Ministry Events
Assessment and Response to Hurricane Melissa, Haiti 2025
A Devastating Reality
Hurricane Melissa has left a deep mark on our beloved Haiti. Over the past days, I have walked through the affected areas in Gressier and neighboring communities, witnessing destruction that words can hardly describe. Homes have been washed away, crops destroyed, and families left without food or shelter. For an already struggling country, this storm has multiplied our pain and uncertainty.
I have seen mothers crying over lost belongings, fathers standing helplessly before collapsed houses, and children trying to find comfort amidst chaos. As an agricultural nation, losing our crops means facing severe food insecurity in the coming months. This is not just a natural disaster—it is a humanitarian crisis that affects every aspect of life.
The Impact on Our Ministry and Church Family
Our ministry has not been spared. Some of our church members lost their homes and personal belongings. Several of our ministry sites became temporarily inaccessible because of flooding and road damage. Yet in the middle of all this, I praise God that my family, some of our local church members, and our teams are safe.
Through God's Church of Jubot-Haiti, we have been on the ground from the very beginning—visiting affected families, assessing damages, praying with those in despair, and distributing what little we could find. It has been emotionally and physically exhausting, but we are sustained by God's strength and by the hope that His light still shines in the darkest moments.
Our Initial Response
From the first day, we focused on being present where the need was greatest. With the help of church volunteers, we provided emergency food supplies, clean water, and temporary shelter in the church building.
Some of the food that had been set aside for our regular feeding program was immediately distributed to the most vulnerable families who were left with absolutely nothing after the hurricane. We could not watch them suffer while food was available in our storehouse, even if it meant stretching our resources thin.
I personally joined several visits to assess situations and pray with families who lost everything. While our resources have been limited, we have tried to respond with compassion and urgency. Every meal shared, every prayer offered, and every act of kindness has been a reminder that God's love is still alive in our midst.
The Way Forward – Rebuilding Hope
As we move beyond emergency relief, I am praying and planning for a stronger and more coordinated response to the ongoing needs in our community. With your partnership, here is how we hope to respond:
Home Repair and Shelter Support: Help rebuild homes for families who lost everything.
Agriculture Restoration: Support local farmers with seeds, fertilizer, and small tools to restart food production.
Food distribution: Prepare for three larger food distributions that could reach more people affected by the hurricane.
Water Access: Repair or install clean water systems for affected communities.
Medical Care: Help provide free medical consultations and medicine through our mobile clinic ministry.
Support for Students: Provide school supplies again to children whose families have lost everything so that they are able to return to School.
A Call for Partnership
The task ahead is enormous, but together we can make a difference. I am inviting our partners, friends, and churches—both local and abroad—to join us in rebuilding lives and communities. Whether through prayer, financial support, or your involvement will bring hope to many who have lost it.
Every contribution, no matter how small, will help us meet the most urgent needs. Together, we can restore dignity, rebuild homes, and help families rise again.
Looking Ahead with Faith
Hurricane Melissa may have destroyed buildings and crops, but it has not destroyed our faith. On the contrary, it has reminded me once again that God is faithful, even in the storm. As we continue to respond, I hold fast to His promise in Isaiah 58:12 — "You will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."
With your prayers and partnership, I am confident that we can make a significant impact in the lives of those affected by the hurricane.
In His service,
Rev. Jeff Fortune
Back to School 2025
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Jeff Fortune, and I am reaching out to you with an important cause that is very close to my heart. After serving 373 wonderful kids at our VBS across the two Church Campuses, I am currently working to raise $4,700 to support the kids who attended the VBS, who are underprivileged children with school bags and supplies.
This initiative is not merely meaningful to me but also has the potential to make a significant impact on the life of the kids and their parents who cannot afford these supplies. With your generous support, I am confident we can achieve this goal and bring about positive change.
Here are the details of how the funds will be used and each step for the implementation:
The pick up will be driven to town with a team of volunteers from the Church to the public market to purchase 350 School bags altogether.
The second trip to the public market will be to purchase the school supplies that will be packed inside each bag, such as: large boxes of notebooks, Pencils, pens, Rulers, and all other instruments that can hopefully be found at the time of the purchase.
All distributions will happen on the same day at each campus.
Success stories with images and videos will be sent to donors at the time of the distribution. Additionally , the ministry website will be updated with success stories, testimonies of different beneficiaries .
I am seeking your support to help make this vision a reality. Any contribution, big or small, will go a long way in helping us reach our target of $4,700.
If you feel moved to contribute, you can donate through our ministry website online using the link below , or write check using the information below . All gifts are Tax deductible . Additionally, if you are unable to contribute financially, sharing this appeal with others in your network would mean the world to me.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter and for considering supporting our cause. Together, we can make a difference. If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at ( 509 ) 3874 8194 or email me at jefffortune91@gmail.com
With heartfelt gratitude,
Jeff Fortune
Pastor
CELEBRATING 28 YEARS OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS
3-2025
Dear friends & Ministry partners,
We are thrilled to announce that we will commemorate 28 years of unwavering faithfulness and divine guidance within our community in Gressier, Haiti, on March 30th, 2025. Throughout these years, our ministry has been a beacon of hope and support, effectively addressing the spiritual and practical needs of the local population. We have witnessed countless transformations and miracles as God has worked through our efforts, fostering a strong sense of community and resilience. This milestone not only reflects our commitment to serving others but also highlights the profound impact that faith can have in uplifting lives and nurturing a vibrant community. As we celebrate this significant anniversary, we remain dedicated to continuing our mission and expanding our outreach, ensuring that God's love and support reach even more needy individuals and families.
To God be the Glory !!
Jeff Fortune,
Pastor
WHEELS OF HOPE DOWN
Wheels of Hope is down! The truck that we use for our ministry is called "Wheels of Hope" because it is the primary means of transportation for our church members and the community in case of a medical emergency. We also use this vehicle to transport all the food for our feeding program, the medical supplies for our free community outreach medical clinics, and all other ministry transportation needs. Our ministry vehicle is the most important expense and tool for our ministry because it makes all our ministries possible. Unless one has been to Haiti or a country with a similar road system, it may be difficult to imagine the poor road conditions. Every time we use the truck, we do what Americans consider "off-roading" on unpaved and uneven dirt roads that often have huge potholes, large rocks, and other debris. The punishment on every vehicle in the country requires that citizens do a tremendous amount of annual upkeep on their vehicles. (The few roads built in Haiti by various external international groups in the 1930s, 1990s, and 2010s generally are not maintained thereafter and have sustained serious damage over decades from earthquakes [1946, 1952, 1966, 2010, 2018, and 2021], hurricanes [1935, 1954, 1963–64, 1980, 1988, 1994, 2004–05, 2008, 2012, and 2021–21], and seasonal flooding.)On a routine ministry trip to our church plant in Bobonnee, our truck finally went out due to the typical wear and tear of the road conditions. A mechanic assessed the damage and determined that the differential, axle, and steering wheel boxes needed to be replaced. We were able to tow the truck back to a safe location. However, parts and labor will cost $2,325 for a complete repair.
In addition to the routine ministries that our truck supports, such as the feeding ministry, we have several special events coming up for which we need the truck: the 28th Anniversary of the Ministry in Jubot in March, a baptism service at the church plant in Bobonnee late this month, and a group wedding in Bobonnee in April. The truck is needed to transport both people and supplies for these events. Please pray for me as I continue serving here, and pray that the truck will be repaired soon because it is essential to all of our church's ministries. Wheels of Hope is down! The truck that we use for our ministry is called "Wheels of Hope" because it is the primary means of transportation for our church members and the community in case of a medical emergency. We also use this vehicle to transport all the food for our feeding program, the medical supplies for our free community outreach medical clinics, and all other ministry transportation needs. Our ministry vehicle is the most important expense and tool for our ministry because it makes all our ministries possible. Unless one has been to Haiti or a country with a similar road system, it may be difficult to imagine the poor road conditions.
Every time we use the truck, we are doing what Americans consider "off-roading" on unpaved and uneven dirt roads that often have huge potholes, large rocks, and other debris. The punishment on every vehicle in the country requires that citizens do a tremendous amount of annual upkeep on their vehicles. (The few roads built in Haiti by various external international groups in the 1930s, 1990s, and 2010s, generally are not maintained thereafter and have sustained serious damage over decades from earthquakes [1946, 1952, 1966, 2010, 2018, and 2021], hurricanes [1935, 1954, 1963–64, 1980, 1988, 1994, 2004–05, 2008, 2012, and 2021–21], and seasonal flooding.)On a routine ministry trip to our church plant in Bobonnee, and due to the typical wear and tear of the road conditions, our truck finally went out. A mechanic assessed the damage and determined that the differential, axle, and steering wheel boxes need to be replaced. We were able to tow the truck back to a safe location. However, parts and labor will cost $2,325 for a complete repair.In addition to the routine ministries that our truck supports, such as the feeding ministry, we have several special events coming up for which we need the truck: the 28th Anniversary of the Ministry in Jubot in March, a baptism service at the church plant in Bobonnee late this month, and a group wedding in Bobonnee in April. The truck is needed to transport both people and supplies for these events. Please pray for me as I continue serving here, and pray that the truck will be repaired soon because it is essential to all of our church's ministries.
Year-End-Campaign
Dear friends and Ministry partners,
As we approach the end of another remarkable year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Thanks to you, our ministry has been able to keep the people of our community fed, keep the gospel preached and reach people for Christ, planting a new Church in the community of Bobonnee, meet the needs of the people abandoned in the hospital with no help at all, and support with the needs of the ministry and people of the community to name a few. Your generosity has touched countless lives and made a lasting impact on our church and community.
As we look ahead to the coming year, we have ambitious plans to continue expanding our ministry in the Gressier area, continue to provide Humanitarian assistance to those we are ministering to (such as food medical assistance via our free Mobil clinic and building tiny homes for those that are not having a roof on their head, and to mature the believers in Bobonnee through solid Bible teaching and continue to train influential leaders who I believe can help making a difference in the lives of those we serve. To bring these visions to life, we need your continued support. Regardless of size, your donation will be vital in helping us achieve our goals.
Would you donate to help us start the year strong so that more people can be reached for Christ?
Your support means the world to us, and together, we can continue to impact the lives of those we serve positively for Christ. Thank you for being a part of our ministry family!
I wish you a joyful holiday season filled with love and warmth.
Community Food Distribution
Since the last gang attack that occurred in our community, this has resulted in many difficulties with people who are leaving their homes and going to other communities that they believe look safer for them. Consequently, many people have left the town and are installed in our community in Jubot.
Because it has been challenging to continue with ministry visits regularly, I had to wait until things were a bit calm to continue my regular visits. After a recent one, I discovered how life has become challenging for many people who cannot afford a meal daily. Although our ministry has a feeding program that supports our Church, we don't have sufficient food to support the entire Jubot Community.
Consequently, our ministry staff has agreed to plan a large food distribution service for approximately 750 families. This will serve the Jubot community and the surrounding ones. Our goal is to raise $6,700, which can help us get there and serve that many people with food during this challenging time.
Would you partner with us to make this happen as we serve the vulnerable ones in Haiti?
If you have any questions, please email Pastor Jeff and Joanna Peebles at their respective email addresses. Jefffortune91@gmail.com and joanna@worldoutreach.org .
Donations are tax-deductible and can be made:
Bobonnee Church Plant
1-8-2024
Although there are many missionaries and mission agencies here in Haiti, historically most of them have been limited to reaching places that are accessible by road. One of the distinctives of the ministry of our church is that we minister by traveling to people who are previously unreached by others (Rom. 15:20; 1 Cor 3:10; 2 Cor 10:15) due to such logistic restrictions. One such community is Bobonnee. It is not even identified on Google maps. Bobonnee is on our mountain, but it is a long distance from our hometown of Jubot.
Bobonnee Demographics
Bobonnee has approximately 2,500 people. The average age of the community is estimated at under 40 years old. It is an agricultural community. The people there engage in subsistence level farming or "farming in which nearly all of the crops or livestock raised are used to maintain the farmer and the farmer's family, leaving little, if any, surplus for sale or trade" (Britannica.com). The village has no churches or schools. Drinking water comes from the local river which also serves as the community bathing facility. Sanitation is poor and the surrounding bush is used as the latrine. Consequently, there is a high risk of cholera. There is no medical facility in their village. The closest medical aid for the few that can afford it is Leogane, which is at least half a day's travel on foot.
Bobonnee seems to have never had a church and has no Christian background. The people primarily believe in voodoo. As is typical of the Haiti general population, few people in Bobonnee are married and many are either living together while having children out of wedlock or are having children without even living together or maintaining a common law marriage.
Initial Ministry in Bobonnee
In November 2023, a friend invited me (Pastor Jeff) to visit Bobonnee. I had never been to this community before. Consequently, I took some time to explore their village by walking through and praying silently for the people. When I met some of the people and saw just how extreme their poverty was, then I was moved to preach the Gospel to them. After sharing this experience with some of the leaders at my church, we arranged to return to Bobonnee together to preach evangelistically for a week. 13 people made a decision for Christ and presumably got saved in the first week.
Current Ministry Status
Since there is no church in Bobonnee and there are no nearby churches, then our church has been holding services in their community weekly since November. Following our initial evangelism efforts, we have visited 79 houses and at least 30 people have made a decision for Christ. These 30-plus people are consistently attending the morning service. (The average sized church in Haiti is approximately 40–50 people.) The number of people in attendance is growing each week as the people of Bobonnee are open to the Gospel. Of the estimated 30 people currently in attendance, there are approximately: 12 adults (21–38 yr. old), 8 youth (13–19 yr. old), and 11 children (3–13 yr. old). Due to the low marriage and low cohabitation rate in Haiti, the 30 people represent approximately 3–4 couples who may or may not be married and represent an indeterminate number of families.
This new church is currently meeting weekly for worship in an open field under a semi-permanent tarp attached to posts. The people of Bonbonnee took the initiative to set up this tarp and are maintaining it against weather damage. One volunteer from our home church accompanies me every Sunday to lead worship and share the Word. Consequently, I am currently preaching three times every Sunday: once in Bonbonnee and twice in Jubot (regular service and prayer meeting).
Future Ministry Prospects and Needs
There is a current and future need for more leadership for this new Bonbonnee church plant. Since several elders from our home church in Jubot have been successfully trained to preach and lead, then they will increase their participation in the church plant over time after I have established a good ministry foundation in the new work. Our hope is that someone from the new church in Bonbonnee will eventually mature and be trained to take over leadership in the church plant. I am also looking into other leadership sources such as national Bible colleges and seminaries to find more help.
As we have done elsewhere and in accord with the community's need, we are hoping that God will provide the resources to run a medical clinic in Bonbonnee to meet the physical needs of the people and as a form of outreach. Some of you may recall that through these clinics we provide free medical exams/diagnosis, testing, and medicine. Further, some of you may recall that these clinics have been an effective form of outreach in other towns. We are tentatively planning to hold one of these clinics in Bonbonnee at the end of March or beginning of April.
The owner of the field in which the church plant is currently meeting is not a believer, but has granted temporary permission for the church to meet on his land under the tarp. We are currently negotiating a deal with him for a more permanent land use agreement, and we are also investigating other meeting locations for the church. Some time in the future, we will need additional financial support to help this new church plant to secure a permanent meeting location. As is typical in Haiti, the official church planting ceremony will not take place until they secure a permanent meeting location.
Our church is very excited about the work that God is doing in the Bonbonnee community. Please join us in prayer for the community and for God to accomplish his plan in the lives of the people there.
Next phase of the Church Construction
27/02/2023
God's Church of Jubot is now over 130 attendances on Sunday morning. We have seen God blessed and grown our congregation in numbers. Since after the major earthquake that destroyed our Church building back in January 12th, 2010, we have been trying to build back step by step .With our limited resources, we have not been able to progress more with the construction of our sanctuary. For the last several years we have had missions team coming down to Haiti from the United States to work on it, but with the current condition of the country in terms of safety, they are not able to travel back anymore. Consequently, we are raising fund to be able to continue with the next phase of the construction. Our goal is to raise $17,000 toward the next phase of the construction.
Our hope is that God will provide the necessary fund to be able to continue with the next phase of the building in July of this year. We would love you to partner with us to make that happen so that our community can be blessed and have a much better place where they can come together to worship so that the gospel can continue to be spread.
Let's partner together and make that happen for His name.
Wheels of Hope has been Purchased
10/07/2022
God has been Faithful to us here in Haiti. After waiting for so long, God has blessed us with a ministry vehicle. We were very concerned that the truck ( Chevrolet Colorado 2014) would successfully be delivered because of armed groups causing terror on the road. Today our Church members gathered around the truck and together we dedicated it to God . As a reminder, this truck will be serving in different ministry capacities such as: Transporting supplies on the mountain, delivering food for the feeding programs, including taking people to the city for medical emergency trips.
As for now we are in need of five new tires of size ( 265 65 R 17) . What we currently have won't get us far at all because three of them are already in bad shape . Tires are costing approximately $200 Each . So we are in need of $ 1,000 to cover this need .
Please consider praying that God will help us come up with the fund to replace the titres on it .
Blessings,
Dawensky Lucas Funeral Expenses
11/14/2022
Dawensky Lucas, a 13th years old boy was born and raised in Jubot, Gressier Haiti. His father's name is Jonel Lucas and her mother's name is Lelene Pierre. The entire family attended our Church on the mountain. Dawensky was a brilliant student in our Sunday class for the youth and also was a regular beneficiary of our feeding program. Dawensky wasn't sick at all but expectantly passed away on Thursday night ( November 10th, 2022) . What we loved the most about Dawensky was that he was very energetic and always want to volunteer when needs be.
Both parents are not employed and were supported by the Church through our feeding program. When cases like that happen, then the ministry has the obligation to either fully help or contribute to the funeral because they have been with us for a while and they have become our family because at God's Church of Jubot, Haiti we are all a family.
We also need to mention that Dawensky did not die of the Outbreak of Cholera that is gaining ground in our community at all. We do not know the cause of his death at all. But God knows.
A funeral service is scheduled for him on November 16th, 2022 at 2h PM at our Church on the mountain. Consequently, we are raising funds to help with the funeral and also to organize a reception which will happen on Sunday after service. If only the Lord puts on your heart to be a blessing to the family and the Church which will pay for the funeral, we would appreciate your gift toward the funeral expenses. Our goal is to raise $ 1,250 which will help to cover the cost.
However, if you are donating by check we may not get it in time for the funeral. Consequently, please reach out to us so we can include the total you are planning to donate. As a reminder, please include memorial fund or gift for Dawensky Luca on the designation box so we know what the donation or gift is coming for.
Thank you for your prayers and anticipation to the family !!
Pastor Jeff's Heart Condition
05/25/2022
Our pastor has been developing heart conditions since the month of April 2022. He has been diagnosed with Hypertrophy on the left ventricular. This has prevented him to continue faithfully the pulpit ministry. We are pulling our effort to have him travel to the Dominican Republic the get medical care that he needs. Below is the listing of the expenses for his trip. If you feel led, consider praying that the needs can be met so that he can travel and get the medical assistance he needs. We are long to have him full-time in the pulpit ministry again.
Items Estimate
Visa: $450
Aifaire International $1,200
Airfare National $730
Medical Fees $ 5,500
Housing $ 0
Food $ 300
Miscellaneous $1,100
Total Raised $3000
Note: We have been able to raise $3000 toward our pastor's medical expenses. Now we are trusting God to raise the remaining $5,380 so that he can travel to the Dominican Republic to get medical care for his heart issues. We covet your prayers and generosity as we try to address this need and have our pastor back on the pulpit
Wheels of Hope Vehicle Program
02/17/2022
We have been raising funds to replace our vehicle, which was used to minister both to our church and the community. This vehicle is essential for purchasing and delivering food and other survival level supplies to starving people in our church and the surrounding area. It will also serve as the only ambulance in our community for emergency medical trips to the nearest hospital. However, world events and the length of time involved in raising the necessary funds for the replacement vehicle have necessitated a change in our fundraising strategy and goals.
During the course of our fundraising campaign, the cost for a truck has gone up exponentially in Haiti. Due to inflation and other global economic impacts (i.e., COVID supply chain problems and cost increases for vehicles also felt in the US), we need more than the $22,000 initially projected about a year ago. Current research shows that the type of used Toyota truck we wanted previously now costs approximately $37,000 and that for the same price we can get a comparable new Nissan truck. Consequently, it is better stewardship to switch from a used Toyota to a new Nissan and we now need $37,000. This number reflects the vehicle cost and delivery fee. We need to pay a delivery fee because it is currently too dangerous for a private individual to go to our capital of Port-au-Prince and drive back with a new truck. An individual on a motor bike to go pay will not draw a lot of attention, but driving off a dealer lot and returning in a new truck is dangerous. (For more financial information, see the dealer website: https://en.nissanhaiti.com/vehicles/new/frontier.html). The longer we wait to make the purchase, the more the potential for world crises and cost increases. We currently have $11,091 and need another $25,909 to get the required $37,000.