A Regional Church

As the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) comes to Haiti to do the work of missions we have three goals for the church here.  Our desire is that the church God raises up is not only reformed and presbyterian but that it is self-sustaining, self-propagating and self-governing.  We took a large step toward the church becoming self-governing at a meeting held this past Saturday.

After our two day training seminar on Lagonav we returned to the mainland with representatives from each of our 7 churches.  These men are leaders in their respective churches.  At the meeting were 15 men from Lagonav, 17 men from churches on the mainland of Haiti working with Charles Amicy and MPH.  Also present were missionary Octavius Delfils, Charles Amicy's brother Leon who is an ordained pastor along with two men working with Coram Deo International Ministries in Port-au-Prince.  Both of these men are members of Canadian Reformed churches.

We began the meeting with singing and prayer.  Each of the men present was given an opportunity to introduce themselves and speak a little about their church.  We realize that an important aspect of forming a presbytery is that the men know and trust each other.  Many of the men function as pastors or elders but are not yet ordained.  This will be one of the functions of the presbytery when it is formed - to ordain pastors to work in the Haitian churches.

Following the introductions I gave a brief summary of the biblical background to the regional church and its functions.  Then the floor was opened to questions.  All of us present were very encouraged by the questions asked by the men.  The questions did not express any resistance to the idea of a presbytery.  Instead they were asking how it will work.  After a delicious meal prepared by the ladies of the Presbyterian Church of Messailler, the men returned home to prepare for Sunday worship.

We are grateful that Christ continues to build his church.  Lord willing, we will have the first meeting of the presbytery in 2009.  We are encouraged that the brothers are willing to work together in this effort.  Pray that the cause of the gospel will be advanced through all the leaders God is raising up here in Haiti.  "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)