Ministry Highlights

Walk for Restaveks Recap (October 2024)

Connect 2 Ministries is dedicated to rescuing restavek children in Haiti, who are victims of child slavery, abuse, and neglect. With approximately 300,000 restaveks in Haiti, Connect 2 Ministries aims to provide these vulnerable children with safe and loving homes where they can heal, grow, and most importantly, hear the gospel. Ultimately, our goal is to see young lives transformed through the love of Jesus. We provide a safe and loving environment where these children can experience true freedom as they come to know the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. To that end, it was an encouragement to see [...]

2024-10-24T17:15:44-07:00October 18th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |

Updates from Haiti, Part 2

As the Multinational Security Force (MSS) has been at work in Haiti, we have encountered more and more reasons to pray. The MSS mission has made some progress, yet significant challenges remain regarding humanitarian relief. The UN has reported increased concerns regarding street children in Haiti, noting a rise in recruitment efforts by gangs.1 Child protection measures are a critical component of human rights safeguarding, and our prayer is that God would use the UN security mission to bring stability in the country for the protection of restavek children. Pastor Poyis and our children are safe and cared for, but [...]

2024-10-10T16:36:13-07:00October 11th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights, Uncategorized|Tags: , , |

Updates from Haiti, Part 1

Over the past few months, we have seen a variety of developments on the ground in Haiti. The Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, authorized by a UN Security Council Resolution in October 2023, began its deployment in June of this year. Led by Kenya, the mission’s primary goal is to support the Haitian National Police (HNP) in restoring law and order. We are still waiting to see more than 400 Kenyan officers arrive, and the Haitian prime minister said that an additional 2,500 international police officers should arrive imminently, according to the last reports we read. Despite the MSS [...]

2024-09-28T09:18:30-07:00September 28th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |

Walk for Restaveks 2024: Growing Our Faith

Walking for Restaveks this October 5th is more than a way to fill another Saturday. It’s a powerful opportunity to deepen your love for your local church, the lost, and international missions. This family-friendly event not only raises awareness about the struggle of restavek children in Haiti but also provides a tangible point of connection with other believers that can transform your perspective on personal faith and gospel service. Strengthening Our Love for the Local Church By joining the Walk for Restaveks, you'll be part of a collective effort that includes your local church and extends beyond your church [...]

2024-09-18T12:51:45-07:00September 20th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |

Walk for Restaveks 2024: Supporting Missions with Your Family

Every year, we are so encouraged by our Walk for Restaveks. It is a blessing to see like-minded Christians come together to pray for and support the weak and vulnerable in Haiti. We always come away from the day with a sense of joy as we reflect on the faithfulness of our God—in showing us the hope of Jesus, and in designing the church to be a place of refuge in a troubled world. If you’ve attended a Walk in the past, you may have had a similar experience. Today, we want to talk about how this event can [...]

2024-09-18T13:54:30-07:00September 13th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |

Walk for Restaveks (October 2024)

In Haiti, approximately 300,000 to 500,000 children are restaveks. The term “restavek” is interchangeable with international definitions of child trafficking—it constitutes modern-day slavery. The restavek system is rooted in poverty, where families, unable to provide for their children, send them to work as domestic servants in exchange for food and shelter. Restaveks often endure long hours of labor without adequate food, education, or medical care, making them vulnerable to further exploitation and abuse. In light of recent trouble in Haiti, this situation has become especially urgent. Haiti has been plagued by political instability and social unrest, and this often leads [...]

2024-09-18T13:53:06-07:00September 6th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |

Stronghold of Evil, Part 7

In Haitian culture, greetings often include a recognition of spiritual presence. It is common to greet others with blessings, such as "Bonswa" (good evening) or "Bondye beni ou" (God bless you). Blessings carry a subtle acknowledgment of the divine, and while the dominant religious context in Haiti is Vodou, this shared belief in supernatural power offers a point of connection in evangelism. We can agree that the supernatural is real, that divine power exists, and that it demands our attention. However, these broadly shared beliefs can also cause confusion. Vodou priests assume a role of spiritual authority over their people, [...]

2024-08-30T08:14:12-07:00August 30th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |

2024 World Humanitarian Day

John McHale has served in international ministry for many years, and he is a faithful partner of Connect 2 Ministries. As we recognize World Humanitarian Day, we asked John to share his thoughts on gospel ministry and serving in an international context. I first heard about Connect 2 Ministries through my church, Antioch Church in Simi Valley. I’ve been on three Haiti trips over the years, and those experiences have influenced my outlook in some dramatic ways. Serving in an international context puts perspective on church life, our mission as servants of Christ, and the opportunities God places in each [...]

2024-08-18T22:46:20-07:00August 19th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , , |

2024 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons resonates with the heart of Connect 2 Ministries. Each year on July 30, we join the global movement to end human trafficking as an extension of our ongoing ministry during the year. More than 115 children rescued from trafficking now call our Connect 2 Ministries community their home, living in an environment where they are loved, educated, and given a hope-filled future. Over the last two years, Haiti has experienced a prolonged period of social and political crisis. Today, we asked our founder, Greg Barshaw, to share what happens to restavek children in Haiti [...]

2024-07-31T07:59:38-07:00July 30th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |

Stronghold of Evil, Part 6

Vodou has created a culture of superstition in Haiti. Common practices are often rooted in Vodou beliefs and practices, and the result is a society where occult religion bleeds into everyday life. Here are a few examples. Avoiding Whistling at Night. Many Haitians believe that whistling at night can attract evil spirits. People refrain from whistling after dark to avoid calling the attention of a malevolent entity. Placing Salt at Doorways. Sprinkling salt at the entrance of a home is a common practice to ward off and protect the house from evil spirits. Salt is universally recognized for its [...]

2024-07-10T12:13:10-07:00July 19th, 2024|Categories: Ministry Highlights|Tags: , , |
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