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CIDM currently teaches the Bible in 20 Jacmel middle and senior high schools.
Brisso, our Teaching Director at CIDM, periodically visits school principals not yet in our Bible teaching program to share what we're doing and invites their school to join in.
Mr. Bellevue, is a school principal who Brisso shared our program with many years ago. Mr. Bellevue thanked Brisso for sharing, but his answer was: “No…this school is secular, and we don’t allow religion taught here”.
Knowing the students at this school needed to learn about the hope and grace of Jesus Christ, Brisso continued to visit Mr Bellevue annually, sharing the positive impact schools partnering with us were having. However, Mr. Bellevue's answer was still a cordial "No".
This year, Brisso took a different approach by inviting Mr Bellevue to our annual Principal Luncheon in November 2024. Mr. Bellevue attended and was surprisingly impressed as he heard testimonies of principals who partner with us. They excitedly shared the results of having CIDM teach the Bible at their schools as a required class. They reported the positive changes such as: better overall grades, students' respectful behavior to fellow students and teachers, more students finish school and attend universities, less fighting amongst students, less pregnancies, and more.
Just after the luncheon, Mr. Bellevue pulled Brisso aside and with a smile asked (yet already knowing the answer), "Why did you invite me to this event?"
Brisso simply replied, "So you could hear and learn for yourself what CIDM is doing and the way the youth are changing."
Mr Bellevue exclaimed "Well, it worked! This is exactly what we’ve been looking for in our school. Your values match ours! I want CIDM to teach at my school beginning next year (Sept 2025)."
Mr Bellevue has now started sharing his enthusiasm with the other principals and is looking forward to September. We, too, greatly anticipate teaching the Bible at Mr. Bellevue's school as God make an impact in his and the student’s lives for Jesus Christ!
We appreciate Brisso's persistent effort and insight in inviting Mr. Bellevue to the Principal Luncheon. The event demonstrated the impact of sharing what God's doing in the lives of the youth who are learning the truths of the Bible. God's continuing to expand CIDM's boundaries of reach in Haiti!
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