As you may have seen in the news, the nation of Haiti is in utter turmoil. The Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, has agreed to step down and gangs rule much of its capital of Port-au-Prince.  These gangs have attacked the main prison to help thousands of inmates escape. The head of the UN’s World Food Program in Haiti, Jean-Martin Bauer, said on Monday that more than 360,000 people had now been displaced. The situation is dire. You can read a recent description here.

You may also recall, Haiti has endured numerous difficulties in the last 20 years. The country underwent a 2004 coup d’état, a catastrophic earthquake in 2010 killed over 250,000 people, and their last prime minister was assassinated 2021. The murders have not been apprehended. Haiti suffers from a shortage of skilled labor, widespread unemployment, and underemployment. Most Haitians in the labor force have informal jobs. Three-quarters of the population lives on US$2 or less per day. Haiti in the most populous Caribbean country, but also the poorest. There is widespread hunger.

Besides the obvious humanitarian crisis and suffering, why should Nazarenes be extra concerned and more diligent in our prayers?  Simple– Haiti has more Nazarene’s per capita than any other nation on earth. There are more Nazarene churches and higher church membership in Haiti than any one of the USA regions.* The nation is the size of Maryland and has 755 churches (Maryland has 64). In fact, Haiti has more Nazarene churches than the COMBINED total of one third of the 165 countries that the Church of the Nazarene is registered in including Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand.**

Haiti’s difficulties are vast and complex. There is not an easy remedy. A recent article in Ministry Watch outlines the evangelical response here. Good hearted, Christian short-term missions  from the USA may have hurt more than helped and new strategies should be examined and employed.***  Still Haiti is half the distance from Key West (720 miles) as is New York City (1434 miles). It’s on the USA/Canada doorstep. Nazarenes in USA/Canada cannot imagine the suffering our Nazarene brothers and sisters are enduring. 

Help begins with vision and prayer. Familiarize yourself with the issues in Haiti and pray informatively on how Nazarenes from around the globe might offer a creative and godly response to the suffering. Pray for the Field Strategy Coordinator, Rev. Pierre Antoine and  Emmanise Jacques and the 12 districts in Haiti. Pray for the 755 churches and the Haiti Nazarene Theological Seminary. But especially pray for the 147,182 members and fellowship Nazarene members (and all the attendees who are not members)—our brothers and sisters who are in grave danger, fighting malnutrition with a very uncertain future.  

Haitian Nazarenes are in trouble. They need us. They need our prayer. Take time when you gather to lift up our brother and sisters and consider an offering through NCM as they strategize the best steps forward.  

*Haiti has 755 churches. The closest USA region in the Southeast region (TNU) with 724. The Southeast region also has the most members and fellowship members of any USA region, but that TNU region is still over 50,000 members/fellowship members behind Haiti. 

**Haiti has 755 churches. The combined total of churches in the following 56 countries that the Church of the Nazarene is registered in is 752. Canada (145), Great Britain (69), Australia (31), New Zealand (29), Solomon and Principle (5), Equatorial Guinea (7), Burundi (16); South Sudan (19); Botswana (11); Sierra Leone (8); Senegal (3); Hong Kong (3); Mongolia (7); Taiwan (43); Solomon Islands (14); Vanuatu (5); Micronesia (6); Singapore (1); Timor-Leste (1); Fiji (21); Samoa (17); Cambodia (21); Thailand (31); Albania (6); Bulgaria (5) Croatia (1); Hungry (3); North Macedonia (0); Romania (3); Scandinavia (4); Egypt (0); Holy Land (4); Jordan (12); Lebanon (4); Syria (5); Armenia (4); Kazakhstan (8); Russia (15); Ukraine (12); Germany (10); Ireland (1); Luxemburg (0); Netherlands (12); Switzerland (1); France (9); Italy (6); Madeira Islands (0); Portugal (20); Spain (9); Bahamas (15); Curacao (0); Dominica (7); French Antilles and French Guiana (17); Virgin Islands (15); Suriname (7); Winward Islands (16)

***Flint Central Church has tried to avoid these issues by partnering with Panama with a wholistic approach in providing medical care/vision/spiritual care on two thirds of the yearly mission trips. Working with both NCM Panama and missional leaders, Central Church is currently building a medical clinic which will be managed and run by Panamanians. Plans are in the works for Panamanians to likewise come to Michigan for a mission trip experience in Flint. This approach is designed to avoid a “Voluntourism” mindset and truly a missional/partnership venture.