History of Our Mission in Haiti

A Story of Connection

It is a story of adventure, generosity, courage, and our better selves. In it we sometimes sense the hidden hand of God’s providence. Like an Old Testament tale, it begins with the chance meeting, on a crowded third-world street, between elderly Mother Laura Steward from Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ, who felt a call, and young pastor Luc Deratus, who felt a call. Through friendships, Rev. Dana Fearon of The Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville (NJ) met Pastor Luc and in 1991 the first medical trip was taken.

Over these years, there have been clinics and church painting, planning, and praying, singing, sponsoring students, food pantries, fellowship, vitamins, and visits from Pastor Luc.

The years included political disturbances, violence, and cancelled trips. We met one crisis of violence when Pastor Luc had to flee the country. His ministry continued. Then came the ultimate crisis: the January 2010 earthquake. Still, Pastor Luc’s ministry, and ours, is fully alive.