Missionary Spotlight

MFI's "Missionary Spotlight":

showing the people who are sharing the Gospel in the West Indies

June Spotlight - OMS International, Haiti

OMS International (formerly the Oriental Missionary Society) opened work in Haiti in 1958, assuming the operation of Radio 4VEH. Radio 4VEH (The Evangelistic Voice of Haiti) offers Christian programming on AM (830 Khz) in French and Creole and on FM (94.7) in French and English to an estimated audience of 300,000. Since that time the ministry has expanded to include the Bethesda Medical and Dental Center, Emmaus Vocational Bible College, and Cowman International School. Medical and dental clinics minister to the needs of 150+ patients per day. Emmaus Vocational Bible School is training approximately 35 students for ministry, with as many more involved in professional training. Every Creature Crusade evangelism teams have established preaching points and planted churches, which are now organized and registered with the government as the Emmaus Fellowship of Churches.

Radio 4VEH

" The Evangelistic Voice of Haiti" located in Cap-Haitien, Radio 4VEH was founded in 1950 by Rev. G. T. Bustin of the East and West Indies Bible Mission. In 1958 ownership of the compound containing the radio studios, along with several churches, was transferred to OMS.

Original programming uniquely blends a wide variety of Christian broadcasts with general interest programs. The station, licensed by the Haitian government, is politically neutral and non-commercial. One 10,000-watt AM transmitter on 840 KHZ broadcasts French/Creole programs 18 hours a day to an estimated listening audience of over 300,000. FM Stereo 95 presents music and programs in French and English 18 hours a day to the over 200,000 inhabitants of the greater Cap-Haitien and surrounding areas.

To allow an even greater number of people to hear the message of Jesus Christ, the station distributes pre-tuned, solar-powered radios, eliminating the need to replace batteries. An annual youth rally culminates three months of special summer programs for youth, and more than 700 students, (mostly young people) are studying God's Word through 4VEH's Bible correspondence course.

A staff of approximately 30 Haitians and a small missionary team work together in a ministry with eternal consequences. One astounding example is the testimony of a converted voodoo priest, well known in the Port-au-Prince area. Monsieur Ludovic proclaimed his amazing story during a weeklong series of evangelistic meetings recorded for rebroadcast on 4VEH. Listener response, immediate and intense, included the spiritual about-face of a long-time voodoo priestess in a remote mountain village who accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior as a result of the program.

Bethesda Medical and Dental Center

Haitian Christians presently staff the Bethesda Medical and Dental Center. Originally trained by OMS missionaries, the full-time personnel treat over 30,000 patients at the medical clinic and 5,000 at the dental clinic yearly. In addition, retired missionaries and medical/dental professionals assist the nationals on a part-time volunteer basis. The medical clinic also operates prenatal and well-baby programs that assist over 4,000 mothers and babies a year. Each mother who brings in her newborn is given a layette, and each baby who receives regular check-ups for a year is given a toy - a great motivator for the moms. The center's primary purpose is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ while providing good health care for Haitians.

Emmaus Vocational Bible School

OMS' training institution in Haiti is Emmaus Vocational Bible School which opened in 1967. About 20 teachers are involved in preparing 30-40 Haitian Christians each year to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Haiti's churches and communities. This year, work has begun on a new computer lab that will add to the vocational training offered at the school.

Cowman International School

Cowman International School offers an elementary education, kindergarten through eighth grade, from a Christian perspective. Originally begun in 1960 to meet the educational needs of missionary children, the school is open to other English-speaking families in northern Haiti. A number of these children are from non-Christian homes, offering an opportunity to present the Gospel and teach God's Word to children of Haitian business and professional people.

Operated and staffed by OMS International, some of the teachers are OMS missionaries, either short-term or career, while others supply their own support base. An average of 30 students receive instruction in core subjects in multiple-grade, self-contained classrooms. Each day begins with Bible class or the weekly chapel program, and throughout the day spiritual truths are integrated into subject areas. The school is a member of the Association of Christian Schools International.

OMS International has been sharing the Gospel in Haiti since 1958. To learn more about them and their worldwide ministry, just visit the OMS International website.

There are many ways in which the Lord can use His people to share the love of Christ. MFI's "Missionary Spotlight" shows how different people and different missions organizations have answered His call, and through the ministry of MFI, have gone forth to share the Gospel in the West Indies.

June/July Spotlight - Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)

January/February Spotlight - Baptist Haiti Mission

December Spotlight - Pastor Saint-Ange Monestime, His Harvest Fields

November Spotlight - Paul and Belle Romeus, Grace Missions International - Haiti

September/October Spotlight - MMS Aviation, "Preparing People and Planes for Worldwide Mission Service"

July/August Spotlight - Mike and Myriam Lawson, School of Agriculture, UCNH

June Spotlight - Jules and Laurie Casseus, North Haiti Christian University (UCNH)

April/May Spotlight - The Don and Jo Beldin Missions Aviation Complex

March Spotlight - MFI; 42 Years Of "Standing In The Gap"

January/February Spotlight - Wilbert and Meg Merzilus, Living Hope Mission

December Spotlight - David and Sarah Dirrim, Haitian Christian Foundation

November Spotlight - Bob and Barbara Ramsey