Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

As I prepare to fly back to Philadelphia after a beautiful time with missionaries Ingrid Roldan, Sue Hegarty, Ruth Mooney and Ray Schellinger, and our partners in mission from the Baptist Federation in Costa Rica, and Great Rivers Region mission team, I ask you to pray for the political unrest in Haiti.  Below, you will find the note from Stan Slade: Post-election Call to Prayer:  Haiti

Unrest following the elections of October 25 has caused disruption and some acts of violence in Haiti.  Especially after disturbances in the north of Haiti, and at least one election-related death, Rev. Emmanuel Pierre, General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of Haiti, shared:  “The situation is really worrying these days especially in Cap[Haitien] and Limbé. But God does not abandon us in the midst of these difficulties and the effects of your prayers reach down to us to encourage and protect us. We are very grateful.”

Home office staff have been in contact with American Baptist International Ministries (IM) personnel during the crisis:  Steve and Nancy James in Limbé, report that they are doing well and adjusting their activities according to the situation; Nzunga Mabudiga and Kihomi Ngwemi are in the U.S. on a previously-scheduled visit, and have postponed their return to Haiti while awaiting the return of calm; Deliris Carrión Joseph is in the U.S., preparing for a new assignment to serve in Deborah’s House, in Tijuana, Mexico.

Voting on Sunday, October 25 elected new representatives to parliament and narrowed the field of 54 presidential candidates to two, Jovenel Moise and Jude Célestin, who are scheduled to compete in a run-off election on December 27, 2015.  Tensions between the various political parties and forces run very deep in this island nation and have repeatedly produced unrest and violence over many decades.

American Baptist mission in Haiti first began in 1823, and IM personnel have been serving alongside Haitian brothers and sisters continuously since 1919.  IM personnel and Haitian Baptist leaders together call for prayer that God will lead Haitians into a just and peaceful resolution to the current conflicts, and the long term needs they reflect.