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Point of View: Haiti pastor graduation one of life's great joys

I just returned from one of the best and most productive mission trips it has been my joy to take. In an earlier article, I told how the Maguire State Mission Offering greatly assisted our work in Haiti, one of our partnership countries. That is an understatement. The Maguire Offering has allowed us to set up an umbrella organization, the Confraternité Missionnaire Baptiste d'Haiti (CMBH), to provide leadership to the Haitian churches focusing on evangelism, starting new churches and developing leaders. Without the offering, we would not be able to financially accomplish our work.

During this trip to Haiti, I preached at the National CMBH meeting in Port au Prince, an assembly equivalent to our state convention meeting. The Haitian Baptist pastors from the entire nation had gathered there for a three-day stay. We provided lodging, food and help with transportation to facilitate the pastors' attendance at the meeting. It was exciting!

For nearly three years, working in cooperation with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, we provided theological education classes for 52 Haitian pastors, something that has never been available to them in the past.

As part of the national meeting, a graduation ceremony was held for all of the 52 men who had completed the requirements to receive the Pastoral Certification through New Orleans Seminary. Dr. Jimmy Dukes, associate provost at New Orleans Seminary, accompanied us on the mission trip and actually awarded the diplomas. The ceremony was a genuine celebration. The auditorium was packed. Their families came, beautifully dressed children and wives obviously proud of their husbands. Until the day God calls me home, this memory will live in my heart and mind.

Theological education is our hope for the nation of Haiti. We must train our pastors! They do so much with so little. The gratitude expressed by the pastors to the Florida Baptist Convention family was overwhelming. It was my joy to represent you. I have loved and been proud of the Florida Baptist Convention since the day God gave me this opportunity and the State Board of Missions ratified it. But I have never been more proud than shaking hands with those 52 graduates. God bless you, Florida Baptists, for allowing me this most excellent joy!

To make the day even better, clothier Jim Tatum, a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville and the State Board of Missions, and I sent matching blazers, slacks, white shirts and ties for each of the graduates. Dressed in their new clothes, they looked as sharp as their diplomas proved they were.

Our task now becomes, ìHow do we advance the cause of Christ in Haiti through theological education?" We have approximately 640 churches. It took us nearly three years to train 52 pastors. We must find additional funds to accelerate what we know we can do. Pray with us concerning this matter.

May the good things of grace continue in the life and ministry of these wonderful folks called Florida Baptists, is my prayer.