Haiti | Missions Blog
Haiti
Grace and peace to you in the name of God our Fa- ther and the Lord Jesus Christ. My name is Jean-Phan-iel Isma. I was born and raised in a Christian home in Haiti. I was saved at the age of 10 at a Vacation Bible School meeting at my home church in Ferme LeBlanc, Haiti, when my teacher shared the gospel with me. In 2004 God blessed me with a visa to attend Land- mark Baptist College in Haines City, Florida, where I was blessed to obtain a seminary education. God laid a special burden on my heart for the people of Haiti. There are many churches in Haiti, but there is an extreme famine of sound doctrine and general Bible knowledge beyond the basic gospel.
My wife Roselande and I were sent out as mis- sionaries to Haiti by the Westwood Missionary Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida. We were led of the Lord to plant a solid, independent fundamentalist Baptist church where sound doctrine could be taught, and people could grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Contemporary music culture and charismatic doctrine has had a large influence on the Haitian people and church practice in Haiti.
Emotionalism and seeker sensitive practice and “worship” is the rule of the day in many Haitian churches and communities. My precious wife and I hoped to be used by the Lord to make a difference and to start a movement in Haiti of sound Bible doctrine and traditional worship.
In 2015, on our survey trip, we could not seem to find a location that was ready for a new work due to various factors. We started to wonder if the Lord actually called us to Haiti because the doors were shut at every location we surveyed. Just about the time we were beginning to lose hope, a childhood friend of mine heard I was in town and came to ask if I would be willing to help him start a work in Saut Champlois (a near- by village). The amazing part of this story is that he had no idea I was in town for a mission survey trip, but he knew that this little town was in great need for a church. We went with him to see the location on the same day. It was a Sunday. Throughout the week we went from door to door doing visitation and inviting the local community to church.
We had no building or facilities to speak of. We purchased some plastic chairs and found a large shade tree where we held out first service. There were many in attendance, but the greatest blessing, was that one woman got saved on that day. The following Sunday, under the same tree, that lady brought her sister who got saved also. We spent a total of six weeks on our first survey trip. During that time, we were able to begin the work of a church plant and saw eleven souls saved!
While on this same trip, God again moved in a special way. There was an unsaved man from the village who heard about our work through word of mouth. Even though he was not a Christian, he expressed to us the need for a church in that village, due to the large influence of voodoo and witchcraft in the area. It is amazing that the testimony of Christ has such a positive influence on even those who do not follow him. They recognize the positive and sanctifying influence of Christ on culture. This same unsaved man offered us the use of his property so that we could hold church services under shelter and out of the elements. Only our great God could do such a thing. Since that time, this man and his entire household have come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are all faithful and regular attending members of the Heavenly Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Saut Champlois.
We are located in Aux Cayes, the third largest city of Haiti. It is located in the southern part of Haiti. The construction is very different here from Port Au Prince and even the northern regions of Haiti. The architecture is in the Opus Francigenum or “French Work” style of architecture, which is quite unique in all of Haiti, and really anywhere outside of France. Though our chapel building is humble in comparison, many of the buildings in Aux Cayes are quite beautiful, though the recent earthquake has marred the beauty of many of our antique landmarks. The two largest and oldest buildings were completely destroyed. Only the foundations are left.
The largest challenge for our ministry in Haiti did not come from the culture or even the people. The largest challenge was the health of my precious “Chaupitte” (sweetie) Roselande. Roselande was diagnosed with both systemic and cutaneous Lupus, which was a source of constant pain for her. She suffered bouts of full body lesions, internal lesions and fatigue which was extremely mentally and emotionally taxing for her. Even with the struggles of her physical ailments, she had a passion for the work of the Lord and the people of Haiti.
Even when she was unable to eat anything but rice boiled to a liquid state, due to her constant aiments and the blisters on her feet and legs, she could not be kept from visitation and evangelism work. She had a special place in her heart both for children and those suffering illness. Even when she herself was in pain, she would visit those sick in hospital to encourage them and minister to them. She loved to provide formula and nutrition for the children with congenital defects and severe health issues who were abandoned by there parents and left in the hospital with no hope. Roselande was often times the only loving touch and motherly care they experienced.
Roseland was my rock and a tremendous source of help and comfort in our ministry together. She was a true Proverbs 31 wife. On May 2nd of 2021, after 7 months in the field, Roselande’s health took a drastic and unexpected turn for the worse. We booked the fastest transportation back to the States that we were able to manage, and upon our arrival in Miami, we were met by ambulance so that Roselande could be rushed straight to the hospital. Unfortunately, she passed away only one short week later.
I am continuing the work in Haiti but ministry has become much more difficult in her absence. Even though she was often sick, she was my encourager. It is amazing how many things she did even with her limitations. Now there is a tremendous void left not only in our ministry but in my heart. A void I fear will never be filled but I continue with the work because the people of Haiti need Jesus. I need your prayers most of all for encouragement and comfort from the Lord. No matter how bad the hardship, I always had Roseland by my side and we could endure it together. I cannot imagine my depths of despair if I did not have Jesus in my heart because even with Him it is still quite difficult.
Through our efforts together, nearly one hundred people have come to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Saut Champlois is healthy and thriving. This year, we have broken ground on a new and much-needed building. Though we have not yet gathered all the funds, we trust the Lord will provide for the needs of His people. Please continue to pray for me and for the country of Haiti. May God richly bless you.
Jean Isma
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