What are we doing? How will we make it work? Below you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we get as we talk with people about our vision for ministry in Haiti. Have a question that you don’t see on this list? Let us know by shooting us an email or by using the form below.
What do you do?
Our primary focus is to make disciples.
The organization we serve with defines a disciple as “someone who lives and loves like Jesus and helps others to do the same.” We love that definition! We believe Haiti will be a very different place as more and more catch a vision for this kind of discipleship.
How do we do this?
Luke serves as Assistant to the President and Professor of Leadership at the Séminaire de Théologie Evangélique de Port-au-Prince (STEP), working to develop future pastors and ministry leaders. At STEP he teaches classes, helps to lead the communication team and serves alongside the President, Wadestrant Jean Baptiste.
In addition to his role at STEP, Luke serves as Chairman of the Board for Quisqueya Chapel, an International Church in Port-au-Prince that is home to missionaries, development workers, business leaders and diplomats in Haiti.
Becca uses her gifts both at home with our kids and in our community. Mission number one for her is homeschooling our children and managing the many moving pieces of life for our family in a third world country. Outside the home, her passion is to come alongside new moms in our area, to disciple them as they navigate the early days of motherhood.
Both of these roles allow us to make strategic investments in the upcoming generation of Haitian leaders by targeting two of the most respected pillars of Haitian society: pastors and mothers.
Discipleship can take place in virtually any context. You can make a disciple in the context of your 9-5 just as easy as a pastor can while he is serving his church. This being the case, much of our ministry takes place outside of our “official roles” as we interact with our friends and neighbors. Some of our most critical discipleship moments take place on the road as Luke commutes across the city with a car full of staff and students, or in a church nursery as Becca spends time with a frustrated new mom.
Will you receive a salary?
Like most missionaries, the positions we serve in are “support-based” positions. This means we are responsible to raise the funds needed to cover both our living expenses and our ministry expenses. We do not receive a salary from STEP Seminary.
Where do those funds come from? People like you whom the Lord has lead to partner with us in this ministry. In order to do this ministry, we depend on a team of monthly and one-time financial partners who have joined our support team and stand with us in prayer and finances.
You can learn more about what this means here: perkinsinhaiti.com/give
How long will you be there?
Our intent is to serve long-term. We believe the best way to make the kind of impact needed in Haiti is by moving in, putting down roots and becoming part of the community in Haiti. Haiti is our home.
At the same time, we evaluate this on a regular basis and ask questions like: Are we still being effective? Is our family healthy? Do we still sense the Lords calling here and is that calling still recognized by those who know us and our ministry?
Is it safe?
It is a bit cliche, but we really believe the safest place for anyone to be is where the Lord has called them to be. For us, that is Haiti.
Yes, Haiti is a dangerous place. Political unrest and natural disasters are much more frequent here. In preparation for that, our sending organization provides training for what to do when this stuff happens and they have resources to be able to help us when it does.
We take great hope in the fact that the Great Commission ends with a promise: “And I will be with you always, even to the ends of the Earth.” As we go, we’re trusting that this promise goes with us, too.
What about school for your kids?
Currently, Becca homeschools the kids. She has several years of experience as an elementary teacher in the US, so she has enjoyed having the privilege of doing something she really loves to do – with our own kids.
Eventually, if we decide to send the kids to school, there are some good schools available. As the kids grow older, that is something we may consider.
Will you be able to visit the States?
Every few years we will have something called “Home Ministry Assignment” (traditionally called furlough), which is a period of time where we will come home, spend time with family and connect with our support team to update them on our ministry. Home Ministry Assignment can last from a few months, to a year.
What if you get sick?
There are some hospitals available here. Most are not up to US standards, but there are some good options for us to get care in the country. If something arises that requires more care than we’re able to get in Haiti, Miami is just an hour and a half away by plane and we’ll go either there or to New England.
One of the cool things is that some basic medicines are cheaper and easier to get here than in the States! All we need to do is have someone tell us what we need, then we pop into a store and buy it. No Rx required 🙂
Can we come to visit you? Will you be able to have teams come?
Yes! We’d love to talk with you about that. There are opportunities with serve with some of the projects STEP is working on, and countless other opportunities where we will be.
If you have questions or are interested in learning more about this, just shoot us an email.
What is the best way we can help you?
The two things that will help us most right now are prayers and finances.
In order to remain on the field, we need to have our support team fully in place with commitments covering 100% of our support budget. The best way to help? Pray, and consider partnering with us by joining our financial support team. You can find more information about that here: perkinsinhaiti.com/give.
Did we miss something? If you have a question shoot us an email – we’d love to answer it!
