Set Free by the Truth of the Gospel

August 9, 2016 • Haiti

God moves hearts at a pastors’ conference in Haiti

Pierre Julien is a pastor and the ministry program manager for Samaritan’s Purse in Haiti. He returned to Haiti, his home country, after the earthquake in 2010.

The Gospel message is crucial because people will be judged on the basis of their response to it. The Bible calls itself a seed to be sown in the hearts of mankind (1 Peter 1:23). God is the sovereign Lord, and yet He limits Himself by His word. He wants believers to cooperate with Him in fulfilling His eternal plan for humanity.

Jesus explained God’s desire for our cooperation in Luke 10:2: The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest(NKJV). We must pray to Lord of the harvest to send more laborers to the field!

Haiti is a great harvest field with millions of people. Even before the earthquake of 2010 that claimed the lives of more than 250,000 Haitians, Haiti was plagued with poverty, corruption, and hopelessness. However, after the earthquake, many countries, organizations, and individuals sowed various types of seeds into Haiti. The seeds varied from food, clothing, and shelter to employment and the Word of God.

I believe after all the food has been eaten, the clothing has worn out, and the temporary shelters have been replaced with permanent ones, the incorruptible seed of the Word of God will endure, leaving an impact on the people that will ultimately change the course of Haiti. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (NKJV).

Moved by the Spirit

During a leadership multiplication meeting, I presented about the principles of the Kingdom of God. After I shared about the responsibilities and the conduct of kingdom citizens, one attendee, Pastor Labon Clermont, felt led to poll the audience of 60 pastors with an unusual question: “Are there any thieves amongst us?” One pastor from a remote city stood up. Labon became embarrassed for asking the question, ignored the man, and told everyone to stand to sing a song. After the song ended, the same pastor remained standing,

“You asked an honest question and I stood up, and you did not further question me!” he said. “I was convicted in my heart by this training today. As a kingdom’s citizen, my conduct has been unacceptable. I repent. I offended the team and God. Therefore, I want your forgiveness.

“This year, the team gave me seven boxes of various articles to give to my church. I violated their trust and my responsibilities. On my way home, I did not have money to pay tap-tap transportation for the boxes, so I gave one box to the tap-tap driver. When I arrived home, I took various articles to recover my personal expenses to transport the donations. I need forgiveness.”

pastors' conference Haiti

The pastor’s confession

It was a moving moment as I watched everyone begin to kneel down, pray together, confess their sins, and ask God to forgive them for their wrongdoings. I was shocked to see how God’s Word miraculously moved a man. It took courage to stand in front of his colleagues and admit to stealing from God. Only the spirit of our Living God can move a man so profoundly. In hindsight, God not only moved the pastor who initially stood, but He also had a plan when He moved Pastor Labon to ask that question.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31b-32, NKJV). The truth of God has in itself the power to set free anyone who believes and applies it. I also believe that this same truth will eventually set Haiti free from the tight grips of poverty and hopelessness that have plagued this country for centuries.

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