Well everyone another great witness of God
For the last few months Enoc has been holding bible studies in an area just outside of town that is very rough, gang guys etc.
The Lord has been bearing fruit, so much so that the people have been asking about a church. Now Haiti doesn’t need another Church but what it does need is a “Good Church”
There is a Mission that left Haiti a few years ago and the compound they were in has been sitting empty. In the past the land owner has approached me offering to sell it but my interest has been with the mountain people.
So Enoc approached the owner and asked if he could use it to do children’s programs etc. To my surprise he said Yes so we paid him a modest rent and the Lord has been blessing the children programs.
A few weeks ago Enoc was talking to me about the need for a good church in the area where he has been holding bible studies. This compound where Enoc has been holding the children programs has a building that was going to be used as a church so I told Enoc to ask the owner if he could hold church there. The land owner said yes and didn’t ask for any extra more money.
I have a pile of lumber that was donated to me from Samaritans Purse that I have been using to build church benches, school benches etc. So I got the guys I work with to build more benches for the new Church plant. Once the benches were built Enoc started a 4 day outreach on the compound beginning last Thursday night. Now listen to what happened!!!
We have a very bad gangster that has moved back to Grand Goave from Port au Prince. His name is Eddyson. He is a hired killer and made a living killing people in Port au Prince. He even murdered his own Father. As it turns out he killed some rival gang members in Port au Prince and now they are out to get him. This happens a lot around here. Gangsters that are from this area return and go into the mountains to hide from the people looking for them. So Thursday evening Enoc started the outreach in the compound, it was a full house. Samaritans Purse had donated a large generator with lights. You could probably see them from space. After the worship was over they began to preach from Rev 20:15. Now Eddyson was walking by the compound and had just sharpened his machete and had his gun tucked into his pants. He was standing in front of the compound entrance waiting for the next car to come as he was going to pull his gun on the occupants and rob them. People in the church were actually talking about him standing outside. While waiting for the next car he heard the gentleman that was speaking say, “If your name is not found in the book of life you will be thrown into the lake of fire”.
Brothers and Sisters this is the verse that saved me back in Sept 1995 while attending Edminson Heights Church. Well this verse got his attention and he said he started to feel uncomfortable. Just then a car was approaching. He put his hand on his gun and was getting ready to go onto the highway but for some reason he let the car go by. He then started to feel even more troubled inside and continued to listen to what the man was saying. Eddyson then made the decision to walk into the compound and approach the building where the service was being held. When the people saw him coming towards the building many were afraid and stood up ready to bolt outta there. Enoc told them not worry and to sit back down as the preacher continued his message.
Eddyson walked up to the building with his gun and machete and just stood there listening to the message. Everyone was looking over their shoulder wondering what he is going to do next. He then walked over to a mango tree and sat down. Five minutes later there was crying coming from under the mango tree. While the speaker was talking Eddyson yelled to him asking if he could talk with him. Enoc walked over to Eddyson and told him the service would be over in 10 minutes and then they would come over to see him. The whole time Eddyson could not contain his crying. After the service Enoc and another pastor Julio walked over to the mango tree to talk with Eddyson. He told them while crying how bad his life had been and that he had killed so many people. He said he wanted to kill himself. He asked how this God could ever forgive him for what he had done. For 30 minutes Enoc and Julio sat with him explaining forgiveness and salvation. Eddyson right then and there asked Jesus into his heart!!!!! Amen
The next morning Enoc had arranged with Eddyson to meet back at the compound and sure enough Eddyson was there waiting. His whole demeanor had changed and he said he has never felt this happy in his life.
Now all gang members have dreadlocks hair style, this is a symbol of gang life. Eddyson had a pile of dreadlocks so Enoc asked him if he was willing to cut them off, big smile and a big Yes! Now here is something you need to know about gangs and voodoo. When a gang member cuts his dreadlocks off, the dreadlocks are then taken to a witch doctor. The dreadlocks are like a form of protection. When you remove the dreadlocks you remove your protection from other gang members wanting to kill you. So you have the witch doctor perform a ceremony over the cut dreadlocks. This will allow the protection to continue to be with you and even kill your adversaries. Of course the witch doctor charges for this service. After Enoc cut off Eddysons dreadlocks he asked him what he wanted to do with them. Eddyson said “burn them” I don’t need them anymore.
After all of that, we went and bought Eddyson new clothes and shoes to come to Church. I am now looking for a place where he can live as he was living in other gang members houses. He told me yesterday during church that he was now going to go to his local gang friends and invite them to Church.
Please keep Eddyson in your Prayers
May God get the Glory
Tony
PS: That is Eddyson standing with me in his new clothes