Poyis and I spent an hour together one evening as he updated me on all that was going on in his church and at the Children’s Homes. I am constantly reminded of the challenges of raising kids. I had three, but Poyis has 120. He does a remarkable job. The staff face issues that many parents would be familiar with—students occasionally neglecting responsibilities, pushing against restrictions—and they navigate these difficulties with grace. I have learned to pray the same things I’ve prayed for my own children for the kids in our homes, asking that God would transform their hearts rather than simply changing their behavior.

Next, Poyis and I talked about the upcoming Mercy Network pastors meeting, which will focus on building a plan to launch a special needs program through our school. I asked Poyis to open the session by talking about what he has learned, as a pastor, about “going out of the building” into the community instead of waiting for the community to come to him.

This led into a discussion of the community’s needs and what an extensive problem child slavery is in their culture. It is part of the fabric of life in Haiti, and it is a custom not easy to break. Poyis is working diligently, but he knows that addressing the problem isn’t the same as ending it. The ultimate solution involves more than simply rescuing kids; it requires diligent preaching from the pulpit to nurture a heart for truth and justice in Christians, who will then take a stand for good in the public sphere.

The problem is big, but the gospel, the solution, is bigger.

Wiley Kennedy serves as Director of International Ministries with Connect 2 Ministries. To learn more about Wiley, visit Who We Are, and to learn how you can make a difference, visit Join an Outreach Program.