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CNBC disaster relief team builds shelters in Haiti

By Staff,

COCHRANE, AB—Nine Canadian men, representing three CNBC churches, spent a week (May 15 to 22) in Haiti helping some of the people whose lives were impacted by the January 12 earthquake.

The trip was organized by the CNBC Western Canada disaster relief coordinator, Darla Ponath, who put out a call across Canada for anyone interested in going with a disaster relief team to Haiti. 

The North American Mission Board and Florida Baptist Convention helped look after details concerning local transportation, housing, local translators, security, clean water and food. Florida Baptists have had an ongoing relationship with churches in Haiti for several years prior to the earthquake.

Ken Ponath, CNBC construction ministry leader led the team. Other team members were: Tim Wuthrich, Phillip Koster, Herb Seidler, Garry Tether and Rocky Phibbs, from Bow Valley Baptist Church, Cochrane, Alberta; Josh Tait from Tapestry Church and John Stalder, from Richmond Hill Baptist, both in Calgary; and Francis Marten, from Renaissance Bible Church, Rawdon, Quebec.

“The purpose of the trip was to help improve living conditions for the people of Haiti while showing the love of Jesus,” said Ponath. In order to construct shelters for families whose homes had been destroyed in the earthquake the team members first had to clear the rubble and debris from original home sites. Fourteen shelters were constructed that week, with materials supplied by Samaritan’s Purse.

“We were very fortunate to have Francis [Marten] on this team as he served as our translator,” Ponath said. “He was very bold in sharing the gospel with anyone and worked with our chaplain, Josh Tait, as he visited with the people of the three different villages where we worked.” 

As he recalled this Haiti trip, Francis Marten referred to the verse, Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Marten said, “We didn’t have to do like Jesus did for us on the cross, but I had a servant mind-set for this mission trip and always asked myself how Jesus would have reacted in certain circumstances. I share this because we saw some Haitian women there who were totally unhappy to have these white Canadians coming over.

“But we came smiling politely saying, ‘Bonjou! Koman ou ye!?’ (Greeting in Creole) every morning, with a heart full of love, sharing the gospel and playing with the kids. They saw in us the love of Jesus and the sincerity of our hearts.” After a shelter was finished the team would pray with the family, give them a New Testament and invite the neighbours to join them in giving thanks to the Lord.

“The funniest part is that a particular lady in Leogane, who was bitter and was complaining all the time, asked me for a Bible and jumped for joy for her friend who just had received a home! Isn’t that awesome? Only God can do those things!”

Marten also told about visiting in the village of Lacul with a Voodoo priest who had come to know Christ after the earthquake. Marten said, “We heard testimonies of many people in this area that followed him in his decision of accepting Christ as Lord and Saviour.”

The man’s wife was upset and refused to pray with them for her husband. So, Pastor John—a native Haitian who is now in charge of a church in California—and Marten prayed over their property, laying their hands over the area. “We thanked Jesus, asking Him to show His grace and magnificence and to cast all kind of evil from this place,” Marten said. “I’ve never felt such a strange pressure over my chest!

“The next morning we had to prepare a spot to build a shelter where a Voodoo altar had been built. Who do you think took the sledgehammer and destroyed … no … exploded that concrete alter? It was Louise, the wife of the ex-Voodoo Priest! Only God can change hearts like that. Amen!”