The Awakening at Pincroix - Part 3

 

My father and I preached for a total of 8 times, and each sermon was supposed to be about 2 hours long.  We were supposed to start at eight in the morning, and there was usually about half the crowd of 100 adults in place by then.  Some wouldn’t arrive until half an hour later, and I wondered at that until I found out that most did not have any way to keep time, and with a walk of up to two hours, it gave a clearer understanding of their dedication and desire to be there.  Three men, one older than my father, walked that terrible trail to Angolmont twice in the pitch dark, with no light, because they wanted to be there in the worst way.  Many of them would come in and kneel down in front of their chair and spend up to 20 minutes in prayer before rising and brushing the sticky white dust from their knees, and taking their seat. 

The Trail to the Angolmont Church

They sang with their heart!  Most would close their eyes and sing to the Lord and the building just rang with their songs of gratefulness and praise!  Pastor Ewins had told us, “these people have almost nothing.  But they have Jesus, and find Him to be enough.”  A few of them had their own Bibles, but the church has a bunch in the cupboard of the pulpit that they hand out to those who can read, and then Scripture is read aloud so that everyone can understand and take part.  They sat very still and paid close attention, however, when there were two sessions back to back, four hours gets to be a LONG time in those uncomfortable chairs!  Some of them would doze off occasionally, and I realized later, that they had to get up very early to get the water hauling chores, and everything else done in the dark, so they could come to the services.  But if they dozed, either the interpreter woke them up by calling their name, or someone reached over and slapped them to wake them up.  If they dozed the third time, then they stood to their feet and remained standing for about 15 minutes.  How much of this was rules in place, or just their way of trying to get as much out of the services as possible, I don’t know.  But I know that it seemed to me that everyone there, wanted to be there in a real way.

Small Committee

A man stands in front of his repaired house

Saturday evening was a special evening.  During this past summer, Hurricane Laura had come right over Haiti as a tropical storm.  While there was not much damage in the bigger cities, it wreaked havoc in the poor mountain communities.  Many roofs were torn off, walls collapsed, trees fell on houses, and some gardens completely destroyed.  Our church had sent some money to help rebuild and the families who had benefited from that gift, came together to express their thanks.  We pointed them back to God, that it was He who had prompted us to give, and it was He who had given us the blessings that we were able to share with them in their hour of need.  We expressed our sincere desire that they give the glory to God and we had a prayer time together.  One of the stories told that night was of an unsaved man who had an avocado tree fall on his house and destroy it.  Pastor Ewins heard about it and suggested to the committee that they might look into repairing that house as well.  The committee went the half hour hike down the mountain to this man’s house and decided to take some of the money, meant for their church people, and help this man.  They repaired his house, put a new roof on it, and witnessed to his soul.  He testified in the group how that their love and kindness spoke to their hearts, and now their family is members at the church because of the testimony of their love.  What Glory to God to see Him building His church through the sacrificial love of these dear people for those around them!

After the families had left, we met with the small committee and they opened their notebooks and showed us the records they had of how they had spent the money we sent down.  To see their desire to be open and accountable blessed my soul!  But even more so, this group of three men and one woman, who had control over enough money to make any one of them very rich, still choose the way of sacrificial living and honest dealings, moved me to tears!  This kind of faithfulness is so rare in any culture, and I felt moved in my spirit to want to be like them!  To give of myself in the work of the Lord as sacrificially as they have! 

And I also saw a danger!

A woman shows her charcoal heated iron

We have enough money right now, that we could almost eliminate all of their pressing needs.  And yet if we did that, what would we end up doing to their faith?!  Would they still be so totally sold out and trusting in Jesus, or would we take the place of savior and provider in their hearts?  I look at what has happened in much of Haiti where missions have come in with good intentions, and yet the influx of wealth and the poor distribution of it, has done more to harm the spread of the gospel, than to further it!  If you think I am overstating it, let me tell you that I know from first hand sources, that food boxes and relief aid are being sold and bartered by pastors of churches and principles of schools because there is no teeth in the accountability that goes with them.  Haitian people don’t want the gospel messages that come with the gifts, they just want the stuff, and if you don’t meet their demands, they have no qualms with trying to curse you, or even kill you.  The true Haitian Christians are often in peril for their lives if they tell the truth of what they see going on in their schools or churches!  All because of the greed for things that has developed because of the unscrupulous giving.  

When we were driving those last 11 kilometers up to Pincroix, there were many places along the way, where children in all variations of dress or undress, would stand beside the trail, and holler at us “Put something in my hand!!”  One group of boys chased us for a hundred yards hollering that, and then when we got too far ahead to keep up with us, started chucking stones as hard as they could.  Past mission trip visitors to some places in Haiti have contributed to the problem with one man handing out $20 bills like they were tracts, and when reproved by the missionaries who lived there, started to chide the missionaries for their “lack of love for these poor people!”  And yet when he went back home, those Haitian people who liked him handing them money, became a terrible thorn in the side of the missions as they kept pushing their way in, demanding money that they knew was available there but interested in nothing else in the way of the gospel!  We did not give any money or things away on this trip except a few toiletries to the church people.  I see this same attitude in the United States!  We see money being given out, and no matter our need or whether it is to the hurt of someone else, we want our piece of the pie!  It grieved my heart to see that!

We could destroy these churches if we are not very careful with how we work to meet their needs.  So how do we help?

Promote the Gospel

These churches were started with nothing but the gospel, and has flourished!  Five years ago, there was not a single believer.  Now there are three churches with over 200 that are counted as members!  These are not your normal, Anabaptist looking churches, but the women all have their heads covered and in dresses of modest length.  The men all are decently dressed and accountable for their actions in the communities.  It started with Ewins and his wife coming into the community and going from door to door, preaching the gospel. 

If a family accepted the gospel, he would ask them to bring out their voodoo and witchcraft items and they would burn them outside.  Slowly, house by house, the gospel was given, and the peoples hearts were changed!  Those who had been selfish before, were now willing to share.  Where there had been darkness in spirit, there was now a light in their eyes!  Lost souls were reborn anew, and the light of God shone in their eyes!

There was no humanitarian aid taken in that, changed their lives, but it was the gospel.  Whatever aid we give them now, must be for the building up of the body and the furtherance of the gospel as well. 

Any aid that is given, must come with the gospel, or it will likely become the tool of corruption instead of the cross.

Too many times we in America have seen the physical needs of the suffering and in the name of Christian love, we throw money at it and feel that we have done our duty.  We forget that Jesus fed those who came to hear the gospel and healed those who believed in Him!  But when they started coming to Him for the sake of the Loaves instead of the bread of Life, the gifts were not continued.  To do so would have created the same mentality in the Israel of Christ’s time, as we see in Haiti today!  Jesus often had compassion on the multitudes, and we should too, but let us not do harm in our rush to do good.  Let’s not just send the money, but rather let’s go ourselves and take the gospel with us!  Or at the very least, empower those who are going!  But above all else, the Gospel must be the primary reason we give, not anything less!

Heal the Sick

The water cart

As I looked in the eyes of so many of these dear people, I saw that most of the people over 25 had yellow edges to their eyes.  From what I know, this indicates that they have had hepatitis and their liver is compromised.  Water is like liquid gold there.  The only source for water is a river about an hours hike away over rough road and steep terrain.  But that river, while clean by Haitian standards, is anything but clean!  It is used for bathing, washing clothes, the animals walk in it, and you can imagine what it would be like to drink it!  Among the unsaved, it is the woman’s job to carry the water, and it is very common to see a lady with a 5 gallon jug of water balanced on her head.  However, Dalieas built a little cart from sticks and a wheel from a cut off section of palm tree, that will hold three jugs (15 gallon) of water and push like a wheelbarrow.

Could a well be drilled up there so that people would have clean water to drink?  It would certainly change their daily schedules a lot, but would that be for the better?  What would they do with the extra time that they currently spend hauling water?  If they had a well close by, would they continue to be generous with the neighbors, especially if the quantity was limited during dry times?  These are questions that is seems dumb to ask, and yet the answers may hold the keys to whether a well would be a blessing or a curse to the life of the church which we saw so vibrant right now!

To include the gospel with the aid, I firmly believe that the church should see the well as an opportunity for outreach to the community that comes for water, more than for a convenience to their way of life!  What if they took the time by the water pump to talk to their neighbors about Jesus?  What if they carried water to the widow over the hill and told that they are doing this out of their love for their Savior?  I saw them do this with the man who’s house was crushed by the tree, if they can do this same with a well, then it could be a powerful tool for the church to grow!

Besides the outreach possibilities, the healing potential is tremendous if they were able to have clean water!

Comfort the Afflicted

After Hurricane Laura went through this summer, many of the gardens were completely flattened, just as they were ready to set their heads of grain.  They still have some sweet potatoes, millet, and a certain type of bean that grow on a high bush, but nowhere near enough to last them through the year until they can start harvesting again!

I don’t believe it would be too hard to step in and send enough money to help them get through, but would that physical help also be a spiritual help?  What if our gift creates a tendency to see it as insurance that protects them if anything goes wrong?  What if they see us as their benefactor instead of Christ’s provision for His children?  Is there a way that we could both build their brotherhood and love for each other, at the same time helping them in their hour of need?  I think there is.

Again, the answer lies in the integrity of the church and the small committee that I saw.  

They know their people better than any outsider.  They also want the church to grow and mature more than any outsider!  As we had meetings there this past weekend, the one message was on showing our Love for God, by the way we love each other.  Can we, who are outsiders, help them in their hour of need, and yet also help build the love between them and help them be able to help each other?  The answer is yes, but only if each person in the church is willing to view this project with the same sacrificial attitude we saw in the small committee!  Here is how I propose doing it. 

1:    Have the small committee figure out how many families they would need to consider for help?  Then figure out approximately what the amount of need would be each, and multiply by the first to set the total amount needed for the fund.  This is only a guess, but with prayerful consideration, should be able to get pretty close.

2:    Have those of us who are outside, send the money to the bank for the small committee to access.

3:    When there is a need, have that father come to the committee with that need for evaluation and relief.

a.       They would know who has the real need, and who is just wanting a hand out.

4.           They would then give the estimated amount that is needed to that father

a.       Taking into consideration his ability to handle money.

                                                               i.      If he is quick to spend money on things he doesn’t truly need, then only give him enough to meet the immediate pressing need!

b.       They would also make a record in the book of how much was given, and the understanding being that as soon as the Lord had prospered him beyond his immediate needs, he needs to return the money so that it is there for the next person who needs it.

c.    We gave them a basic class on how to set up a balance sheet so they could keep accurate track of where they were financially.

Periodically, the committee may need to replenish the funds as some people, like widows, may not be able to repay for a long period of time, or ever.

a.       They will then need to look to each other to give sacrificially to the church to keep the funds available

b.       Those who have prospered well, may need to give more than those who are barely scraping by.

c.       This will take much discernment and prayer!

6.       If there ever gets to be too much money in the account, then they can take some of it to help other churches start the same thing in their locality.

Benefits of doing it this way:

·       Takes the focus off of the foreigner and look to the church for aid in time of need.

o   “Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” -Paul

o   The church has always been the best emergency relief platform, if run with integrity and transparency.

·       Creates an ownership of the congregation in the future needs of the church.

o   As those who have benefited from it, return the funds, they see their own money going to help each other, and brotherhood is strengthened.

o   “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another, the way I love you.” -Jesus

·       Brings accountability to the use of funds

o   When outsiders give funds, they rarely see how they have been used.

o   When funds are given from within a body, then they are able to see how they are truly needed and how the money is truly spent.

o   “If a man doesn’t work, then neither should he eat.” - Paul

Dangers of this system:

·       Brings a lot of pressure on the small committee!

o   This paints a huge target on them as the ones who might stand in someone’s way if he’s trying to exploit the system!

o   As they are the ones to determine the extent of needs, their integrity must be above reproach!

§  If they practice favoritism, or are not honest, it will destroy the whole project

·       People could start viewing the church as a welfare community, rather than a place of brotherly love.

 

Conclusion

The poor we will always have with us, as Jesus said.  But how we relate to the poor, will either be in the redemptive way of Jesus, or in the selfish ways of the world.  If we are giving to needs, just so that we can feel the good feelings of giving, then we are part of the problem!  That is selfish as we are doing it for the benefits to my feelings and self-perceived spirituality!  Instead we need to seriously ask, “Is this gift going to effectively build the kingdom of God, and if not, then why am I doing it!”

The first thing a doctor must learn is to “do no harm”.  Don’t do something that is going to harm the patient and make him worse, even if it feels good for the moment!!  And yet we completely ignore this when it comes to the way we view relief and missions!  The excess of money has done more to destroy the church of God, than poverty or persecution ever has!  Why do we take the poison that has destroyed so many Christians and churches, and give it to the ones that are still alive and on fire?!

I believe if we gave sacrificially of our time in the promotion of the gospel, and not just our money, we would find the snare of this world’s goods lessoning on our own souls, and our churches would be on fire!