The Journey Begins

The Creole word for joy is “jwa,” and it is the very thing that draws us to the country of Haiti. Walking the streets, one is quick to notice swollen bellies and reddish hair caused by malnutrition, rampant disease, and illiteracy, all of which sweep the entire country of Haiti. So where is this joy that we speak of? The longer you stay and the more time you spend with these people, the more rapidly and completely the physicality of the place fades away until the only thing left is the raw beauty of the Haitian people. The beauty of Jesus is so tangibly expressed in every face you see in Haiti. While many are without hope and the knowledge of where their food will come from the next day, within thesepeople is an admirable wisdom and an unbelievable faith by which they live. This beauty, accompanied by God’s immeasurable work in our lives, has given us a passionate love for this country that has been building up for some time now. So it is with great anticipation that we are announcing our partnership with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission (NWHCM) with the desire to see changed lives, and, most of all, the desire to see the gospel transform hearts!


NWHCM is an independent, nonprofit Christian church organization with thirty years of commitment to Haiti that is dedicated to establishing and partnering with indigenous churches to help bring people in Northwest Haiti out of spiritual, physical and social poverty, demonstrating God’s love for all people. The main campus is located in St Louis du Nord. It has a hospital and birthing center, clinic, pharmacy, nutrition program, baby and special needs orphanage, and an elderly home. NWHCM also participates in a diverse collection of programs such as primary schools, feeding projects, orphanages, medical clinics, church planting, a Bible college, and agricultural development. It is the largest employer in the zone and one of the largest ministries in Haiti, and we are overjoyed to become a part of the great work they are doing.


Our job as missionaries on the campus is to help better enable this mission to succeed, so John has accepted a position as the mission campus pastor, where he will teach and disciple directly to the people of Northwest Haiti. Christi will be discipling to young mothers who bring their children to the nutrition program, and Terah has planned to start backyard Bible studies that will introduce the people to God and His love for them.


We are encouraged in this endeavor by our faith in Jesus Christ and we are driven to serve the poor and oppressed in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation because we love the people and believe that God loves them too. We believe in Christ’s promise to bring us life in its fullest for all people, and we believe in His command to serve our impoverished neighbors. With that, we are not being called to a country; we are being called to obedience in joining a movement with our Haitian brothers and sisters, in bringing the word of Christ to the streets of a beautiful country in a tangible, expressive love for our neighbors, in providing food and clothes, in caring for the orphan and the widow, in visiting the prisoners, in making disciples, and in many other ways which we will soon discover. God has prepared us for this mission for many years, and, finally, in January of 2012 our family will be going to St. Louis du Nord to live out this call.

How you can be a part of this unique journey...

-  Joining us in communal prayer (please see the prayer needs below)

-  Joining us in financial support, whether it is a one time donation or monthly supporty.

TO DONATE TO OUR FAMILY:

Click the DONATE link at the top of our blog.

OR SEND CHECKS TO:

Northwest Haiti Christian Mission  7271 South Mayfower Park Ave Zionsville, IN 46077

Please include a note that it is for the Barnes' family.

We have found such peace and freedom through obedience to His call! We are thankful beyond words for so many of you who have encouraged us along our journey, and we are excited about all that God has in store for our family as we pour out our lives as an extension of Christ.

Consumed by the Call, John, Christi, Terah, Jordan, and Ava Grace Barnes

 “Do not become weary in doing good…” Galatians 6:9

Join us in prayer:

• Continued pursuit of communition with Jesus each day.
• Continued strength for our marriage.
• Continued brokeness and humility in the call.
• Seeking council in the decisions before us.
• Closure for Terah, Jordan, and Ava at Coder in December.
• Wisdom on who God wants us to pursue to be in communal jounrey within this call.