Another church falls victim to Haiti’s gang violence

Haiti (MNN) — Another church falls victim to Haiti’s gang violence. Partners in Haiti tell Greg Yoder of Christian World Outreach that the gangs struck a village north of the capital.

“It’s outside of Port-au-Prince, so they’re (the gangs) expanding in their territory,” Yoder says.

“There was a pastor and several of the people from his church who were killed by gang members, and I believe they also burned the church down.”

Estimates vary, but most agree that gangs now control at least 90 percent of Port-au-Prince. When gangs took over Mirebalais at the end of March, CWO partners had to shut everything down and run.

“We had one of our feminine training centers there, and that town is pretty much shut down. Everybody’s left, and the gang members have taken over,” Yoder says.

Believers sent a dozen orphans in their care to live with family members in a nearby town.

“People are migrating away from these areas, and then it adds a burden to the families and the people of other areas,” Yoder says.

The United States designated two Haitian gangs as terrorists earlier this month. “They’re acting very much like terrorists taking over, looting, and just advancing to more and more territory,” Yoder says.

Handiwork of women from CWO’s Feminine Training Centers in Haiti (Photo courtesy of CWO)

The activity in Haiti reminds him of terrorist actions in Burkina Faso, he adds.

“We just have to rely on the Lord’s wisdom and discernment to find ways we can help these people,” Yoder says.

Church partners in Haiti continue their work in eight locations, but the needs are growing daily. Yoder says, “We’re looking for ways we can help those we know and those in great need of food and shelter.”

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Ask the Lord to guide and protect Gospel workers in Haiti. Pray that their daily needs will be met.

“I don’t know the answer at this point, but we just pray that God will intervene in what’s going on in Haiti and that, even during these hard times, Christ will be shared,” Yoder says.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of TopSphere Media via Unsplash.