June 20, 2003

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - The Alliance of the Haitian Baptist Churches is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year as "a voice inside American Baptist Churches USA."

According to Alliance Secretary the Rev. Duval Denis, "The participation of the Alliance in the annual sessions, conferences, evangelism meetings and the biennials of American Baptist Churches grows from year to year." The Alliances' representatives and musicians have taken part in Biennial Meetings since 1997; this June 27-30 the Haitian Alliance Mass Choir will perform at the 2003 Biennial Meeting in Richmond, Va.

Founded in 1983 with nine churches in New Jersey and New York, the Haitian Alliance today includes more than 40 congregations throughout the U.S. In its church planting work, supported by National Ministries, the Alliance is in the process of establishing new congregations in Mesa, Ariz., and Nashville, Tenn.

The Alliance also has maintained a longstanding relationship with the Convention Baptiste d'Haiti, and has undertaken humanitarian and social work there. Alliance representatives attend the annual congress of the Convention, and a joint Alliance/CBH convention was held in April 2002 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dr. Julio Laporte, pastor of Bethel Haitian Baptist Church, East Orange, N.J., is national coordinator of Haitian Ministries for American Baptist National Ministries. The Rev. Jean-Francoise Verdier, associate pastor of First Ft. Lauderdale Evangelical Haitian Mission Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., is Haitian Ministries consultant for National Ministries New Life Florida initiative. The Rev. Stephenson Doirin, pastor of Haitian Bethel Baptist Church, Newark, N.J., is a member of the American Baptist General Board. Dr. Edgard Nicolas, pastor of Haitian Baptist Church at the Crossroads, East Orange, N.J., is president of the Haitian Caucus of American Baptist Churches USA, as well as area minister for Haitian Ministries within American Baptist Churches of New Jersey. The Rev. Duvales Cineus, pastor of Eglise Baptiste de la Communion Fraternelle, Brooklyn, N.Y., is associate minister for Haitian Ministries of American Baptist Churches of Metro New York. The Rev. Morales Saintilus, pastor of Haitian Baptist Church Ebenezer, Westbury, N.Y., is chair of ABC of Metro New York's Nomination Committee.

American Baptist Churches USA General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, at that time executive minister of ABC of New Jersey, was part of a delegation to Haiti in July 2000 that included American Baptist regional staff and Alliance representatives. "During my years as executive minister in New Jersey, I had the great privilege of often experiencing first-hand the Christ-centered energy and outreach of the Alliance and its congregations in New Jersey. The commitment and growth in those churches was an inspiration and model for everyone in the region and indeed for the entire American Baptist family."

American Baptist News Service