VALLEY FORGE, PA (11/10/15)—Unrest following the Haitian elections of October 25 has caused disruption and some acts of violence in Haiti. After disturbances in the north of Haiti and at least one election-related death, the Rev. Emmanuel Pierre, general secretary of the Baptist Convention of Haiti, shared: “The situation is really worrying these days, especially in Cap [Haitien] and Limbé. But God does not abandon us in the midst of these difficulties and the effects of your prayers reach down to us to encourage and protect us. We are very grateful.”

Home office staff have been in contact with American Baptist International Ministries (IM) personnel during the crisis: Nancy and Steve James in Limbé report that they are doing well and adjusting their activities according to the situation; Kihomi Ngwemi and Nzunga Mabudiga are in the U.S. on a previously-scheduled visit and have postponed their return to Haiti while awaiting the return of calm; and Deliris Carrión-Joseph is in the U.S., preparing for a new assignment to serve at Deborah’s House, in Tijuana, Mexico.

Voting on Sunday, October 25, elected new representatives to Haiti’s parliament and narrowed the field of 54 presidential candidates to two, Jovenel Moise and Jude Célestin, who are scheduled to compete in a run-off election on December 27, 2015. Tensions between the various political parties and forces run very deep in this island nation and have repeatedly produced unrest and violence over many decades.

American Baptist mission in Haiti first began in 1823, and IM personnel have been serving alongside Haitian brothers and sisters continuously since 1919. IM personnel and Haitian Baptist leaders together call for prayer that God will lead Haitians to a just and peaceful resolution to the current conflict, and to solutions for the long term-needs that the ongoing tensions reflect. Read more at MiamiHerald.com.

American Baptist International Ministries is celebrating 200 years of ministry in 2014. Organized in 1814 as the first Baptist international mission agency in America, IM began its pioneer mission work in Burma and today works in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas serving more than 1,800 long-term and short-term missionaries. Its central mission is to help people come to faith in Jesus, grow in their relationships with God and change their worlds through the power of the Holy Spirit. IM works with respected partners in over 70 countries in ministries that meet human need.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.