Protestant evangelical Haitian churches are springing up like mushrooms in all Haitian communities in North America because of the freestyle church planting strategies employed by their laity and because they has become a beacon of hope and a positive social force in Haitian communities.

The Haitian church gives the poor access to education through mentoring and after-school programs, opens doors to social mobility by emphasizing hard work, keeps the family together, and shows Haitians the way to climb the ladder to economic stability. The church is the place where Haitian immigrants feel a sense of belonging and ownership. It provides support and guidance to newcomers until they find their way in American society. It is the voice of the voiceless in Haitian communities while people are readjusting their lives in a new culture and learning a new language.

The Haitian church is the place where people come to resolve conflicts between husbands and wives, parents and children, and other familial disagreements. It is the place that facilitates the process of acculturation, where familial language, habits, and cultures are learned. The young are exposed to foods from the homeland and the stories of the past. Weddings and funerals in Haitian communities are great events where everybody meets to hear stories and talk about politics of the homeland, as well as North America. The Haitian church is the place for social, political, economic, and spiritual empowerment. Similar to the pastor in the Black community, the Haitian pastor, in spite of his/ her limited training, is expected to be the social worker, lawyer, educator, counselor, and a source of information and education for the community.

In spite of its importance and dominant place in these communities, the Haitian church faces the challenge of retaining the second generation, particularly college graduates. New and innovative strategies must be developed to turn around this trend.

Immigration laws have limited the number of Haitians who can come to North America. Therefore, the pools for new converts are becoming smaller for Haitian church growth, and planting new Haitian churches is getting harder.

General suggestions for reaching the Haitian community:

1. Acknowledge the difficult realities that face Haitian immigrants—both in their coming and in their subsequent life issues faced in a new and difficult land. Barriers involving language, culture, race, and economics are perhaps more difficult for Haitians than with any other national group.

2. Avoid stereotyping Haitians. They are not to be lumped in with Africans or African Americans. Their history is one of independence and abuse, but not on the same level as others.

3. Treat Haitians with respect and avoid condescension.

The missional task for districts is to:

• Welcome international students. Go onto college campuses and seek to host them.

• Sponsor a Work-and-Witness team to go serve in Haiti.

• Invite missionaries who have served in Haiti to inform, counsel, and motivate the local church in its ministry to Haitians.

• Screen for doctrinal and ethical integrity any independent church and pastor who wishes to be affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Have them thoroughly convinced that the Church of the Nazarene is the right church for association based on doctrine, governance, and mission, and not primarily on practical advantages.

• Pray for Haitian leadership and consider committing scholarship funds to help prepare those called to ministry.

• Give adequate training opportunities for local church leadership to complete the course of study or engage in the formal training programs of the church. Offer financial assistance for meritorious studies.

Recognize the great progress that has been made by Haitian-American and Haitian- Canadian Nazarenes, making them the second largest immigrant church in North America. The leadership, networking, and experience serves as a great incentive and resource for additional growth.

by Dumerzier Charles