How We Got Started: Bahamas
The Birth of the Movement in the Bahamas
The story of how we got started in the Bahamas begins in Miami, Florida, where Luc Nonorme pastors Mitspa Missionary Community Church. In 2009, Luc took a trip to the Bahamas and rallied a group Haitian residents to form the Charis Alliance’s first congregation there. A fellow Miami pastor, Desir Nonhomme, helped Luc nurture the movement. This initial spark soon led to local leaders being appointed as Charis churches across Florida offered a wave of support.
The Growth of the Movement in the Bahamas
While that initial church plant has since withdrawn from the Charis Alliance, the vision for a Charis presence in the Bahamas persisted. This time, the two pastors from Florida collaborated with a local pastor, Dr. Henri Cher-Aime (of Calvary Haitian Baptist Church in Nassau), and a Charis pastor in Fort Lauderdale (New Calvary Evangelical Church).
Because he was a local, Henri's insight and connections proved instrumental in planting new seeds. He introduced Luc and Desir to local church-planters who had received formal training from the Bible Institute in Nassau. These local church-planters were also crucial in planting new Haitian churches. As they worked together, God gave the team success in planting new Charis churches in the Bahamas.
The growth of our movement in the Bahamas has become a testament to collaboration. Caribbean Vision Ministries, Encompass World Partners, and the Charis churches of Florida have all joined forces to help provide the Bahamas churches with essential resources from building materials to dedicated teachers.
Today, the Bahamas is home to three distinct Charis Alliance churches.
The Call to Prayer and Support
As one of our leaders in the Bahamas says, “The Bahamas ministry has been fourteen years of struggle.” Pray for God to give their leaders a renewed sense of purpose and tenacity that motivates them to keep persevering.
The Charis Alliance’s presence in the Bahamas is unique in that the congregations are predominantly composed of Haitian immigrants. Many of them are in the country undocumented, and live in constant fear of the government while having limited access to resources. Ask God to take care of these congregations and meet their basic needs.
Our churches in the Bahamas have needs for buildings and buses to better facilitate worship and training. Pray for God to provide for their material needs.
There is a need to overcome the view that the Bahamas is a great tourism destination but not a real missions destination. Pray for God to supply our churches in the Bahamas with ample support and partnerships from other countries while also providing for them internally in ways that are sustainable.
