One of the most beautiful aspects of Disciples’ Village is the partnership between American Churches and Haitian villages. Through this unique connection, American churches are able to claim a third world village as their mission field, therefore providing resources, sowing seeds of the Gospel, being the hands and feet of Christ and building enduring relationships. This kind of long-term investment is how entire villages are changed.
This is why we celebrate in a big way when new churches decide to partner with a Haitian village through DV! Today we’re thrilled to announce TWO new partnering churches: The Gathering and Pleasant View Baptist Church.
The Gathering, led by pastor Jeff Wagner and located in Pickneyville, Illinois, is partnering with Dahl village.
Taking the Gospel to the nations is our greatest striving at The Gathering. I thank God that through Disciples’ Village, we have the opportunity to fulfill the Lord’s Great Commission by making disciples in Haiti! I have already met and worked alongside many of the wonderful people of Dahl village, and I am excited to get to know the community better. I look forward to seeing all the ways God moves in their lives and ours through this partnership. The truth is, God has already taught me so much through these precious people that I feel like I need them more than they need me. – Jeff Wagner
Pleasant View Baptist church is located in Oakland, Maryland and is led by pastor Wally Weeks. They are partnering with Viello village.
Our involvement with Discipleship Village has stirred a desire in our people to make known the glory of our God to the nations! Giving and going have both increased tremendously over our five year partnership with them. The new strategy to partner with a specific village and work in strengthening the local church gives us the opportunity to be disciples who make disciples hands on. We love the idea of “orphan prevention” as we watch God’s Kingdom truths empower the villages of Haiti. We have enjoyed the integrity and passion of the people connected to Disciples Village! – Pastor Wally Weeks
Thank you, Pleasant View and The Gathering! We look forward to seeing all that God does through these partnerships.
These precious ladies came with eager hearts to feast on the Word of God prepared just for them through the teaching of Ruth by Beth Lawrence. The story of redemption is beautiful and it never gets old to our hearts. We all have the desire to be chosen, feel special, rescued and lavished with love. The common goal of our mission team was to love our Haitian sisters well!
We had many fun moments like this throughout the week! Making crafts with hot glue may seem like a simple task, but it turned out to be quite the challenge in the midst of excited women flinging flowers and bling to create the perfect wall hanging. We could easily have named it The Day of The Glue Gun Fiasco, but we made it through and they were thrilled with their creations. At the end of the day, every blister, bead of sweat and jammed up glue gun was worth it all!
ladies wanted their picture made with their mission team table leader. Clearly, we crossed the threshold of silly fun and everyone had all the smiles!
I would never dream of throwing my food in the trash, but honestly, I didn’t know what to do so I began to pray silently for direction. Immediately, Edithe gave a nod of her head toward my chicken leg. I slid my plate in her general direction as she quickly snatched up the chicken, and wrapped it up in her purse to give to her children later. Time stood still for a brief moment and I suddenly recognized I’d never experienced such a burden or concern. It was hard for me to get my head around the reality of what I was witnessing. I realized many of the women seated around me could easily feed their sweet families on what we throw in the trash each day. I bowed my heart before the Lord in prayer for daily provision of these ladies and their families because I want them to be well nourished and strong to continue serving the Kingdom of God! They love the Lord and worship Him wholehearted from the soles of their feet to the top of the highest octave their lungs will sing out!