CIM-Haiti Update

ADJUSTING SHORT-TERM PLANS

As you know, our one year start-up funding was cut prematurely back in August of this year.  It would be an understatement to say this radically affected the day to day operations and forward momentum of establishing CIM-US.  

Out of necessity, Jonathan and I have redirected much of our energy and focus to securing employment to provide for our families.  We are both still unemployed, so please pray for both of us.  Grant, Jonathan and I are spending the remainder of this year adjusting our short-term plans in light of our current situation.  We continue to meet every other week to keep things moving in the right direction.  I am also courting 2-3 churches that have expressed interest in becoming active partners with CIM.

OUR FIRST CHURCH-to-CHURCH PARTNERSHIP

I am excited to announce the establishment of our first official church partnership with The Crossing Church in Clermont, FL.  Kendal Anderson is the lead pastor and a good friend of mine.  Kendal has a HUGE heart for people and immediately connected with the vision and mission of CIM.  

Over the next few weeks we will be working out the details of our partnership. We will be connecting The Crossing Church with a CIM church in Kensckoff, Haiti.  The church was started in 2003 and currently has about 75-100 people total (including children). 

Not long after the church was started, they opened a school for k-5^th and last year had an enrollment of 65 children.  They had erected a building a couple of years ago, but it was completely destroyed when Gustav hit Haiti a few months ago.  Kensckoff is located about an hour from Port-au-Prince in the mountains. The partnership will include annual trips, financial support, collaborating on future projects, ongoing communication and much more.  This is an important FIRST of MANY church partnerships.

GRANT TRAVELING TO HAITI

Grant will be traveling to Haiti in the next couple of months.  Here are a few of his objectives:

·        Meet with leaders at the Kensckoff church to identify current and future needs that can be met through the partnership with The Crossing Church (this includes the potential of a new building)

·        Meet with pastors/leaders in Port-au-Prince area to identify ongoing needs and to encourage them

·        Research the establishment of a central office for CIM in Port-au-Prince (mostly focusing on the technical/communication issues that we would face)

We will be sending out pictures, relevant updates and information after he returns. 

STILL COMMITTED TO A TRANSFORMED HAITI

Although we have had to make adjustments to our short-term plans, there are many things that have not changed.  First and foremost, I wanted you to know that we are still very much committed to our mission…a transformed Haiti.  Our brothers and sisters in Haiti have not given up hope and neither have we. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR…

·        Our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are still rebuilding after the devastation of the hurricane season

·        Pastors and leaders who work tirelessly to care for and lead our churches, schools and mission centers

·        Increase in personal and church partnerships here in the U.S.

·        Discernment, wisdom, creativity and productivity for us as we plan and strategize for 2009

 

Forward Together,

 

Kenny Ellis