Spiritual Conference in Haiti Aims to Bring Men to the Cross
by Allie Martin and Jody Brown
December 7, 2004
(AgapePress) - A missions and relief organization is partnering with the largest men's ministry in the U.S. for a series of prayer events and men's meetings in Haiti.
"Haiti at the Cross" is a three-day evangelistic outreach sponsored by New Directions International and Promise Keepers. The conference, taking place December 10-12 at the National Soccer Stadium in Haiti, will feature speakers such as former major league pitcher Dave Dravecky, Bishop Larry Jackson of Frontliner Men's Ministries, and Joe White, director of Kanakuk Kamps in Missouri.
NDI says despite the stressful economic and political situation in Haiti, there are signs of hope. By some estimates, evangelicals make up as much as half of the Christian population of the island nation. NDI believes faithful Christians can act as a catalyst for positive change in a country known for being the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere and adhering to voodoo religion.
Dr. J.L. Williams, founder and CEO of NDI, says although voodoo has been dominant in the Caribbean nation for two centuries, there is hope.
"You can't change a home, a business, a nation, [or] a church unless you impact men and get them back in God's role of authentic servant leadership. So that's why we're excited to have [Promise Keepers] involved," Williams says. "[Also] this is a very strategic 'God moment' in the nation's history because this is concluding the bicentennial celebration for Haiti."
And although Haiti has been torn by military and political strife in recent years, Williams believes the country is ripe for a true revival.
"Our prayer is that the Christians in America will join hearts and hands with the Christians in Haiti to really seek to bring about a positive political change," he says. He also is hopeful the evangelical population of the country can have an impact similar to that the Christian Evangelical vote had in the recent U.S. elections. "[T]he Evangelical church in Haiti is strong enough to do that because the evangelical population of Haiti is 42 to 47 percent," he adds.
Promise Keepers president and CEO Dr. Tom Fortson has similarly high expectations about the conference.
"It's all about seeing men transformed worldwide," Fortson states in a press release. "Promise Keepers receives calls every month from various pars of the world when people become aware of the impact that Christian men have on their societies."
Fortson says PK is honored to minister alongside New Directions and the Christian leaders in Haiti during what he describes as a "historic event." The NDI website has posted a special video called "Breaking the Blood Pact" that explains how the two ministries plan to bring about change in Haiti through the presentation of the gospel.
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