Relationship Between VOHM and the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA)
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Vision of Hope Ministries
(VOHM), Inc was founded in 1998 for the express purpose of continuing
the work started by the Evangelical Free Church Mission in Cap Haitien,
Haiti. The founding board of VOHM included the past superintendent of
the Southeast District-Evangelical Free Church of America (SED-EFCA),
Walter Eriksen. Walter and the SED were very helpful in providing
accountability and organizational structure for the ministry.
Today, the Cap Haitien Evangelical Free Church (EFC) is a member of the
SED-EFCA and VOHM is making plans to affiliate with the Federation of
Latin America Free Churches. Greg Schuenke, president of VOHM and
superintendent of the SED-EFCA Glen Schrieber are engaging in
discussions as to how both VOHM and SED-EFCA can work more closely
together.
During a visit to Haiti to view the work of VOHM, Evangelical Free
Church of America-International Mission (EFCA-IM) Latin America Area
director Tim McIntosh and EFCM Church Planting Coach Gene Wilson saw
first hand what was being done for Christ through the Cap Haitien EFC,
Berard EFC and the College Susan Schuenke. This is what Tim had to say
about VOHM:
Gene Wilson, our area
Church Planting Coach and I were in Cap Haitian in early March (2003)
and were greatly encouraged by the work of the Evangelical Free Church
in that city. In 1994 Henoc Lucien, a Haitian serving with the EFCA-IM,
started a Bible Study and many came to Christ. The Free Church work
grew rapidly and today there is a healthy church, school, English
language training center and computer lab as well as various other
ministries.
Tim
goes on further to say:
The EFCA-IM has the policy of
launching only one Free Church movement in a country. The first church
of such a movement has been launched in Haiti and the VOHM board is
committed to supporting the ministries of that Free Church. The EFCA-IM
has decided not to begin anew in Haiti but rather give the Free Church
of Cap Haitian and VOHM their vote of confidence. We are recommending
that those like yourself who want to return to Haiti do so through
VOHM. We will also be encouraging U.S. Free Churches who want to be
involved with Haiti to do so through VOHM.
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