Orphans and the Need for Schooling

We want to thank you first for taking your time to read this brief column!

The children have started back at school in East Africa. Because of your faithfulness, we were able to send $1,900 so orphans could attend high school. We are excited to see these children grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually. We want to see the orphans graduate from high school and continue into college. We hope that they will be come strong vessels for the Lord’s service in whatever He chooses for their lives.

“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.” 1 Samuel 1:27-18. Let us stand in the gap and pray for these precious lives as Hannah prayed for her own beloved son. Let’s fervently lift them Jesus.

We are excited as the ministry continues to grow! We just received another 60 applications into the orphan ministry of new orphans needing support! Some of these children have been disregarded by their parents, or lost their parents due to illness. Either way, they are hurting, needing love, needing grace, needing mercy, needing Christ.

If you would like more information about supporting an orphan please write us at fmi@igmonline.org or call us at (203) 364-4483. Please consider helping us send orphans to school, you may donate any amount at any time to the FMI Scholarship Fund.

Life is so exciting as we choose to serve Jesus and help these precious lives!

Haiti Visits You!

Haiti: words cannot describe such a wonderful country, and more importantly, such wonderful people.  The last week of July I was able to head to Haiti, my final destination in touring all FMI ministries.  The only statement that could summarize my visit is, “You don’t visit Haiti, but Haiti visits you!”  And that, my friend, still does not do it justice.  I arrived on a Monday with Scott (a friend and deacon of my local church), and my dad (it’s been a while since his last visit). The three of us met up with Steve & Rita Smith, the FMI Coordinators to Haiti. We spent a few days visiting the National Church Planters and orphans.  The field is definitely white unto harvest in Haiti, especially for the orphans.  I saw love, joy and peace among the orphans.

The first full day we were able to get all the men together for a conference to share our vision for the orphan ministry, and to listen to the victories and challenges that they face every day.
The second day I was able to visit with Pastor Jacsene Orelus and see his ministry and orphans. He was such a blessing! His heart and love for orphans is unquenchable. His church and school buildings have been flooding every time it rains since the government did some road work and removed the ditch where the water would normally flow. Now with the ditch gone, the water flows right into Jacsene’s church building. Please continue to pray and see what the Lord would have you to do to help with this great need.  Despite the need, his orphans are doing great.  I saw such love and tenderness in their eyes, and to see them learning about the Lord was such a blessing.

 
The third day we went with Pastor Delisme Jean Joel to visit his school, church and orphanage.  To see the damage at his church from the earthquake was heart-wrenching. They had also been using the church building for a school. Now they are down a block and up a hill, under makeshift tents. It was a blessing to see his steadfastness, as well as his desire to see the children raised in the love of Jesus.

The last full day I was there, I had the opportunity to meet with Pastor Fritz Voltaire. He is truly fulfilling the mission of our Orphan Ministries.  When I arrived at his place, school was in session (held in the church building). The teachers in the school were once orphans themselves. Another orphan is now in Theology school and wants to be Fritz’s right-hand man, ready to preach the Word whenever needed.  A crowd of orphans surrounded all of us with huge smiles on their faces, demonstrating a love for Christ and one another that puts most of us to shame here in America.  I was then able to take updated pictures of all the orphans who have a sponsor, and the new orphans who don’t.  Before we headed back to our place of rest, we were able to meet with Pastor Lucien Metedieu, who just took in 10 orphans as a result of the earthquake. He doesn’t have an orphanage yet, but he took them into his home anyway.  He was able to get their names and an idea of their ages, but since they lost their parents in the quake he is still trying to get more information.  Please pray for Pastor Lucien as he helps these children.

Haiti Orphans - Steve & Rita Smith - FMI Orphan Cordinators to Haiti

Many of you have taken part in providing aid for the devastated people of that poor country who have gone through yet another in a series of catastrophic events.  Everyone has seen the news photos of the earthquake and even read reports from ministries working in Haiti. I do not want to give old news about the plight of the misplaced people, the injured, and those who lost loved ones. I would, however, like to relate to you the conditions of the orphans. For the most part they, like the rest of their fellow citizens, are dealing with life day by day. (Should we in America be more like that? Matthew 6:11: Give us this day our daily bread.) We did lose three orphans as a result of the quake, as well as a pastor’s son and a pastor’s wife and newborn child. I was able to visit with both of these pastors and offer them condolences. There is truly little that can be said to take away the pain of loss, but both men are going forward with serving the Lord. Pray for Pastors Contave Jackelin and Mombien Jerome and their families.

I was able to visit many of the orphan ministries in March. One thing that I immediately became aware of was the number of tents of all kinds being used by the people in and around Port au Prince. Those whose homes were still standing were also sleeping in tents in their yards for fear of tremors causing further danger. Pastor Voltaire had his orphans sleeping in the orphanage compound in tents, and he and his wife were staying in a tent on the roof of their house. The pastors also had to close their schools because people were staying in the school areas. Pray that the schools may get back in session and their lives of these may return to some normalcy. Though Pastor Metedieu lost his church building, he had some fifty people sleeping in a tent on the church property. As you can see, the pastors are giving of their own resources and doing what they can to help their fellow Haitians.

I want to thank those who contributed to the Haiti Orphan Relief Fund and our Haiti Orphan Project Fund. I was able to take some of these funds with me to help these pastors care for the orphans in this time of need. I believe God will richly bless you for your love for the fatherless.
Finally, please pray for Pastor Medeus Edwige. Due to his battle with colon cancer, he has asked to be relieved of his orphans’ care. He has been faithful for many years, and we are sorrowed that his health is failing. He gives the testimony that he is “ready to go home”.

Rita and I are praying about returning to Haiti early this summer to see how we might again be a help to them. Please pray with us regarding our plans. Also pray for the possible construction of an orphanage for Pastor Jacsene Orelus in the Pierre-Payen area.

Can you put a price on the life of a Child?

As you have heard in the news and in this publication, the effects of Haiti’s quake have been felt all over the world. We are praising God that only two of FMI’s orphans went home to be with the Lord as a result of the earthquake:  Nadine, under Pastor Fritz Voltaire, and Jean “Junior”, under Pastor Jerome Mombien. What a blessing it is to know that both orphans had come to know the Lord Jesus as their Savior under the leadership of these exceptional pastors. To their supporters, we have thanked you personally, but wish to also thank you publicly; thank you!

In light of the recent events, we are reminded that we do not know what tomorrow holds. Many have seen the devastation and donated their time and resources. As Christians, it is our desire to be more like Jesus. I want to encourage you to seek Him, know Him and follow Him. Although our Savior’s ministry is not worthy to be “summed up” or treated with carelessness, I wish to highlight one field: children; more particularly, orphans.

“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” – Psalms 82:3 

“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” – Psalms 68:5

“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.” – Matthew 18:5

”And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased , and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” – Mark 10:13-14

Parents have the most influence on their children in teaching them and training them in the Gospel, but what about orphans? Who will teach them? We have pastors who love these children, but they are not able to care for them alone.

“I have not greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” – 3 John 4. Can you put a price on the life of a child? What if you were to die today and your children were left orphaned? What would you wish the church would do for them? Are you willing?

We don’t know what the Lord has planned for our obedience of today, as His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. To all who already support an orphan or orphans, we would like to say an enthusiastic thank you on behalf of the orphans! Thank you for taking your part in reaching the world for Christ, one child at a time! For more information on how you can help, please visit us online at www.fmionline.org, write us at fmi(at)igmonline.org.

In loving memory of Junior and Nadine.

Living Out the Gospel

This Christmas season has been a bittersweet experience. The world has worked so hard to remove the word 'Christmas' from our vocabulary: the 'holiday' tree, 'Season's Greetings', etc. Yes, it is sad to see what the world is doing with this beloved time, but it should not get us sidetracked. The real reason for this time is to celebrate our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His birth into this world to save us from our sins.

Christmas is unquestionably a time to celebrate with family, but what about orphaned children all over the world who have no family? They have no one to care for them and have never heard the Gospel. My heart is troubled to think of these children, alone, not knowing if they will even have a meal on Christmas (forget about considering a feast or even the blessing of a Christmas present.) Some will not even realize that others are celebrating the day, or why. However, according to John 14:18, these children DO have a reason to celebrate; Jesus says, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

In 2005, UNICEF published a report stating that there are between 143 and 210 million orphans in the world (an orphan being defined as a child who has lost one or both parents). I want these children to know that there is hope! They have a Father who loves them! But those numbers are immense, what can one man do about all these precious orphans? The fact is, I am not alone – in just the US, over 155 million people claim to be Christians.

According to Matthew 25:34-40, we Christians have an honorable call to care for these children: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Also, Psalms 82:3-4 states, "Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked."

If each of us did our part as Christians, there wouldn't be an epidemic like this in the world today. So, what are you doing about it? Are we just sitting in our ivory towers we call churches, and think someone else will take care of them?

"I tell people that the biggest sin in our church is you sitting there, doing nothing, and still calling yourself a follower of Jesus."(Stetzer, 2009)

Everyone, old or young, can make a difference in these children's lives! You can send a gift, feed, clothe, educate, pray, sponsor, and adopt these children in your life. So I implore you, as you celebrate this Christmas season, to remember, this life is not our own…it belongs to Jesus. Will you heed His call "To visit the fatherless … in their affliction"?

Works Cited:

Stetzer, E. (2009, February). Ed Stetzer, The LifeWay Research Blog. Retrieved November 20, 2009, from http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2009/02/the-biggest-sin-in-your-church.html