International Prayer Day First Monday each month 10 am

Joel Griffith 2/1/25 Joel Griffith 2/1/25

Use me.

“Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 4:10-11

Egads…January has ended; time to flip the calendar. Eleven more months to go in 2025. As I was sitting in my ‘chair’, Alexa played a song by Vickie Winans on the Gospel Music genre that was called ‘Spirit of the Living God’ and the words continue to encourage me. They initially brought me to consider how God has been working on my life for over seven decades and then it began to impress upon me how our Triune God is working through the lives of the children attending Christian schools in Haiti.

The words to this song are “Spirit of the living God fall fresh on me, Spirit of the living God fall fresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me; Spirit of the living God fall fresh on me.” Consider how these words describe the work of our Triune God is impacting these two young lives walking along the road from Torbeck to Les Cayes.

“Melt me.” There is a point in their lives and in our life when we need to be melted down. There comes a time in our lives when we are like an unused candle that has accumulated the dirt of this sinful world, and we need to be melted down and once again be purified; Christ accomplished this for us on the cross of Calvary. These young lives have been under the weight of lies from the vodou priest; lies that are being retold to them by members of their family and playmates.

“Mold me.” When our being was being shaped in our mother’s womb, we were given specific qualities and abilities by our Creator. Some of us sing, some of us write, some of us are encouragers, some of us are builders, some of us receive Holy Communion to our pew; and the list of abilities is endless as He gave each of us special things to accomplish in this world. These two young lives are being molded through Christian education at their School. They are being molded to use their special gifts to accomplish His will for their lives while bringing more into the Kingdom.

“Fill me.” I could interpret this as meaning their bodies were being filled daily with a meal of rice and beans from Trinity HOPE but that would not be correct; even though they are daily receiving such a blessing. These two young lives and our lives too need to daily be fed the Word; we need to immerse ourselves in His Word daily to accomplish His will. Our tanks need to be connected to our Heavenly Father each and every day to stay focused along our journey.

“Use me.” May our work be His work and not ours. We pray that the Holy Spirit will descend upon us and use us to do His work in this sinful world. Our work should be all about Him and not about us, because without Him we cannot accomplish the work that He created for us to do. Thank you for continuing to support these children attending Christian schools in Haiti.

Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/31/25 Joel Griffith 1/31/25

Where was your school?

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NASB)

Where did you go to school? Was it a large school; did it have desks, blackboards, projectors, a furnace or air conditioner, a solid concrete or wood floor, a bathroom, electricity, a kitchen or running water? I started school in 1955 at St. John’s Lutheran in Seward, NE and I would have to check each of the above qualities with a “yes”. Not to mention locking doors, windows with glass, a gymnasium, a music room, a separate room for each class and I was blessed to have attended a Lutheran grade school so we also learned about Jesus. That was in 1955 and my old school has seen many upgrades in the past 70 years. That last number there caused my heart to skip a beat.

The attached photo of the school at Bois Marchand was taken in March of 2010 when I visited Haiti following the devastating earthquake. These children could not have said ‘wi’ to all of my questions on the list regarding their school; they have a kitchen which a large pot setting on a rack over a pile of coals outside and they also learn about Jesus; that is it.

Their desks also double as church pews on Sunday and their school is used as a church. When you look at their school, does the word success cross your mind? I don’t know what their GPA average is or what electives they are taking or how well their basketball team is doing in the Districts this year; they are not familiar with any of these things. I am sure that their parents are concerned that they do get good grades and will have a brighter future than they had.

When I interviewed fifteen of these boys and girls, I recognized the unique way God created each of these children and is preparing them to share the love of Jesus at every turn along their journey. To me, at this point in my life, that is what is really more important than the report cards, elective classes and trophy cases full of sports medals. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it” and that causes me to consider the words, “… in the way he should go.” Is our world placing more importance on training our kids that the “way he should go” is to chase worldly achievement or to chase God? Whatever they learn to chase as a child, they will chase as adults; you and I both know that to be true.

Their school may not look like much but these children are so very special to Him and to His work in Haiti. When they give thanks for their Trinity HOPE meal each day, they are thanking our Triune God for you, for helping to make their lives so special…for Him. Thank you for sharing your excess with these who have nothing to spare. God be with you.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/30/25 Joel Griffith 1/30/25

More Gospel lights.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

The attached photo is of just a few of the 550 children attending school at Font Baptiste that is located high in the mountains in the Arcahaie District. The journey up the mountain from the highway next to the Caribbean is an adventure as the dirt and rocky road is steep and narrow and there are occasions when you need to get out of the vehicle and move rocks out of the path so you can continue onward.

Font Baptiste is a rural community that stretches out along a dirt road in the rolling plains on top of the mountain that is nearly 4,000 feet above sea level. Almost every child in this school walks several miles to school every day. The small home of every child will typically have two rooms, one is their family’s bedroom and one is their living area, where they cook, eat, study and have fellowship.

On my first visit to Font Baptiste, we arrived early in the morning and we were invited to have breakfast with the Pastor there. In the family’s small two room house I was given a cup of coffee, a boiled egg, a piece of bread and a banana. My breakfast was a daily meal for the Pastor and his family, for the children at the school a plate of rice and beans was their daily meal.

Probably the most important lesson that I learned on that day in 2002 was that these children, whom our Heavenly Father created to do His work, fully realize how important you are to them. They recognize that “every good and perfect gift is from above from their Heavenly Father…and that NEVER changes.”

You have been helping to complete His work in these precious lights that are being shaped, molded and energized to go throughout the neighborhoods around Font Baptiste to share the Gospel message. Our work with Trinity HOPE is nothing to brag about or be boastful about the numbers of children in feeding programs. Rather it is all about Him who is accomplishing this good work through us and them, one life at a time, one bowl of beans and rice at a time and those children being led by the Holy Spirit to bring more souls closer to Jesus.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/29/25 Joel Griffith 1/29/25

Going into a dark world.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

The attached photo is of just a few children around a table who attend a school called Mannou which is located in a suburb of Port-au-Prince. Here the children are praying before they receive their lunch which is truly a special possession to them. Their school suffered physical damage during the earthquake 1/12/10 and these children most likely suffered the loss of friends and possibly family members when the earth shook on that late afternoon hours after school had been dismissed. Their world turned very dark on that afternoon.

We are a chosen people; you, I and these souls are truly some of God’s special possessions. The Holy Spirit moves each of us to give of our bounty every day to bring them physical strength as they go out into a world of darkness and bring the Hope of Him who called you, and I and them.

There are those in this world that will say “look at me, look at what I have done!” To me, it is much more important that we say “Look at these children, look at what God has done through them and through me.” As the Apostle Paul often wrote, “boast in the Lord.” It is all about what He has accomplished and if my blindness has in any way been used to further the sharing of the Gospel message to the lost, than praise the Lord for what He has accomplished…through me, through you…through these children.

Thank you for continuing to support Trinity HOPE feeding programs that are such an important part of their lives as they go out into a world of darkness and let their brilliant lights shine.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/28/25 Joel Griffith 1/28/25

Light of the world.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

I’m 74 and these days, my Sunday mornings begin at or before 5 AM, taking a small handful of pills a doctor thinks will provide me with a longer life, turn on my PC and make a cup of coffee while I am being ‘connected’ and then come back and listen to the Lutheran Hour and then read the E-Mail and check the ‘news’ and listen to a Southern Gospel internet station for thirty minutes. Yesterday, as I was searching for a photo to send to you, Alexa played the song “I brought you to Jesus” by the Isaacs and the Holy Spirit once again nudged me.

The school in the attached photo was taken on one of Keith Logan’s mission trips back in one of his days, and this school is located at Acquier in the Les Cayes District. I was there in 2002 and this photo was taken in 2010 and the red dirt and school building appear to have not changed in 8 years; and it is probably the same today. At the time of my visit I was told by Pastor Isidor that I was the first blan (Caucasian) Lutheran to have visited this school.

Getting back to the lyrics of the song, the chorus goes something like this; “I brought you to Jesus but you brought a blessing to me. I brought you to Jesus and you showed me how a willing heart should be. You taught me how a little child has the kind of faith that everybody needs, I brought you to Jesus but you brought a blessing to me.”

It always seems that when a mission team from North America goes to Haiti the members feel that they are ‘bringing Jesus’ to the school children or at least that is what I often thought when I visited schools such as this. The most recent Trinity HOPE teams that have gone to Haiti before the gang chaos had started, visiting children were more about ‘sharing’ their love of Jesus Christ with these young lights, together celebrating our relationship with our Savior. The teams brought tools, such as multi-colored bracelets to assist these young missionaries in their outreach to eyes that have not seen and ears that have not heard the message. The children at Acquier are letting their Gospel lights shine brightly before others in their neighborhoods and you have been an important part of their journey with your continued support of their school feeding program.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/27/25 Joel Griffith 1/27/25

Go...and make disciples.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28-19-20
Back in the day, 2001-2004, while living in Haiti and visiting congregation in the rural areas, it was not unusual to see this type of structure in the attached photo, there were a few that did not have the palm branches covering the walls but did have sturdy wood poles or concrete pillars supporting a metal or thatched roof.

When you get into your vehicle on Sunday and drive to your home congregation consider where most of the Christians living in Haiti were and still are worshipping on Sunday. They either ride in a taptap or walk to church and their pew is generally a small wooden bench that is used for a school desk during the week. No hymnals, no organ, no indoor plumbing, no electricity and their service will not be over in an hour or less. The best way to describe why their worship services last for up to three hours is because they have so much to be thankful for…a risen Savior who is Christ the Lord.

When Jesus gave each of us the great commission, He closed by saying that “He is with us always, to the very end of the age.” Please just stop for a moment and consider those words of His; imagine that He is with you always and with them always…to the very end of the age. Comforting, isn’t it? He delights in our opulent filled sanctuary and also enjoys their simplicity. Not interested in our surroundings, that is worldly thinking; He is interested in our souls and tells us to go and win more souls and save them from the burning lake of hell. Thank you for helping to prepare thousands of His children to answer His call.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/25/25 Joel Griffith 1/25/25

Where are they now?

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2

I had a really interesting, thought provoking question from a Pastor from Arizona recently, who asked me “what are some of those thousands of kids who have graduated doing now?” Wish I knew, but keeping track of my own daily activities is a enough of a task for me these days, can’t begin to imagine where those children in Haiti are today. Some have migrated here to the US, some died in the earthquake in 2010 and some have died in the gang generated chaos.

The children in the attached photo are from Caredeux, which is a suburb in southeast Port-au-Prince; the photo was taken in 2000; ten years before the earthquake. Where are they today? Was their smile crushed in a building? How many lives have their message touched? God shaped each one especially to accomplish His work, each was fashioned in a special way to touch another life…a life that was lost and needed to be found.

We cannot spend time wondering about where they are, we only need to trust that the Holy Spirit has taken them to places where the Gospel message needed to be heard or their smile needed to be seen by one without hope. Back in the day, there were numerous times when visiting schools in the rural areas in the Jeremie, Les Cayes and Central Plateau Districts, that I met school teachers who graduated from the schools in which they are now teachers. In the church at Caredeux, Bon Berger Lutheran, in my fifteen years of having worshipped there on and off I have seen faces that were ushers, choir members and lay Pastors who resembled children that I had seen in the school.

God is preparing the eyes of currently over 65,000 children in Haiti to see His glory. Our Heavenly Father continues to direct each of us to continue to walk side by side with His children in Haiti, teaching us, directing us and continually unfolding His immeasurable loving arms and wrapping them around us along our journey. Be at peace, knowing that He who has begun this good work in us, will one day bring it to completion. Thank you for your continued support for these children through Trinity HOPE. By the way, where has your journey brought you?

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/24/25 Joel Griffith 1/24/25

HOPE filled kettle.

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-17

I can assure you that the attached photo of this “LWML kitchen” (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League) at the Messif School in Ouanaminthe is much like at least 200 other kitchens at schools throughout Haiti. Nothing fancy, a big pot of rice and beans setting on top of some burning embers just waiting for a horde of hungry children to come running and excited for their lunch.

Reading the exchange between Jesus and Peter draws me back to that photo, back to that pot at that school. Jesus basically tells Peter again and again “if you love me, take care of my sheep.” Not a lot of direction, pretty simple, take care of my children, feed them…take care of them if you love me. Peter, make sure to fill that pot every day.
There is one element about Trinity HOPE that I have always admired, they are focused on feeding His sheep, all of the over 65,000 of them at the present time. Trinity HOPE doesn’t build schools, dig latrines or wells, purchase school supplies or buy land with any funds from the support that is donated from people like you…they feed children. Back in the day, while living in Haiti, I witnessed too many well-meaning organizations try to do too much, go in too many directions, trying to please everybody in Haiti and in North America and they ended up being similar to the Platte River in Nebraska with their accomplishments…a mile wide and six inches deep.

Getting so spread out in different directions, doing so much but not doing it very well…using God’s resources in ways that were not the best use of the support that had been donated. Christ told Peter quite simply to feed and take care of His sheep; fill the pot with Hope.
Trinity HOPE has continued to do one thing very, very well…feeding children attending Christian schools in Haiti. Thank you for continuing to keep the kettles at our schools in Haiti full of beans and rice every day. Thank you for answering the call of our Savior in John 21.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/23/25 Joel Griffith 1/23/25

Hope is real.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10

While driving home from men’s Bible study recently, I saw a message on a sign along the road next to a Church in Bloomington that read “Hope is real.” I’ve been thinking about that message off and on as I have been going through these photos of Haitian school children. For way too many people in this world, hope is not real. Things of the world in Haiti the past year and the challenges of this world would cause an unbeliever to doubt about ‘hope’. Earthquake, wildfires, floods, blizzards, cholera, elections, wars, gang chaos and economic peril in countries around our planet.

Hopelessness; someone who is hopeless is usually alone and cannot help themselves out of their dire situations. They have a great sense of loss and helplessness. Christians must come alongside and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost and hopeless, and share all that our Savior has to offer them.

The young girl in the photo is from Cap Haitian and she has hope. She is baptized, attends the Lutheran school there and eats a Trinity HOPE lunch every day. She wears a bracelet on her wrist that tells the story of our Triune God. She is and will always be a messenger for our risen Savior in a land where hopelessness abounds. Please keep our children in your prayers, along with their parents, teachers, pastors and Trinity HOPE supporters like yourself who continue to prepare His children to accomplish the Great Commission.

May God be with you,

Jay

Joel Griffith 1/22/25 Joel Griffith 1/22/25

A faithful servant.

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36

The seaport of Joppa will long be remembered because 2,000 years ago a faithful church worker lived there, her name was Dorcas. She is legendary because of her work for charity. She was rich both in giving and in personal service, honoring God and helping her neighbor for Jesus’ sake. During the midpoint of her lifetime, she became ill and died. The grieving was hard by her fellow believers and we read on in Acts, “Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

Along my journey, there have been many who are like Dorcas in their service to their Lord; here in the U.S. and also in Haiti. There are many children like the two girls from one of the Lutheran schools in Gonaives in the attached photograph who may have never met their “Dorcas” face to face, but will when they receive their heavenly home. There are many in the ranks of the Trinity HOPE supporters who could wear a “Dorcas” nametag when they get up and begin the next day of their journey, serving Him. On behalf of these two children at this Lutheran school in the Artibonite District, and the over 65,000 other children who are registered this year in over 264 Christian schools in Haiti, we say “Beni Soit L’Eternal!” (Praise the Lord!) for your continued support.

May God be with you,

Jay