“I’M LOOKING FOR A FEW YOUNG MEN WHO WILL GO INTO THE
HELL-HOLES OF HAITI AND PRAY OUT THE DARKNESS.”
This was the challenge that the late Evangelist, Leonard Ravenhill, made to us on a video in 1983, soon after our first trip into Haiti. In Haiti, we had seen for the first time the sobering reality of what, to that point, had only been pictures on a television screen. The swollen bellies, rampant starvation and malnutrition – all this in a land ravaged by misuse. We were broken and burdened by the gravity of what we saw with our eyes and felt with our spirits. Brother Ravenhill had come to the same conclusion that burdened our hearts: For Haiti to change, it would take God’s people praying.
Touched by that burden and God’s promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land…,” (2 Chronicles 7:14–15, NKJV) Hand to the Plow emerged.
Joshua Expeditions
Just as we had our hearts broken through the experience of “going” into Haiti, we felt that if we could share that burden through the same kind of experience we had, perhaps others would pray. That has been the nature of our calling in Haiti for over 30 years now, praying and believing for God to move upon this precious nation.
When we began working with Missionary Phyllis Newby in 1983, she was working with 12 churches and living in the Port-Au-Prince area. Now, she has joined hands with over 300 churches scattered throughout Haiti. The ministry has expanded and our love has grown. We have moved into others areas of service as well that include Christmas For Haiti, Pastoral Leadership Training, Workcamps, Clean Water and helping to facilitate the work of Sister Phyllis. She is such a mighty woman of prayer and we have counted it a privilege to work with her these many years. She took us under her wings and we have learned so much from her life of sacrifice and humility.
We decided many years ago to look for the light in Haiti rather than the darkness! And, by God’s grace, His light is overcoming. He gave us this promise to pray in the beginning of our adventure in Haiti, “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’”(Isaiah 58:8–9, NKJV)
PIONEER, KEEP ON PUSHING,
KEEP ON PLOWING UP THE FIELD!
Do not lose heart; there will still be a harvest.
