Haiti


BWA Brings Haitian Baptists Together


Participants at the BWA-sponsored Jesus, Bread of Life conference at the Christian University of North Haiti in Haut Limbe. Seven groups were represented, two of which are BWA member organizations


A


planned and sponsored by the Baptist World Alliance® brought


groups, including


Jesus Christ Bread of Life (BOL) conference seven


two that are already member organizations of the BWA, to focus on holistic development as an expression of authentic Christian witness and evangelism. This is the fi rst time in living memory that such a diverse group of Baptists in Haiti has met to participate in an event. “It was a very good conference,” said BWA


General Secretary Neville Callam, who presented a paper on the Haitian Baptist story within the broader context of Baptist history. Callam was impressed by the vision exhibited by Haitian Baptists and is of the view that Christian ministry in the Caribbean country has both a rich heritage and a bright future. In his paper Callam, who is Jamaican,


reminded Haitian Baptists of the strong historical links between Baptists in the Caribbean. He named a number of Jamaican Baptists who served as missioners in the French- and Creole-speaking country, which shares the island of Hispaniola


with Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic. “Here in Haiti, we celebrate the way God has blessed the church and we are thankful for the growth of the Baptist community,” Callam said. Callam also updated Haitian Baptists on


Baptist witness around the world, particularly in mission, the meeting of human need, and in the fi ght for freedom and justice. The BWA general


secretary and Fausto


Vasconcelos, the BWA director responsible for mission and evangelism, reported that the seven groups represented at the conference decided to form an Alliance of Baptists for Haiti, an umbrella organization where the groups, while maintaining their independence, may share opportunities in fellowship and ministry. This is of signifi cance, Callam declared, as Haiti has more Baptists than all of the rest of the Caribbean combined. A well- known Haitian Baptist was honored


during the BOL conference. Emmanuel Feliz, a retired government civil servant and judge, served time in prison for his quest for human rights during the rule of François ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier. Feliz now distributes solar radios throughout Haiti, carries out a preaching ministry and focuses on training church leaders in personal evangelism. He is also a presenter for a radio station in Haiti. The BOL conference, which ran January 30 to


February 2, was held at the Christian University of North Haiti in Haut Limbe. Presenters included Vasconcelos; Everton Jackson, BWA regional secretary for the Caribbean and executive secretary/treasurer for the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship; and Andre Jean, professor of Old Testament, Old Testament Theology, Hebrew and Pastoral Leadership at the university, among others.


Jesus Christ Bread


of Life is an international training program by the BWA aimed at renewing Baptists’ understanding of the mission of God and to stimulate the desire to bear witness to that mission in each local context. Previous BOL


conferences have been held in Brazil, Paraguay, Nigeria and Cambodia.


Above: Prominent Haitian Baptist Emmanuel Feliz, a retired government civil servant and judge, was honored during the Jesus, Bread of Life conference

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