Current Newsletter
Sharon Lennon, Neil Helton, Kathy Devlin, Laura Veasey, Susan Mason, Beth Matricia, Mike Gleason, Clyde Morris, Dan Matricia, Brennan Hartke, Allen Lennon, and Don Clark (kneeling). Team members range in age from 12 years old to retired seniors.
Missions
Haiti Mission Project
A team will be going to serve with Sherrie Fausey’s orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 9-13. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Pam Helton or Genny Seidel.
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Amelia Baptist Sends a Mission Team to Matewan, West Virginia
Matewan, WV, June 12-18, 2011: This is the 5th year that workers from Amelia Baptist have gone to this poverty-stricken area to do mission work. Here are a few photos of Backyard Bible Clubs and other activities while we were there:
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Amelia Baptist Church Mission Trip to Haiti
Fernandina Beach, FL ---Twenty-one representatives of Amelia Baptist Church descended upon Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on May 26th. Their mission: to bring servant hearts to people in need. All returned from the trip changed people.
This mission had two emphases, first to work at the Christian Light Ministries school and orphanage in one of the most desperate areas of Port-au-Prince. The school, founded in 2002, provides Christian education to impoverished Haitian children.
Teaching is in three languages: Creole, French, and English. The children think in Creole; French is the legal language of Haiti; English gives them an enormous advantage. The goal of the school is to raise up Christian leaders while providing a loving, nurturing, healthy environment in which children may grow. Thirty orphans live at the school. There are 210 students attending the highly academic and spiritually nourishing school, receiving two meals daily.
The mission team provided teaching at the school for pastors and continuing education for the teachers as well as much needed computer assistance, records organization, and labor for construction projects.
Sherry Fausey, formerly of Jacksonville and founder of the school, encouraged by her visitors, said, “They had medical clinics, pastors’ classes, met with teachers, and did a lot of fixin’ and carpentry. They were great!” Sherry, a retired teacher, says she was directed by God to create this orphanage and school, having witnessed the enormous needs of the children.
Upon her second trip to Haiti, Pam Helton said, “Although most people do not want to return to Haiti due to the difficult conditions, I felt compelled to return and take some special friends to help Sherrie who is living out the passage from Matthew that reads, ‘...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in...'."
The team’s second emphasis was to provide medical care to more than 500 adults and children. Clinics were conducted at Coram Deo and at L'eglise Baptiste de Solidarity.
The need of the people of Port-au-Prince is grave. Many suffer from malnutrition and dehydration due to lack of adequate food and safe drinking water. Thousands are somewhat permanently living in tents. Many have skin, dental, and multiple medical issues. Many have diabetes or high blood pressure or infections. Most need long-term assistance. This team worked hard to provide immediate relief.
"Because our hearts are filled with gratitude for all that God has done in our lives, we are able to see just how much we have to share. Where there is a need, let us continue to serve, both in Haiti and at home, “ says Kathy Devlin.
On June 6, five days after their return, the team learned of devastating torrential rains that have made Sherrie Fausey’s and that of short-term workers in Port-au-Prince even more vital.
Striving to be ambassadors for Christ, this team returned with a renewed vision of the overwhelming need of those who struggle daily just to meet basic needs. They also have a greater appreciation for their own circumstances.
Chloe and Brett Whitaker teach orphan boys at Christian Light Ministries school and orphanage how to use a musical instrument they brought to share and to leave at the school for the children.
Pastor Neil Helton (not pictured) conducted teaching sessions for local pastors.
Mike Gleason and Clyde Morris receive complements from Sherrie Fausey for their work building shelves for her school and orphanage.
Don Clark (not pictured) updated the school’s operating system, loaded new software, and removed viruses to make the computers more effective.