Denver Seminary

Yesterday started out with a trip through Port-Au-Prince to experience the depth and breadth of the devastation. It was heart-wrenching to see. Most of the buildings have not been touched so you know that there are many bodies still buried. Some of the multi-story buildings are just pancaked down. No way anyone got out alive. There is very little demolition going on. Life just goes on around the rubble. The tent cities that have sprung up are the worst. They are like shanty towns built from blue tarps, tents and scrap materials. Tens of thousands of people are living this way.

The team split up yesterday. Carrol and I ministered at STEP [STEP is the evangelical theological seminary in Port-au-Prince] to the faculty. Very humbling for an old firefighter to try to minister to a group of brilliant seminary professors. Our message to them was on self care. I talked about how you need someone to watch over you and help keep you healthy.

The other group ministered to over 600 pastors and staff from Compassion International. Even Wes Stafford was in attendance. They did an amazing job of teaching and ministering to the group.

Dr. Noelliste sprang the news on me last tonight that I would be preaching at one of the largest churches in PAP on Sunday. I can't really grasp it yet. Very humbling! 

Today Carrol and Tiffany will return to STEP and Compassion to continue the ministry. The Noelliste's and myself will go to the country to visit the church that his brother planted several years ago.

The seminary should be proud of Dr. Noelliste and his wife. They have served the people so well. He is a man of great influence, but it is carried with humility.

Tiffany and Carrol are outstanding Christian counselors. Well trained, competent and very compassionate. Denver Seminary has prepared them well for this calling!

We are all doing well although it is a bit overwhelming to see the devastation and to begin to hear the stories. It seems that God strengthens us and gives us the message for the people. We have been well received and cared for.

Pray for our continued safety. Pray for the Christian leadership of Haiti. There is no governmental leadership in this crisis. The Christian leaders see this as a time to step forward and show what godly leadership looks like. This is a huge piece of rebuilding this country!

Continue to pray for the people of Haiti. This crisis is beyond words. There are still 1.2 million people who are homeless. This is not just the poor, but the middle class as well. Living conditions in the refuge camps is not good. Food is still hard to get.

Pray for Dr. Noelliste as he meets with the Christian leaders. These meetings will have long term impacts on Haiti and the living Word as it is preached here.

Pray for Dr. Noelliste and myself as we both prepare to preach this Sunday at two large churches. (Especially me, the old firefighter who God called to ministry!). May the message we give be words from God that the Haitian people are prepared to hear.

Thanks to all who are there that lift up this team in prayer. We feel that daily!

- Ken