60th Anniversary of the Baptist Theological Seminary

OCTOBER MARKS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

This October marks 60 years since the Seminarie Theologic Baptiste d’Haiti (STBH), now University Cretienne du Nord Haiti (UCNH), was established by Ivah and Harold Heneise.  It has been a time of celebration, of looking back and looking forward.  Many graduates from this great institution have gone on to establish themselves as pastors, doctors, business leaders, worship leaders, and doctoral professors all over the world.  I have seen some of these graduates and I am impressed and amazed that so many high quality people specializing in so many different fields could have come from such a humble place as Limbe, Haiti. It is impossible to deny that this institution has had a major impact on Haiti and the world.  Founded in 1947 by Ivah and Harold Heneise, missionaries with the American Baptist Home Mission Society, in the small town of Haut Limbe, this Baptist theological seminary began with three students, who went on to graduate several years later.  In 2007, 82 students graduated, with degrees in theology, business, agriculture and fine arts.  One of the recent graduates, Kesnel Pierre, is the Police Commissioner in Cap Haitian, the largest city in northern Haiti (watch for his story in an upcoming newsletter).

With limited resources, the Heneises and a small teaching staff provided excellent training for Haitian church leaders.  Harold and Ivah discovered early in their ministry that most of the Baptist churches in Haiti had no Sunday School programs, so they started a Sunday School training program for new pastors and authored Sunday School materials for all ages. They also developed the summer camping program at the Seminary campus, worked to promote youth associations, and helped develop Christian Day Schools in the local Baptist churches.

In 1995 the Seminary expanded into the University Cretienne du Nord Haiti (North Haiti Christian University) under the leadership of Jules and Laurie Casseus (Laurie Heneise) to respond to the urgent need for college level programs for Haitian young people.  UCNH has grown steadily despite the political and economic turmoil in Haiti and now serves as a beacon of the gospel in that dark, troubled country.

HAITI REFLECTIONS – MUSIC CAMP 2007

Rebecca Heneise, Guest Writer and Photographer

When my aunt Debbie called me to ask me to go in her stead to Haiti, I couldn’t believe it.  I still couldn’t believe it when I finally stepped off the MFI plane at the airport in Cap Haitian.   I was going to take pictures for Haiti Hope Fund of the 30^th annual music camp on the grounds of UCNH.  I was also going to be in charge of the children’s ministry, a first ever in the history of music camp.  When my aunt Laurie found out that I would be going we began to talk about the need for someone to develop a program for the children.  Historically music camp was designed for adults, to prepare worship leaders and choral directors.  However, in recent years more and more parents have been sending children to the camp and the children have had to sit through long hours of programs designed for adult attention spans.  Having previously worked with children as an acting teacher and an art teacher, I felt sure that I could offer something to the children’s program.  Aunt Laurie also expressed a desire to expand music camp into a fine arts camp and we decided that perhaps this was the year to begin those endeavors.  So there I was in Haiti with a notebook full of plans for a theatrical piece based around Jonah and the Whale, a suitcase full of art supplies, a friend to direct the children’s choir (Kate Stremme, a talented musician), my camera, and a pocket Creole/English dictionary.  I did not know what to expect but I was ready for the adventure.

Also arriving to teach at the Music camp were Irma Schar, Kate Stremme, Louima Lilite, Stephen Dalrymple, Connie Bull, Rose Michel and Jean Dona Darius.  Louima was camp director and coordinator.  He has worked alongside Aunt Laurie for many years to make music camp happen each year.  Each teacher has a history connected to Haiti and to the camp.  Irma was Louima’s piano teacher at his first camp when he was 12 years old.

All of us worked together incredibly well.  Even though we had never worked together before, we made a great team this summer.  I think what helped us was our daily morning devotions as well as our evening discussions.  Not only were we dedicated to the success of the camp and the students, we all had a passion for Christ and serving Christ.  There was a great sense of purpose and communion among us.

A student I met while at the camp was Katy Jean Louis.  She is from Port-de-Paix and has been attending music camp since 2001 when she was 12 years old.  She studies the violin, drums, piano and clarinet.  I asked her why music is important and she told me, “Music is important to know because in everything music makes sense.  The people who have problems; it make them to get a little better, little better, little better.”  It is not surprising that her biggest passion next to music is medicine.  She will be taking exams next year to get into medical school.  At some point she will have to decide whether to pursue music or dedicate her time to the study of medicine.  I hope she will be able to do both.  She told me that music camp has been a place not only for learning more about music but also to grow closer to and learn more about God.

The final concert, involving all 135 camp participants, was held at Le Tabernacle in Cap Haitian.  This place is built like an amphitheater and seats over 5000 people and we had that many there that evening.  We named our children’s choir “Belle Joie Chorale” and on this 30th anniversary concert we gave the first ever children’s choir performance.  There were 23 children in the choir and they sang three pieces.  Their performance was well received by the audience.  We also had 10 children take part in the play we wrote together.  The play was about Jonah and the Whale.  The concert was broadcast from two different radio stations all over Haiti, which was a great honor, but made the staging of the play awkward.  However, the audience loved the play and laughed and clapped quite loudly at the end.  What made it especially meaningful was that we sang a song we had composed together and we ended the play with a rousing chant.  During the course of the event aunt Laurie was presented an award by Haiti Hope Fund for her 30 years of dedication to music camp.  The University also presented her an award for founding the Fine Arts department at the University.  It was a great honor for me to be there representing Haiti Hope Fund.  During the course of 30 years many lives have been changed and enriched.  It is a privilege to be a part of that history.

A NOTE FROM DEBBIE HENEISE

This year was the first year that I wasn’t able to attend music camp because I had a far greater event to attend!  Our first grandchild was born in July to our son Ryan Heneise and his wife Bethany. It was a special joy for me to travel to Austin, Texas to see my 2 day old granddaughter, Selah Sofia Heneise and to help the young parents with all the attendant chores and duties that follow the birth of a baby.  I also had the extreme pleasure of meeting our first adopted granddaughter, Emma.  Ryan and Bethany have adopted Emma, who is now one year old.  We are praising God for these two granddaughters!  All together, these two little girls make for a very busy and noisy household!  Though Ryan and Bethany are in Texas now, they have a special place for Haiti in their hearts. It is such a compelling place; the people, the countryside, the extreme poverty and the paradoxical optimism in spite of their poverty.  Once you have witnessed these things, it is impossible to forget and return to normal American life. Each of us hopes to make a difference in someone’s life in that country.

PRAYER CONCERNS & PRAISE

Praise the Lord for October 2007 which marks the 60^th anniversary of the founding of the Haiti Baptist Theological Seminary, started by Ivah and Harold Heneise.  Please consider making a special gift in honor of these great missionaries and the work that goes on today because of their faithfulness to God’s calling.  Perhaps you’d like make a donation in honor of a loved one.  And your gift will touch the lives and hearts of someone in Haiti, making an investment in the future of people in Haiti!  A special gift at Christmas would be a thoughtful and unique present that will be remembered long after Christmas is over.

I recently read an article about how to donate to your favorite charity (hopefully Haiti Hope Fund) by making a tax-free gift from your Roth or traditional IRA.  You must be at least 70 ½ years old and the deadline to do this is December 31^st.  Consult with your financial advisor about this and other creative ways to support your favorite charity.

Also, don’t forget that you can leave a gift to Haiti Hope Fund in your will.  This act of kindness will be a legacy that will live on in the hearts of others.