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GARBC Tribute from Haitian Community

By December 3, 2010June 18th, 2014No Comments

Michael Nolan accepts plaque from Pastor Jack

Pastor Jacquelin Saint-Preux and the congregation of Eglise Evangelique Baptiste, Elmont, N.Y., recently presented a plaque thanking GARBC churches for their support of Haitian refugees. Michael Nolan, director of business administration/treasurer, accepted the tribute on behalf of the GARBC.

The Elmont church was planted by Pastor Saint-Preux and his wife, Murielle, in 2001, joining the GARBC in 2009. Most of the church members were born in Haiti, immigrated to Long Island, and are now raising children who speak French and Creole at home and English in school.

After greeting the guests from the GARBC, “Pastor Jack” called on church leaders to come forward, acknowledging them for their work. This team stayed at the front as Pastor Jack presented the plaque to Nolan. Pastor Jack pointed out that the GARBC was the first group to respond to Baptist churches in Haiti with fellowship, prayer, and support after the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake. He further acknowledged that the GARBC held organized prayer times for the churches and people of Haiti. As Michael read the plaque’s inscription in English, Pastor Jack translated it into Creole for the congregation.

“This is very special and kind. I will accept this on behalf of the GARBC and the International Ministries of the GARBC,” Nolan said when accepting the plaque. “Know that we are committed to continual prayer and support of fellowshipping Haitian churches, both here in the States and in Haiti.”

Nolan also reminded the Elmont congregation that a team from the GARBC resource center, led by Chris Hindal, had recently ministered in Haiti with Pastor Prédestin Hérard. The team stayed in a house rented by GARBC International Ministries for use by GARBC churches when ministry teams travel to Haiti.

During the trip to New York, Nolan and his family visited several other churches, representing the ministry of Baptist Builders Club. On Thanksgiving Day, the Nolans helped Pastor Marty Silverberg and the church family of Commonwealth Community Baptist Church in the Bronx serve a community dinner in the recently remodeled church building, a project that was completed with the assistance of Baptist Builders Club.

The Nolans also visited Brooklyn Baptist Church, where members from 21 different cultures worship together. Early in 2009, the church started to repair a part of its building that had drainage problems, receiving $15,000 from Baptist Builders Club. When introducing Michael Nolan to the congregation, Pastor Don LeMaster thanked GARBC churches for their assistance with the completed project.

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