HAITI KIDNAPPINGS HAVE LOCAL CONNECTION

Pictures by Graham Kilsby and New Hope Ministries, Haiti.

With the tragic news breaking around the World this week that missionaries in the Caribbean Island of Haiti have been kidnapped and held for ransom, we wonder how can our small town of Hohenwald be affected by this tragic news. In fact it is, through a small Church by the golf course by the name of General Assembly and Church of the First Born started by the late Pastor Brent Landers and his wife Debbie.

During the past 20 years and more they also started a ministry in Haiti called New Hope Ministry that involved their Church here in Hohenwald funding a school that would educate young Haitan children who were unable to get a proper education on the Island.

Today some 300 children attend the school on a daily basis. But today, that peace and tranquility has been shattered. First by a massive earthquake earlier on this year, and now with the abduction and kidnapping of American Missionaries who were there to help the people.

It seems that the abductions involve American Citizens only, why ? because, very simply, Americans have the money to pay vast sums of money for the release of good people such as these, today's monetary figure for the release is some $19 million Dollars.

Debbie Landers wears an amazing amount of hats not only as a Director of the Church of the First Born, but also as Executive Director of Hohenwald/Lewis County Chamber of Commerce and it was at the Chamber offices that I joined her as she tried to make contact with the school in Haiti to get up-dates.

I listened as a voice on the other end of the phone told how daily life in Haiti had become even more difficult with the Island in total chaos. Little or no government. No police control, that now allowed thugs to roam the island terrorizing people night and day, non more so than the children of New Hope School as they walk to and from school each day. Law and order has broken down, and people are scared.

Mainly because of the earthquake, gasoline just doesn't exist, so having deliveries of water and food are extremely hard to get hold of. There is no government, and because of Covid 19 it is nearly impossible to do anything, With border quarantines in full force for people going in and out of the Island, in fact there are no Covid 19 vaccination places at all.

Debbie Landers asked Renay Lako and Pastor Emile Samedy what is most needed. The answer was plain and simple. We need prayers from every Church in the World.

Knowing Hohenwald the way I have known and seen it for the past seventeen years, I believe that every Church and everyone who cares will offer sincere prayers for the safety of the people of Haiti during this time, and especially the pupils and staff of New Hope School in Haiti.

For offers to help or join prayer groups you can call Debbie Landers or Cindy at New Hope Church of the Firstborn. (931) 796-4361