Introduction to Vision of Hope Ministries, Inc.
Vision of Hope Ministries (VOHM) is a holistic church planting movement of Evangelical Free churches in northern Haiti who are under the supervision of the Southeast district of the EFCA. VOHM is incorporated as a C corp. in the state of Wisconsin and has been granted Federal 501c3 tax exemption.  The ministries of VOHM include three EFCA church plants, a Christian school with 900 students, micro-enterprise projects, clean water projects, and leadership training.  The field activities of the mission are under the leadership of missionary, Pastor Henoc Lucien, an ordained EFCA pastor and graduate of Washington Bible College and Dallas Theological Seminary.  We have been proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in Haiti since 1998 and fully ascribe to the EFCA    statement of    faith. Our mission statement is as follows: “Making disciples of Jesus Christ throughout northern Haiti by planting autonomous churches that equip their members to meet the physical and spiritual needs of people, introducing them to salvation in Jesus Christ.  These churches in turn reproduce other churches that doctrinally and philosophically unify themselves to bring glory to God through an international outreach.”  Complete information on the ministry can be found at  www.vohmhaiti.com

The Earthquake
The earthquake of January 12, 2010 devastated a major portion of the city of Port au Prince (PaP) and surrounding areas.  Much of the existing infrastructure of the country was destroyed, including government, medical and educational institutions.  The loss of life and suffering is indescribable.  It is estimated that at least 500,000 refugees have left the city and at least 250,000 of these have moved to the Cap Haitian area in N. Haiti.  Many of the earthquakes victims were airlifted to the Hopital Sacre-Coeur, a 75-bed acute care facility in Milot, about 5 miles from VOHM ministry center in Berard.  This hospital swelled to over 400 earthquake patients-many who lost one or more limbs.  There are also many orphaned children as a consequence of this calamity.

The culture of Haiti is such that young people from the outlying villages and cities move to Port au Prince to become educated and start businesses.  The earthquake destroyed most of the universities and businesses in PaP.  Consequently, VOHM is seeing an exodus from PaP back into our ministry area by refugee students, orphans, and homeless people.  Many are staying with friends and families who can barely support themselves much less provide food or financial resources for these additional refugees.   In addition, we have a large number of medical refugees from the surrounding hospitals that will need rehabilitation, prosthetics, and help reentering Haitian society.

VOHM’s Response
The scope and nature of this nationwide disaster can be crippling if one is unable to focus on the areas in which God has gifted and empowered our ministry. There are three initiatives in any disaster: relieve, restore and rebuild.  VOHM participated in the initial relief response by evacuating people from PaP, facilitating and providing many medical specialists and supplies to help with the immense load of airlifted patients from PaP to Milot, and with initial trauma counseling. The scope and nature of our next phase of response will center on restoring and rebuilding not only physical infrastructure but also lives as we reach out in compassion and offer hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the initiatives VOHM will engage in are as follows providing we have the support of additional partnerships to accomplish what the Lord has laid on our hearts: 
  
1)    Trauma Counseling/Disaster Relief.  We sent Bonnie Martin, a trained trauma counselor in our relief phase of response to Cap Haitian.  Bonnie is willing to return to train pastors/lay counselors in this very important work.  We are planning to hold training seminars lead by Bonnie to train 100 people in counseling.  The cost per 100 trainees is $900 US for an all day seminar.  This cost covers the training manual, and meals for the day.  In the area of disaster relief, we propose to deliver a family food package containing 50 lbs of rice, one gallon of cooking oil, and a small sack of beans at a cost of  $45 U.S./pack to 300 families.  Total cost=$13,500.00 U.S. We would distribute more as resources are made available to us.  
2)    Education.  College Susan Schuenke(CSS) is a K-13 Christian school operated by VOHM in Cap Haitien.  Displaced students from PaP are showing up in Cap Haitien.  The city of Cap Haitian has asked schools to take as many of these students as possible.  VOHM will accept 205 of these students.    They need an education and nutrition. In the long term classrooms and additional bathrooms would need to be added to accommodate these students.  The addition of these students will require the following first year expenses:

• 205 new desks purchased from the Dominican Republic $50/desk delivered to Cap Haitien  $10,250 U.S.

• 205 Student supply packs (backpack, 10 books, notebooks, pens) $51/pack   $10,455 U.S.

• Fabric for 205 uniforms  $1540 U.S.

• Nutrition–additional hot lunch’s at 2 meals/week for all 900 students (this number includes the new 205 students from PaP) through the end of the school year total cost $21,600 U.S.

• An additional 10th grade teacher would need to be added to handle the extra students.  $4000 U.S.

Total first year expenses for 205 students  $47,845 U.S.

Second year’s school needs to accommodate the 205 students:

• Additional classrooms.  We need to add a third story to our first building, which would provide 3 more classrooms at an estimated cost of $30,000 U.S.

• Additional bathrooms.  We need to add additional male/female lavatories to accommodate the students.  (Cost of the bathrooms to be determined.)

• We anticipate that some of these PaP students will require scholarship assistance for tuition.

• Transportation.  The CSS was fortunate to have three new school buses donated to our ministry about 4 years ago.  We are in need of additional buses to support this part of the school ministry.

3) Orphan care.  The earthquake has had a significant impact on the number of orphaned children, some who have also lost limbs in the country.  This need has become more acute with children coming from the hospitals in Milot and Cap Haitian as well as from PaP.  VOHM started an orphan ministry last year when Pastor Henoc and Guerline rescued 12-orphaned children from the hurricane in Gonaives.  We are in the process of completing an orphan house next to our ministry center in Berard to house these 12 orphans.  This structure was designed to accommodate additional stories.  The support for these 12 children has not been completely funded as of this time and we still need help to support these children from a previous disaster.  VOHM is proposing to add a second story to our orphan house with a total capacity of 40 children providing space for an additional 28 orphans.
As of this writing the medical director at Hopital Sacre-Couer has three orphans in need of placement and Pastor Henoc has another three orphan children we have just taken in.  We will not have any difficulty bringing our orphan ministry up to our 40-child capacity.  VOHM also has plans to become a government sanctioned adoption agency so we may place these children. The costs for this ministry will be:

• First year costs:  Additional second story to the orphan house $30,000USSecond and subsequent year costs:

• For 40 orphans: lodging, meals, school expenses, snacks, maid, house parents, and clothing-$100U.S./child/month, $4000 U.S./month,   $48,000 U.S./year.

• College Susan Schuenke tuition-we intend to provide a first class Christian education for each child.  Cost-$330 U.S. tuition/year or  $13,200/year.

4) University.  As we have aforementioned, the university system in Haiti has been substantially destroyed.  The CSS has enjoyed an excellent reputation within the Haitian educational system.  This K-13 school consistently produces the highest scores on the Haitian education testing exams.  CSS is producing Christian educated students who go on to University in Medicine, Nursing, Education, and Business.  The education community is looking for answers to replace the decimated university system in Port au Prince and many are suggesting VOHM build on its education reputation and accomplishments.  Therefore, VOHM is proposing to build a university in N. Haiti between Cap Haitian and Milot.
This university would be built in stages and would eventually offer the following major fields of study:

• Theology and Biblical Studies

• Medical School-students enter medical school right after high school in Haiti

• Business, Agriculture, Psychology

The technical school would offer:

• Nursing School

• Medical Technology

• Computer Science

• Prosthetics

The education complex would offer dormitory style housing. The initial structures would include two classroom buildings and at least 6 two-story dormitories.  We would need, among other equipment, a computer lab, satellite internet, generator, classroom desks, supplies on site cooking facilities, a library and various laboratories.  We would like to target the initial phase of this project to open in September 2010 with 500 students.  There is interest in this project from the U.S. education community, the Haitian Education community and the Haitian government.  Henoc has had conversations with one Haitian senator who is interested in the government donating land in the area where we want to build the university.

The preliminary costs to build two classroom complexes, 6 two-story dormitories and the associated supportive structures and systems are $1,000,000 U.S.  Of course, much more detailed planning and cost analysis will go into the project as we gain committed partners.

To date, VOHM has received $73,620 in disaster relief aid.  We used $20,620.00 of these funds for our immediate relief efforts.
These efforts included:
1.    Rescue and relocation of many victims from Port au Prince by our missionary, Henoc Lucien, providing some initial life support, trauma counseling and funds to relocate.
2.    Medical/surgical team deployment, logistical and staging support from Fort Lauderdale and delivery of medical/surgical supplies to the field.
3.    Field Hospital-we supported a small field hospital near our church in Berard with  nursing staff, food, water and medical supplies.
4.    Orphan support-we provided first responder support for a small group of orphan children in Port au Prince. 

The VOHM board of directors has further made the decision to use $47,845 of the remaining funds to support the immediate needs of 205 refugee students at CSS.  We are seeking a partner to replenish these funds to allow VOHM to deploy funds in other relief related areas.

VOHM is formally requesting that the Evangelical Free Church of America through Reach/Touch Global partner with VOHM to help supply the resources needed to accomplish some or all portions all of these initiatives.

The task before us is enormous.  In our own understanding and strength we cannot imagine accomplishing all this.  However, our God can do exceeding abundantly more than we can imagine.  Can we envision that mustard seed faith to move this mountain? Can you envision partnering with us to accomplish these goals?

In our Lord’s service and always for His glory, honor, and praise.

Greg Schuenke
President VOHM, Inc.                                                                                                                                                     Back to Home page