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Sister Church
Tiburon
is on the far western tip of the southern peninsula
of Haiti. Tiburon is a small coastal village in a
rural corner of Haiti with only 28,000 people.
In 2005, the church (Tiburon Baptist Church) at Tiburon
had a membership of 85 families and 350 in attendance.
They have a small private Christian school with 8
teachers and 375 students from the local community.
In Haiti public education is free, but there is little
money for schools and teachers. The sad reality in
a country with nearly 90% illiteracy is that most
schools are church run and rely on tuition to pay
their teachers. Most of the villagers work as farmers
and fisherman and earn less than US$150.00 per year.
Tuition is a serious challenge in a nation of such
crushing poverty. Haiti has the highest rate
of infant mortality in the western hemisphere and
among the lowest life expectancy in the world.
Recent political confusion has resulted in the with-holding
of hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid.
The poor in Haiti face malnutrition, sickness and
disease on a scale unparalleled in the western
world.
As the apostle Paul received a vision of the church
in Macedonia asking for help, there is a Macedonian
call coming from Haiti. RMI, through the ministry
of the Sister Church Program has enabled CrossRoad
Church to begin to answer that call. We are so thankful
that God has allowed us to encourage our friends and
family in the village of Tiburon.
CrossRoad Church began its relationship with our Sister
Church in 2002. Pastor Jerry Winkler led the initial
team's visit to Tiburon Haiti. During this visit Jerry
and his team meet with and evaluated the needs the
church in Tiburon. In 2002 the church counted 45 families
as members and averaged 125 in attendance during Sunday
services. The Church ran a lower functioning school
which at any one time could have 300 kids enrolled.
The church in Tiburon was the lead church of 6 churches
in its district and it performed 2 weddings in 2002.
Also during this year the church had 15 baptisms and
22 professions of faith.
In 2005 our Sister Church has grown to include over
85 families and average over 350 in attendance on
Sundays. The school that the church operates has blossomed
from one of the lowest functioning schools in the
community to highest functioning and most prestigious
school in the entire district. Currently CRC sponsors
205 of the 300 kids enrolled in the school. This not
only allows the education of children who could not
otherwise afford it, but also provides jobs for teachers
and money for the community. With every 10th
child sponsored the school is able to pay one teachers
wages for the entire year.
With the musical instruments, sound equipment and
generator that CRC donated to our Sister Church in
2003, the church has been able to take their ministry
out from their walls and into the countryside. In
2005 the church counted over 35 baptisms and 95 professions
of faith. In addition the church had 8 weddings and
added a youth ministry to their church.
With the assistance of a church in Indiana, funds
provided by CRC were used to renovate and expand the
church in Tiburon. This expansion created new classrooms
for the school and a second floor for the church.
For information about CRC OutReach and various mission opportunities at CrossRoad Church, contact us at 904.493.1245 or email outreach@crcumc.org.
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