‘Children and adults need to hear more than ever about the hope that is found in Jesus,’ says CEF Acting Vice President of Administration Fred Pry
For Immediate Release
April 8, 2024
ST. LOUIS — The nation of Haiti is in a virtual state of anarchy, with a government in transition and gangs ruling over many of the country’s populated areas. Children in Haiti are among the most impacted by this violence as they are often caught in the crossfire or kidnapped by gangs that aim to raise funds from ransoms.
However, this has not deterred Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) from increasing its activities in the troubled Caribbean country.
“Children and adults need to hear more than ever about the hope that is found in Jesus,” says CEF Acting Vice President of Administration Fred Pry. “The CEF Haiti national team wants to reach children with the Gospel to let them know that they’re not alone amidst the chaos and violence surrounding them.”
During the Easter season, CEF planned 45 Easter Party Clubs in or near the capital of Port au Prince. Emergency relief supplies are being sent along with the Gospel to these vulnerable children.
In the following weeks, CEF will begin distribution of Gospel packs which include items such as: “Do You Wonder Why?” booklets in Haitian Creole and French; personal supplies such as soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste; snack food; fun surprises like crayons/coloring sheets and small toys, and the “Gospel of John” booklet in Haitian Creole.
CEF is also sending needed funds to CEF workers affected in these areas.
In 2023, CEF Haiti reached over 50,000 children with the Gospel, and over 6,000 professed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. CEF has 19 workers in Haiti, along with hundreds of faithful volunteers.
CEF National Director of Haiti Jacky Gilles spoke on how the violence in Haiti is affecting CEF workers and the challenges that the children are facing:
“Four of our workers had to leave their houses because of gang violence. It’s a serious situation that, sadly, has impacted our ministry. We had to cancel at least three training courses.”
“Children in Haiti are facing many challenges. In many areas in Port au Prince, children have not been able to attend school for almost one month. A lot of children need physical and spiritual food. We strongly believe we must stand with them to bring the good news of Jesus Christ, the only hope for this generation.”
CEF in Haiti believes that in each dark situation, God uses His servants to show up and bring hope. That’s why CEF is determined to involve church leaders and other partners during this time to invest in the lives of the next generation in Haiti.
For those who are not on the front lines working to help the affected areas in Haiti, Gilles encourages them to pray:
“Please pray for the safety and protection of all CEF Haiti workers, board members, volunteers, and their families. Pray that the Lord will raise up leaders of integrity, full of wisdom to lead our nation, with the purpose of bringing light, peace and good conditions for people to live. Pray for a divine intervention to restore peace in Haiti. Pray that the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of the children who took part in those Easter clubs and that the Lord will touch their lives in a mighty way.”
CEF has stepped up its presence in Haiti in several ways. The “Bringing Hope to Haiti” project is providing:
- Additional support for every worker for three months since the cost of living has rocketed.
- Fifty thousand copies of “Do You Wonder Why?” and the “Gospel of John” in the two local languages.
- Five thousand Gospel backpacks with simple play and drawing tools for children and some relief supplies.
- Five hundred Gospel soccer balls to lead children to overcome trauma and hear the Gospel through play and activities.
“Shining the light of God into dark places is part of our mission,” Pry says. “We’re proud to be able to work with our CEF Haiti staff to provide hope and help to thousands of children and their families.”
Child Evangelism Fellowship, which was founded 87 years ago, has been establishing Good News Clubs® in countries around the world for decades. Clubs are thriving worldwide, in countries including Australia, Cambodia, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Uganda.
In 2022, through CEF’s combined ministries, more than 19.5 million children worldwide heard the Good News. More than 439,000 teachers were trained around the world.
For more CEF news, see the ministry’s latest edition of the online magazine Impact.
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been dedicated to seeing every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled and established in a local church since 1937. CEF is located in all 50 American states and in most countries around the world, with over 3,500 paid staff and tens of thousands of volunteers around the world.
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To interview a representative from Child Evangelism Fellowship, contact [email protected], Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.