Please pray for Haiti

Dear COAH,

The situation in Haiti is dire, and as those of you who have been on short-term missions to the Dominican Republic know from seeing the lives of Haitian refugees, the conditions of the Haitian people are deplorable and miserable. Known as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has long been plagued by unstable politics and economics that have caused its people to suffer. These problems didn't happen overnight, but the assassination of President Moïse in July 2021 has only exacerbated them.

The capital city of Port-au-Prince is now primarily controlled by gangs, and to make matters worse, a mob of gangs recently helped escape 3,700 prisoners, turning the city into a den of gangs and criminals. Jimmy Chérizier, the leader of the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies, has been boldly showing his face on social media, demanding that the incumbent prime minister step down, and Ariel eventually expressed his intent to resign. The United States, Canada, and the "CARICOM," a group of Caribbean countries, are now seeking a solution.

After the devastating 2010 earthquake, the United Nations and many NGOs joined forces to help rebuild Haiti, providing much-needed logistical and financial support. But despite these efforts, the country has always stumbled and even regressed. Behind the scenes, endemic corruption and cronyism continue to take hold while the country's people become more virulent and gang violence escalates. Caught in the crossfire between the national security forces and the gangs, and gangs against other gangs, the poor people of Haiti must run for their lives, ending up as refugees in various countries.

Amidst this, we must remember and intercede for God's servants in Haiti, who refuse to give up their seemingly cursed land and continue to share the love of Christ. They are faithful servants of God who choose to stay put despite the danger of being kidnapped by gangs at any given moment. While there is physical danger, there is also spiritual warfare going on. Haiti is famous for Voodoo worship. Brought from Africa between the 16th and 19th centuries by the enslaved people, Voodoo (spirit worship) runs deep among the people. They worship various spirits of mountains and rivers and entrust their lives to them. Missionaries and Haitian workers who bring the Word to these people greatly need our prayers. Please pray for Haiti's political, economic, and spiritual restoration and stability.

Blessings,
Pastor Minho Song