War takes a toll on any society. Beyond causing turmoil for the individual, the uncertainty created by civil unrest and political violence destabilizes everything from infrastructure to government proceedings. In Haiti, these effects go beyond instability and look more like a country that’s been, in many ways, torn apart. Today, we’re considering the effects of war on Haiti’s government and political system.

The biggest challenge for Haiti right now is reidentifying their source of authority. For the past few years, the governing authority has not been the government. It has been the gangs. What’s needed now is a full reversal where the government steps back into the position of power and the gangs take a backseat. The message they need to spread and validate among the population is that law and order are in control, and the gangs are going to lose.

In our conversations with Pastor Poyis, we’ve talked about the UN’s efforts in-country. The feeling among most Haitians is that it’s been a lot of talk and not much else. However, this sentiment has shifted recently in light of the Haitian government’s announcement that they plan to hold elections again by August. Instantly, they’ve put themselves on a timeline, and they’ve also set an objective. The only way elections can happen is if people feel they can vote freely, without fear of consequences. If the UN and Haitian government really want Haiti to have elections, the gangs will need to be pushed back.

This shift toward hope is a definite change from the longtime war mentality we’ve seen in recent months. Talk is cheap, but planning for elections constitutes a measurable, time-bound step. We pray that God will bring peace to Haiti and use the suffering this war has brought to draw many souls to Jesus.

To learn how you can be praying with us for the ministry in Haiti, visit Prayer Requests.