiti, particularly in the capital city of Port au Princ, where the criminal and gang activity is, once again, increasing.
| | | | | |
