Site
Contents
 |
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
September 2006 |
Three Terre Haute churches team together for Haitian VBS
Ten volunteers from the Barbour Avenue UMC, Emmanuel UMC and Maryland Community Church in Terre Haute, were greeted by Pastor Joseph Saintil of New Jerusalem Ministries with "Welcome Home" signs this summer when they arrived in Cap Haitian, Haiti.
"Looking out into the sea of faces was indeed a blessing."
|
The mission team felt at home among the poor of Haiti as they shared the good news of Jesus Christ. They conducted a Vacation Bible School for 800 children and fed them lunch for three days.
Barbour Avenue Pastor Bob Roush told Together, "Looking out into the sea of faces was indeed a blessing as they sang 'Jesus loves the little ones like me.'"
The VBS theme was "Feet, Hands and Heart." The team first talked of where Jesus' feet had walked, what his hands had done and that his heart belonged to the Father. Then they shared about our feet, hands and heart.
They also sang the song, "Oh, be careful little feet where you go, be careful little hands what you do and be careful little heart who you trust." On the last day of VBS, the team invited children to become Christians and 60 of them stepped forward to give their hearts to Jesus.
Each night the team also held a revival service with Pastors Kathy and Bob Roush and Jeanne Winter preaching. More Haitians made decisions to follow Christ.
The team was hosted by Pastor Saintil and missionary Vanessa Atkinson, but no team members will take electricity or warm showers for granted again.
Rousch said the poverty is extreme in Haiti and voodoo is still present. Problems of pollution, economy, abuse and lack of education are widely evident.
The volunteers also distributed Bibles, clothes and food.
Children made a hands banner as they learned that they are the hands of Jesus. They also painted feet and made an altar cloth to show "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News."
Roush reported that the New Jerusalem Church is a simple concrete building with wooden pews, but the ministry is powerful and exciting.
The team expresses its thanks to their churches for the support they received while they traveled. They also express their thanks to the Terre Haute District for their prayers as they shared Jesus Christ in Haiti.
For more information about Haiti and the mission of New Jerusalem Ministries, contact the Rev. Bob Roush at 765-832-3877 or by e-mail bobroush@juno.com.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008