From Classroom to Practice

A good portion of the ministry is Haiti involves teaching.  Some of it is classroom teaching with lectures, questions, tests and students.  Other parts of the teaching ministry take place one-on-one through daily interactions at church and in the community.  This past week we had an opportunity to do both and see the fruit God is bringing as classroom learning leads to practical obedience.

Our teaching seminar held at the church plant in Port-au-Prince was on the Old Testament book of Job.  OPC Pastor Mark Sallade originally came to teach on Lagonav.  The other visiting pastor got sick so we had to change our plans.  Thankfully the facility in Port-au-Prince was available and our regular Wednesday afternoon theology class students were eager to come.  We had a total of 29 students who came mainly from the church.  The group included men, women, students and other pastors.  We are grateful for the opportunity to provide Biblical teaching for our church members and to the broader Christian community.

When Pastor Delfils invited some to the teaching he said that many of the potential students indicated Job was their favorite book.  Certainly the theme of suffering is highlighted in Job and many in Haiti have intimate experience with suffering.  Pastor Mark helpfully connected the material of Job to Jesus Christ who is the suffering servant.  Lots of good questions from the students and the day went quickly.

On Sunday we were able to see some of the doctrine we teach at the church put into practice.  When we do instruction for new members we are very clear about the confession that our church holds to.  We think the whole of the Scripture is important and that all the doctrines are to be believed.  This includes the baptism of infants which is not commonly done by evangelical churches in Haiti.  It can be a difficult transition for people to make.

So we were delighted to be able to baptize two babies on Sunday.  Judah is the youngest son of missionaries who work at Adoration Christian School and are members of the Port-au-Prince church.  The other family just welcomed their first daughter Jemima home a couple of months ago.  They were convinced that they wanted to baptize these young children and after interviewing so were Pastor Octavius and I.  What a delight to see people growing in their understanding of the Scriptures and then putting it into practice!  God is building his church.