"this nations needs can be found in Jesus Christ..."
Haiti is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Malnutrition,
unemployment, and political turmoil have plagued this small Caribbean island
nation for decades.
What hope is there for a people group in such a desparate situation? Ebenezer
Evangelical Mission believes that the hope this nation needs can be found in
Jesus Christ.
James 1:27 says this: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and
faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to
keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Using this as a driving
principle, this mission seeks to reach out to the orphans, widows, and many
others in distress who live along the northern coastline of Haiti.
Churches, schools, and medical care have been established in fourteen rural
villages of northern Haiti, thanks to the work done by Ebenezer mission teams in
the past...but the work is hardly done! There is a constant need for teams to go
in to Haiti: construction, medical/dental, evangelical, or other specialty
teams.
If you believe the Lord has been calling you to get involved in mission work -
please get in touch with us! We can help you to organize a team from your local
church, or get you involved with an existing mission team.
Haiti Environmental & Population
- Haiti is 1/3 of the island of Hispaniola
- Tropical Climate & Mostly rough & mountainous terrain
- Elevation: Lowest point-Caribbean Sea 0 m. Highest point-Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m.
- Natural Resources: Bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
- Land Use: Arable Land 28.3% Permanent Crops 11.61% Other 60.09%
- Environment Issues: Extensive Deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); Soil erosion; inadequate supply of potable water.
- Population: 8,121,622
- Age structure: 0-14 : 42.6% (Male 1,741,622/ Female 1,721,436) 15-64: 53.9% (Male 2,137,225/Female 2,242,639) 65 +: 3.4% (Male 124,383/Female 154,317)
- Median Age: 18.03 years total; 17.63 Male & 18.44 Female
- Population Growth Rate: 2.26%
- Birth Rate: 36.59 births/1,000 population
- Death Rate: 12.34 deaths/ 1,000 population
- Infant Mortality Rate: 73.45 deaths/ 1,000 live births; Male 79.92 deaths/1,000 live births; Female 66.79/1,000 live births
- Life Expectancy: Total population 52.92 years; Male 51.58 years; Female 54.31 years
- HIV/AIDS Adult prevalence rate: 5.6% (2003 est.)
- HIV/AIDS deaths: 24,000 (2003 est.)
- Nationality: Haitian
- Ethnic groups: 95% black; 5% mullatto & white
- Religions: 80% Roman Catholic; 20% other
- Languages: French and Creole
- Literacy Rate: Total population 15 & over 52.9%; Male 54.8% and Female 51.2%
- Poorest Country in the Western Hemisphere
- 80% of the population lives in abject poverty & natural disasters frequently sweep the nation.
- Haiti suffers from rampant inflation, lack of investment & severe trade deficit
- Highways 4,160 km; Paved 1,011 km.; Unpaved 3,149 km.
Ebenezer Mission History
- Larry’s 1st mission trip was in 1984. EEM was founded in 1987 by Larry and Nona Ralph in St. Louis du-Nord, Haiti. Our first church services began on May 20th, 1987 and were pastored by Mathieu Mompremier. In October of 1987, Aubert Estimon was brought on as our first staff other than our Pastor. He became our principal and administrator for Eben-Ezer Schools.
- In 1988 our group trips were birthed. Our church and school attendance had doubled. The little rented building was busting at the seams, we began an earnest search for the right property.
- In 1989, we found the perfect piece of property. It was approximately 3 acres just ½ mile east of our rented 16X20 building. This year was a year of great growth and
- In 1990, we began constructing of the building in St. Louis du-Nord. We also started our feeding program for the school children. This year was a year of structuring and staff placement within our ministry.
- In 1991, Our church was continuing to grow and we added more staff and programs to accommodate the growth and groups in the church body. We survived our first political overthrowing, and we noticed our call on this country even more.
- In 1992, The Ralph family spent the entire 3 month summer in Haiti. They continued construction as they could. Due to the embargo, supplies and commodities were few and far between. This was a time for relationship and spiritual growth.
- In 1993, The Ralph family moved to Haiti to live for 6 months. Because of the Embargo fuel and food prices were still skyrocketing. Larry Ralph, Sr. came down with Hepatitis type A on top of Malaria and ended up very sick. He had to be Medi-vaced by Jet Leer back to Miami. During the 5-6 month period in Haiti during the embargo, in the midst of all the problems there were also many victories. In March of 93 we were able to link up with Pastor Adolphe and were able to help him plant a church in Delmas 33. This relationship also led to the co-planting of a church in Martissant.
- In 1994, This was a year of getting back on track and also changing tracks. We planted a new church in Roche Rond. This now made our church family consist of St. Louis du-Nord, Roche Rond, Delmas 33 and Martissant. We had also started a Bible Study high in the mountains in a little village called Guedon. Guedon eventually became our 5th church plant
- In 1995, we resumed all of our normal trips. We had new friends catch the vision and helped us in our endeavors. We had resumed some construction as we could on our different various churches. We had co-op revival services with our American groups and Pastor Adolphe. Much fruit was born thru the revival services. This year was a year of new beginnings for our ministry and a year of refreshing and restoration.
- In 1996, This was also another year of church growth. We were able to do construction for our drainage tank in the front of the church as well as pouring the concrete top for it. We sent several shipments of supplies to Haiti, including our bus loaded with much needed construction and “life” supplies. We had some awesome group trip in 1996 that has led to several people coming to help us every year that they can.
- In 1997, We kicked off ’97 with 2 great group trips. We held revival services, a pastor’s conference, VBS, and completed a few small construction projects. We held the dedication service for the downtown St. Louis du- Nord Park Project. It was a year of some construction, but primarily we spent our time on many smaller projects. We were able to build swing sets downtown for the community in the park. We were able to ship in two flatbed trailers full of supplies, including lunchroom tables for the school and many supplies for the Lashbrook’s as they were beginning their orphanage ministry with us before moving to Port-de-Paix.
- In 1998, We were able to complete more construction on the school building, as well as the park project. We were blessed to hold revival services, and participate in 72 baptisms. In 1998 I had begun sharing with our mission board about a vision or a dream I had of a Bible College and possibly a medical clinic to be used to bless the Haitian people. We began looking at a piece of property that I had dreamed of owning for years. We then began negotiations with the owners that wouldn’t be completed until October 2000. This year was a year of heavy construction, but also a year of tying up loose ends.
- In 1999, we had been able to show the Campus Crusade’s “JESUS” film at the downtown park project. We assembled on various nights; 3500-4000 Haitians were able to view the film. Baptismal services were also held on that trip and 54 Haitians were baptized. We took all of our school children on a picnic with one of our groups to the beach at Port-de-Paix. The school construction project continued with the fourth floor. We had many groups come in and out and our “normal activities” include: Vacation Bible School, school children evaluation, and church services. This was a great year of opportunities.
- 2000 was an awesome year of our normal activities taking place. The church at St. Louis was painted, another swing set put in place for the school at St. Louis as well as many other projects completed. We had a group consisting of 42 people from 10 different churches (9 different denominations).We truly are becoming a very “non-denominational” mission effort. We had started a new church plant in Ansa Foleur in May (our 7th church). We finally were able to come to a transaction and beginning to our Bible College/Medical Clinic Facility at Berger. (Land Purchase)
Contact Ebenezer:
Northeast United States
If you live in the Northeast you can contact either
Steven Page or Josh Delano
via e-mail
Ebenezer Missions Northeast
1127 North Main Street
Brewer, ME 04412
All other Locations:
For all other locations, Ebenezer Ministries is based in Indiana and can be
reached at the following address:
Ebenezer Missions
1988/1990 Old State Road 44
Martinsville, IN 46151