History of ReachGlobal Crisis Response in Haiti from Baltimore Meetings

Mark Lewis gave us some context for history and results.  He explained some key events that brought us to where we are.  From the ReachGlobal standpoint, it started with the earthquake which led to immediate relief and progressed to developing relationships and out of those relationships, connecting with partners in lots of different sectors locally (orphanage) and regionally (seminary).  As relationships grew and deepened, about 18 months in after the earthquake, the conversation changed from stuff based conversations (we need this) to substance (leadership, training).  We met Dr. Dorlus and Dr. McMartin about 2 months after the earthquake.  We started a deepening relationship that fairly quickly got pretty deep.

There has been so much kingdom investment in Haiti already, so questions had to be asked.  “Should we be in Haiti?”  “Should we be there for the longer term?” “Why is the culture not being transformed by the church?  That led to this study, this deepening understanding of what are the issues, and why is that not happening?  At the ten month mark, we convened a meeting in Haiti including representatives from STEP, local pastors, other ministries, Brazil, Reach Africa, Latin America, Carribean, Columbia EFC- a broad coalition of international partners, and local folks.  This led to the vision, which is not any organization’s mission’s statement, ‘to see an indigenous, disciple-making, and multiplying church, within walking distance of every Haitian, which demonstrates and engages in proclaiming the transforming power of the Gospel.’”