Haiti (MNN) — As NGOs and even some ministries pull out of Haiti, Christian World Outreach (CWO) isn’t going anywhere. If you’ve been paying attention over the last year, you know life in Haiti has grown incredibly hostile with daily gang violence and kidnappings – especially around the capital, Port-au-Prince.
However, CWO’s Greg Yoder says, “We don’t have any American staff in Haiti. We don’t have American staff in any other countries where we work. We work with the nationals that are leading ministry and have a heart for ministry with people in their countries.
(Photo courtesy of Christian World Outreach)
“In some ways, that helps a little bit with some of this insecurity that is going on. I mean, it still puts them in an unsafe position because they are connected with a ministry…but at the same time, they don’t stand out like we would being a foreigner there.”
CWO works with eight local Haitian churches for Gospel outreach — mostly in northeastern Haiti where there is less gang activity and risk.
The ministry also runs three Feminine Training Centers for women to learn vocational skills like cooking, baking, sewing, and cosmetology. At least 17 students recently graduated from the LaJeune Feminine Training Center.
“They can start their own business, they can get a job in a hotel or a restaurant, that kind of thing, and just giving them some dignity,” says Yoder.
The training infuses some normalcy and hope into the lives of these women, and serves as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.
Students at the LaJeune Feminine Training Center in Haiti. (Photo courtesy of Christian World Outreach)
Yoder explains, “They start class with a little devotional or singing or prayer. They do have a weekly chapel that the ladies can come to…. It gives us the opportunity to share the Gospel or encourage ladies who already have faith in the Lord.”
Yoder requests “prayer for the safety of our staff as they try to travel — especially in Port-au-Prince traveling to the school — safety for the students as they come, [and] safety for our churches as they meet together. When they gather in a group, that’s a targeted area…. So [pray] safety for those that are participating in ministry.”
If you would like to give towards CWO as they continue supporting ministry in Haiti, click here!
Meanwhile, pray for Haitians seeking God’s guidance and peace.
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