OFCB Ministries, Bayonnais, Haiti – A Brief History

In the summer of 1984, Helen Hunter of Charlotte, NC, traveled to Haiti to visit her daughter, Heather, who was working on EbenEzer Mission near Gonaïves, Haiti.  When she arrived in Haiti she had no inkling of what lay in store for her during the following years. After returning to Charlotte, EbenEzer’s founding minister came to visit the Hunters and Helen introduced him to her church's mission chairman.  From that meeting a work group of 43 members went to EbenEzer in the summer of 1985 for a week of work on the mission.  While they were there, an American missionary working at EbenEzer went to each member of the work group and asked if they would sponsor a child's education.  Standing with the missionary was a young man and Helen asked if he had a sponsor.  When told he did not, she said she would sponsor him.  So from that time on, the Hunters sponsored Actionnel Fleurisma through his schooling, a year of accounting in Gonaïves, and 2 years of attending CPCC while living with them.  It was during these two years (1990-1992) that Actionnel became a charter member of South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church (SMPC), along with the Hunters. 

After completing his studies, Actionnel returned to Haiti, married his sweetheart, and began a family.  He also felt called to start a school and in late 1993, he and four others from his mountain village of Bayonnais formed a school there.  At first they had approximately 100 students and 3 teachers.  There was no building, so they used a Roman Catholic building the first year.  The second year found them in a makeshift school of banana leaf mats.  Other classes were held under the beautiful mango trees.  Each year the number of students grew by leaps and bounds.  Searching for a way to build a school building, they found a Canadian organization in Port-au-Prince willing to fund a building.  They gave half the money promised and the building was begun.  After ascertaining that the money was being spent correctly they gave the other half and a five-room-school building was born. 

Also during the early days, Actionnel attended seminary in Limbé and was ordained as a minister. From left over school building materials they built a small cinder block church in which many souls have been saved.  One of those souls was Actionnel's own father. 

At this writing, they still have the small school and church buildings, but the mission is growing.  The student body in early 2005 numbers some 1,200 students with three kindergarten sections plus grades 1-13.  In addition, the Professional Women’s School has 10 adults enrolled and there is a new Adult School with 50 enrolled (for those who were unable to go to school as children). They have over 40 teachers and another 10 of other school staff.  Over the years SMPC has started and maintained a sponsorship program, built a multipurpose building with 4 bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and dining area and a large room now housing 20 computers. The building is used for retreats, mission work groups, and computer classes. 

The new and much larger church building was erected and completed in 2002-2004.  It is also used for education classes during the week and for community meetings.  The smaller church building continues to house classes as well.   A church in Gastonia gave them a large generator to provide electricity since there is no power within miles of the Bayonnais Christian School and mission.

One of the most treasured aspirations of the Haitian people is to obtain an education.  They long to know and use English well.  Helen Hunter, who is a teacher, tells of her first time to walk into a classroom there and spontaneously every student arose. 

All nine of the young people who have graduated from Bayonnais are now in college in Haiti and one young man is in Medical School. Another medical school student in his 5^th year has been supported through OFCB.  Someday they hope to have a clinic at Bayonnais to give medical help which is now only available some 15 miles away across mountain terrain. 

And so, the Lord's work continues at Bayonnais, giving children and their families hope through an education, food for the nourishment of their physical bodies (one meal per school day), and preaching and teaching of God's Word each day giving them the opportunity to live their lives with the Holy Spirit as their Companion.  It is a privilege that we have here at SMPC to nourish this, the Lord's work at Bayonnais.  Let us go forth with joy.