A Roof Restored, A Ministry Renewed

Back in 2012, I had the privilege of being part of a team from the Southern California District of the Nazarene Church that traveled to northern Haiti. Our destination was Fond Latanier, a small rural village west of Port-de-Paix and east of Jean-Rabel.

The church walls had already been constructed by local stone masons before we arrived, but together we helped put on the roof, build pews, and paint the entire building. It was a simple structure, but it represented something much greater—a place where God’s people could gather, worship, and hear His Word.

One memory from that trip has never left me.

On our final night in Fond Latanier, the church was dedicated to the Lord and to the community it would serve. It was a hot Saturday evening. The building was packed with people, and many more stood outside looking in. The entire service was illuminated by a single light bulb powered by a generator. Despite the heat and the simplicity of the setting, the worship was electric. Voices were lifted in praise, prayers filled the room, and the presence of God was unmistakable. It remains one of the most memorable worship services I have ever attended.

That first trip also marked the beginning of a friendship that would become one of the most important relationships in the history of Lasting Change Haiti.

It was in Fond Latanier that we first met Wilson. At the time, he lived nearby with his family and served faithfully in the church. None of us could have known then how significant that meeting would become.

Over the years, our friendship grew as we continued to visit Haiti and serve alongside local churches and communities. We watched Wilson’s character, faithfulness, leadership, and love for the Lord become increasingly evident. Today, Wilson is much more than a friend. He is a valued and essential leader within Lasting Change Haiti. Much of the ministry we are able to accomplish throughout northern Haiti is made possible through his wisdom, commitment, and tireless service.

Looking back, it is remarkable to see how God used that first visit to Fond Latanier not only to help build a church building, but also to establish relationships that continue to bear fruit more than a decade later.

Over the years, I had the opportunity to return to Fond Latanier on several occasions and watch the church continue to serve its community.

During those visits, Lasting Change Haiti partnered with the church in a number of ways. We helped launch what was then known as the Sheep Program, providing female sheep to families in need within the church. The goal was simple: to give families an asset they could breed, grow, and use to help support their households. We also assisted with a small shop enterprise connected to the church, helping create another source of stability and income for the community.

One of those visits came shortly after a devastating hurricane.

I remember sitting with the church board and local leaders as they shared the aftermath of the storm. The destruction was heartbreaking. Floodwaters had washed away crops. Animals had been killed or carried away. Families had lost much of what they depended upon to survive.

Yet what struck me most was not their grief—it was their faith.

They were certainly hurting, but they were not defeated.

In typical Haitian fashion, there was a quiet determination in the room. They spoke honestly about their losses, but they also spoke confidently about God’s faithfulness. They knew the Lord had not abandoned them. They believed He would provide a way forward.

That resilience is something I have witnessed time and time again throughout Haiti. When circumstances would seem overwhelming to most of us, Haitians somehow find the strength to brush themselves off, gather what remains, and begin again. Their faith is practical, persistent, and deeply inspiring.

Over the years since that first trip, Haiti has endured hurricanes, earthquakes, political instability, economic hardship, and ongoing uncertainty. Yet the church in Fond Latanier has continued to stand. Through every challenge, it has remained a place where people gather to worship, encourage one another, and hear God’s Word.

Perhaps that is one reason this church means so much to us. We have watched God’s faithfulness unfold there over many years. We have celebrated victories together, walked through hardships together, and seen the church continue to shine as a beacon of hope in its community.

Recently, we learned that the roof we helped install more than a decade ago was failing. Years of exposure to the elements had caused many of the metal panels to rust through. During rainstorms—which are frequent in this region of Haiti—water poured into the building, making it difficult for the church to gather and carry out ministry.

When the need was brought to our attention, the board of Lasting Change Haiti, together with generous supporters, felt compelled to help.

Today, work has begun to replace the roof.

The photo above captures the early stages of the project. While replacing a roof may seem straightforward, projects like this are anything but simple in rural Haiti. Fond Latanier is far off the beaten path. Roads are rough, supplies are difficult to obtain, and trucks cannot reach the church directly. Building materials must travel hours from the nearest city, often at great expense and with significant logistical challenges.

Yet once again, we have watched the Lord make a way.

The necessary materials have been located. Transportation has been arranged. Local workers have stepped forward. Piece by piece, God has brought everything together.

As we look at this project, we see far more than lumber and roofing panels. We see a church that has faithfully served its community for many years. We see believers who continue to gather despite hardship. We see a testimony of God’s sustaining grace through seasons of blessing and seasons of loss.

Most importantly, we see God’s faithfulness.

Our prayer is that this restored roof will allow the church in Fond Latanier to continue proclaiming the Gospel for many years to come, providing shelter not only from the rain, but also providing a place where people can encounter the hope found in Jesus Christ.

At Lasting Change Haiti, we believe strong local churches are at the heart of lasting transformation. Sometimes that means providing Bibles. Sometimes it means supporting pastors and community leaders. Sometimes it means helping families build stability through practical programs. And sometimes it means replacing a roof.

All of it matters when it helps strengthen the local church and point people to Christ.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” — Psalm 127:1

And in Fond Latanier, we are grateful to see that the Lord is still building.