As we step into 2024, we want to remember two impactful milestones in the story God continues to write in Haiti— the 14th anniversary of the devastating Haiti earthquake that shook the nation to its core and the 10th year anniversary of our public-school bible teaching & bible club Lavi Reyel.
14 years ago, on January 12, 2010, Haiti faced one of the deadliest earthquakes in history, leaving devastation in its wake with over 300,000 deaths and thousands more injured. However, even through the pain and brokenness, God was working. More people than ever before began attending church, and it was after this earthquake that God called us, Dave & Darlys, to move to Haiti and share God’s love with the Haitian people. His plan for us was to help re-build broken lives and buildings, pointing all people to the saving grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. God orchestrated ways for us to teach hundreds of Haitians vocational skills, bringing dignity and sustainability to their lives.
In March 2014 we orchestrated a Jacmel city-wide Christian concert and saw 600 Haitian youth come to Christ. We launched a New Believers Class, taught by our CIDM bible teacher Brisso, to guide them in their new faith. What started as a single class grew into a recurring Saturday bible club. Lavi Reyel, meaning Real Life, was born, and has now continued strong for 10 years, impacting thousands of youths across the nation!
Not only that, but we have seen God faithfully grow CIDM’s ministry among the education system in Haiti.
CIDM is now teaching the bible in 20 public schools in Haiti, positively impacting 4,500 students weekly and spreading the gospel to the next generation. Often students raise their hands to accept Christ in their classrooms. Just in the last 2 weeks, Josue, our most recently hired Bible teacher, had 9 students pray to trust Christ as Lord of their lives. We are following up with them, inviting them to our Bible Club and finding a bible teaching church near where they live.
God moved us back home to California in 2015, and God’s work continues even stronger as our 7 Haitian staff are used to change their country. Within every facet of the CIDM ministry, we are ministering to over 5,000 Haitians per month.
Through the tragedies and triumphs, we have seen God’s love and goodness at every step. The devastation of the earthquake has transformed into triumphs of faith, and CIDM continues to play a pivotal role in the lives of Haitian youth. We praise Him for the past years and look forward to the incredible ways He will work through CIDM in the future!
Thank you for your partnership in writing this story for the past 14 and 10 years!
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