2nd Round of Students at the Preachers’ Training School

Many of you have met Jean Rony Pierre (photo above), who took over the preaching responsibilities in Hinche after his father, Jean Martel, was killed a few years ago.

What I don’t think I’ve mentioned – even though I’m extremely excited about it – is that Jean Rony is part of the second round of students who started in January 2018 at the Preachers’ Training School we established in Port-au-Prince (i.e., the Delmas Christian University School of Theology, now fully accredited by the Haitian government to grant four-year baccalaureate degrees in Ministry, Theology, and Biblical Studies).

When Jim Cain and I visited with this new group of students in June of 2018 we had a chance to interview them briefly, and I wanted to share some of their responses to the questions we asked…

First off, we asked what kind of work each of them is doing currently.  In addition to those men who are already preaching full time, the answers we got included:  teacher (3); mechanic (3); music teacher (at the Cazeau school, for those of you who’ve been there); translator; businessman; driver; painter; printer; bookseller; and, a 4^th year nursing student, who started into this program to get a second degree.

Then we asked what they hope to be able to do with the training they receive through this program.  A few of the responses were:

• plant new churches
• preach to those who have never heard the gospel
• understand the gospel better, and be able to explain it more effectively
• be able to answer questions based on what the Bible actually says, not just based on opinion
• be able to preach with accuracy and integrity
• fulfill the great commission
• lead souls to God

Lastly, we asked what made them want to pursue this training in the first place, since most of them already have some kind of job or profession.  Their responses included:

• People are perishing because they don’t know the Gospel, and I want to do something about it
• There is a great deal of false doctrine being taught in Haiti, and to fight it we must know the truth
• When talking with people, I want to be able to explain accurately what the Bible actually says
• I want to understand the will of God better
• I want to learn how to help others who don’t know the truth
• I want to know the Word of God well enough to be an effective preacher
• I want to have a better understanding of the Word of God
• I want to know better how to help others be saved
• I want to be able to teach others the Gospel, and share it effectively
• I want to know the Bible better, and spread the Gospel throughout Haiti
• I want to grow in my knowledge of the scripture, and be a true student of the Word