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July 01, 2024

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Last week, 400 police officers from Kenya landed in Haiti, the first move in a United Nations–backed operation to try to stabilize the country. Over the last 18 months, Haitian gangs have kidnapped hundreds, killed thousands, and forced hundreds of thousands from their homes. In February, while then prime minister Ariel Henry was out of the country asking the Kenyans for international help, gangs stormed Haiti’s two largest prisons and released more than 4,000 inmates. They attacked the international airport in Port-au-Prince, grounding flights for nearly three months. And they looted the port, effectively blocking the capital from its last source of international aid. The U.S. began airlifting Americans out of the country. “Most missionaries left then,” said Mission to the World missionary Esaïe Etienne. A Haitian himself, he moved to the U.S. with his family in 1991. Two years later, he met a Haitian pastor planting a Presbyterian Church in America congregation. “That’s how I learned my Westminster Confession of Faith,” he said. After graduating from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, he began ministering to Haitians in Florida, then moved back to Haiti. He and his wife now live in the Dominican Republic and make regular visits back to their homeland. “I’m not sure how many missionaries are left now,” he said. Two who opted to stay were shot by gangs last month. “Especially since February, things have escalated to a different level,” Etienne said. The Gospel Coalition asked him why Haiti is struggling, how its churches are doing, and how he prays for his country these days. Haiti has had trouble with gangs since the 1950s, when a dictator named François Duvalier used them to scare and silence dissidents. But the country also struggles with political corruption and persistently high poverty. Why is Haiti always in trouble? Over the years, we’ve had a lot of different corrupt politicians and economic elite that come to power, one after another. It’s just selfishness. They come stealing money and go somewhere else to spend it. After they finish up a few years in power, they go into exile, in a sense with the money they have stolen. Of course, there are exceptions. We’ve had administrations that have shown patriotism and love for the country. But the evil forces always get them out. So they never have time to make a long-lasting positive effect on the country. The corrupt leaders sometimes arm young people and tell them to cause problems so the leaders can get elected. In the past three or four years, those young people are becoming autonomous. They have become directly connected with places to get guns and drugs. The gangs have also made a lot of money in kidnappings over the past four to five years and now they don’t need the politicians or economic elite anymore. It’s really chaos. How can regular people live in conditions like those? Many have left—and have done so for years. At one point in the 1990s, there were more Haitian doctors in Chicago than in Haiti. Lately, people who have a home or business in a gang-controlled area have had to leave. For example, my wife is from Port-au-Prince, and her family had to leave their house to go elsewhere. If you don’t have money, you have to stay, but conditions are very dire. There are a lot of rapes. Businesses are closed. At one car dealership, the gangs burned hundreds of vehicles. If you don’t have money, you have to stay, but conditions are very dire. At this point, the gangs control 80 percent of the capital. Because the geography is mountainous, there are only a few roads out. Those are also controlled by gangs—if you want to leave, you have to pay a fee. Even if you do, you may be stopped or killed. There are many stories of gangs opening fire on buses full of people. The United Nations estimates that more than 575,000 people are displaced in the country. They are living in makeshift tents or in schools. About 5 million people—more than half of Haiti’s population—are in extreme need of food. Are churches still functioning? Yes. In Port-au-Prince it’s more difficult, and some have had to close because they’re in gang territory. But there are churches around the country that are open. In Gonaïves, about 95 miles north of Port-au-Prince, we have three churches, a leadership training center, and a school for 500 children. We used to invite medical missions teams there, but we haven’t been able to have any since 2019 because it’s been so unsafe. Although the port in Port-au-Prince has been closed, there are still ports open in the north of the country. So we have been able to get some food in, though it is almost double in price. Last month we were able to distribute food to about eight churches and reach about 2,200 people with things like rice, beans, and sardines. You mentioned a school. Is that still open? Yes. In Gonaïves, our Christian school is a more permanent way to help, to provide hope to the kids and education for a better future. This is really important. Since many people who left their homes are now living together in schools—thousands of them in a little space—those schools can’t operate. There is a whole generation of kids who are missing out on education. How are the church leaders doing? Compared to Port-au-Prince, Gonaïves is relatively safe, so the pastors are doing OK. There is a lot of desperation—there is not much food—but at the same time people can see that things could be worse. When we distributed the food, we heard testimonies from people who said, “This is [from] God.” One pastor we provided with food is in Port-au-Prince, and he can’t stop talking about it. The amount we provided was small, but it will feed those people for about a month. I’m trying to raise money for more food. What’s next for Haiti? It’s hard to know. The gangs have a lot of guns and are ready to fight. In Port-au-Prince, the gangs have destroyed most of the big hospitals. I don’t know why. Nobody understands their philosophy. I’ve never seen the country at a lower level than this. We grieve for what we see, because we know Haiti’s potential. The country is beautiful, with many beaches, and could be a great spot for tourism. I’m sure many in the gangs are redeemable. But the stability isn’t there, and there is a lot of despair. El Salvador had a situation like this recently. President Nayib Bukele faced it by putting thousands of gang members in jail. He brought some peace. So we know with the right leadership you can turn things around. But many times people in leadership are connected to the gangs—that’s why you want the right leadership, who are not in relationship with the gangs. Loving Haiti has been tough on you. What keeps you going? A psalm that is our family’s favorite is Psalm 23. It’s really something we hold on to. My hope is in the Lord. I am praying he would intervene with the right leaders. My hope is in the Lord. I am praying he would intervene with the right leaders. Even the ones that are there now—including the interim presidential council and the prime minister Garry Conille—I pray for them every day to have wisdom and love for the people, that they would make the right decisions to help the country instead of hurting it. I pray for stability and peace. I pray for the many thousands who are suffering. I don’t trust any politicians. But I believe God can do something. We’ll just continue to do whatever little we can do, one person at a time. We will preach the gospel and show love with some food or with the school we have for the kids. And we will continue to pray that God would bring the right leadership to change the course of the country.

When troubles come, what do we most need? Our instinctive answer is help. When the doctor delivers a difficult diagnosis, we want a treatment plan. When drowning in debt, we crave provision. When our marriage crumbles, we seek counseling. As Christians, we also think about our spiritual needs in times of trouble: we need prayer; we need God to show up in a mighty way. Certainly we do, but that raises questions: What sort of prayer? For that matter, what sort of God? Isaiah 63 gives us an unexpected answer to these questions. God’s people face annihilation. They need a divine warrior “marching in the greatness of his strength” (v. 1). The enemy is at the gates. Smoke rises from ruined cities. Enemies have “trampled down [God’s] sanctuary” (v. 18) so that “Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.” The “holy and beautiful” temple where God’s people had long worshiped “has been burned by fire” (64:10–11). If ever a moment called for bold intercession, this was it. Isaiah will make bold requests of God: “Look down from heaven and see” (63:15), “Return” (v. 17), “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down!” (64:1). But not yet. Before he asks, Isaiah speaks about God. He tells of God’s kindnesses, mighty deeds, and compassion (63:7). He speaks of God’s fatherly affection for his people (v. 8), his sympathy when they’re in distress (v. 9). The Lord redeemed his people, forbearing even in their rebellion (v. 10), and he has proven himself faithful to them throughout generations (vv. 11–14). To whom does Isaiah give this reminder of God’s glory? Remember, this is a prayer. That means Isaiah is talking to God about God. He’s appealing to God’s character as the basis of his petition. Ordinary Pattern This is an ordinary pattern. Consider David. In Psalm 139, David seeks help because wicked adversaries are bringing trouble against him. Before asking God to intervene, he spends 18 verses talking to God about God. God is the sovereign, ever-present, all-knowing, all-wise Creator who forms us in the womb. David reminds himself and God of these glorious realities before making his requests, because he needs first to remember who God is. Isaiah is talking to God about God. He’s appealing to God’s character as the basis of his petition. In Psalm 27, David rehearses God’s power in a single verse before petitioning God (v. 1). In Nehemiah 9, the Levites lead the people in several long paragraphs of prayerful praise, telling God about his mighty deeds, before asking for help. In Psalm 23, David never makes it to petition, having brought his heart to peace in the Shepherd’s presence. The proportions vary, but the pattern is the same. Once these saints recall God’s glory, they present their requests confidently, knowing God hears and cares. They first reflect on his character and discern his will (so they ask aright), and then they can take solace in his precious promises. Needed Reminder Talking with God about God is a needed lesson today. We often leap directly to our requests. When we do that, we lack confidence. We pray timid, half-hearted prayers because we’re not sure if God is listening. Even if he is, we’re not sure he’ll grant what we ask. But when we begin with a true account of God’s character and the explicit promises he’s given us, our petitions have a sure foundation. We can besiege heaven, calling on God to be who he is. The bigger God is in our sight, the bolder the petition. Isaiah counsels Israel’s intercessors, “You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth” (62:6, NIV). What could sustain intercession like that apart from the knowledge of God’s character and faithfulness? Talking to God about God may change the nature of our requests. We often want what God hasn’t promised. But that, too, is a help. You may want to pray for a change in your circumstances, but God hasn’t promised such a change. However, he does promise to give you peace amid your circumstances, to use even the most trying days to conform you to Christ’s image. In reminding yourself of that truth—in talking to God about God before you make your plea—you can experience the comfort of confidence that you’re asking in accordance with God’s will. What It Looks like Practically Christian, turn your meditation on God’s Word into prayer. Ask what this passage says about God. Pray that truth back to him in adoration. What promises do you see in the passage, and how are those promises “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20)? Ask with confidence for God to deliver on those promises—in his way and time—for he’s unfailingly faithful to his Word. Maybe you’re facing sexual temptation. Even now you’re considering opening a private tab on your browser. You’re reading this article to distract yourself and to fix your thoughts on Jesus. With each racing heartbeat, you’re muttering, “God, help me,” but you’re not sure he will, because he didn’t seem to the last time you fell. What if you talked to God about God? Remind yourself he gives the living water after which we never thirst again (John 4:13–14)—love that slakes our thirst so we don’t need to seek the false intimacy of pornographic pixels. When we begin with a true account of God’s character and the explicit promises he’s given us, our petitions have a sure foundation. Perhaps you have a difficult colleague slandering you. Talk to God not about the conflict but about God: “You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” (Ps. 3:3). He protects the vulnerable, covers scorn with glory, and lifts the head sunk in discouragement. Or maybe you’re suffering angst over all the trouble in today’s world. How sorely we all need to remember that he’s the King of kings! As Jesus himself reminded churches facing worse than we experience, he holds us in his hand (Rev. 2:1), conquered death (v. 8), will speak decisive words of judgment (v. 12), and rules over the nations (v. 27). He’s got the whole world in his hands. Greatest Need What we most need, no matter our current circumstances, is a deeper knowledge of and intimacy with God our Savior. The simple act of beginning our prayers with “God, you . . .” instead of “God, I . . .”—of talking to God about God before talking to him about ourselves—will recalibrate, refresh, and reinvigorate our prayers. Like David in Psalm 23, we may find we needn’t offer any petition once we’ve talked with God about God. In rehearsing his beauty and majesty, we soon remember he’s the deepest longing hidden beneath every other desire. As Jonathan Edwards said, The redeemed have all their objective good in God. God himself is the great good which they are brought to the possession and enjoyment of by redemption. He is the highest good, and the sum of all that good which Christ purchased. Talk with God about God, and you’ll quickly discover how true that is.

Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss the upcoming season of You’re Not Crazy, where they’ll delve into Romans chapters 12-15 and focus on how to foster gospel culture in churches. They also introduce their forthcoming small group curriculum based on principles also taught in the book You’re Not Crazy, and they announce the launch of the Center for Gospel Culture by leaders from Immanuel Nashville. The center will offer resources and events for pastors and churches, including a decade’s worth of sermons, manuals, and other materials.

Music, an ever-evolving art form, has seen its fair share of revolutionaries, but few have truly transformed how instruments are played. From the haunting melodies of a guitar to the vibrant rhythms of a drum, these musicians didn’t just play music; they redefined it. This list celebrates ten such trailblazers who didn’t merely master their […] The post 10 Musicians Who Changed How Everyone Plays Their Instruments appeared first on Listverse.

Like the unknown, the unfamiliar excites our innate curiosity, whether we’re scientists or laypersons. Add the appeals of the strange, the novel, and the mysterious, and weird, unprecedented, or unheard-of phenomena become even more interesting. The 10 bizarre phenomena on this list, which range from mysterious radio messages and pillars of light in the sky […] The post 10 Bizarre, Little-Known Phenomena appeared first on Listverse.