Village Demier

Located in the rugged, mountainous region of northern Haiti, Village Demier (pronounced dahm-YAY) is home to resilient families who have long faced spiritual, educational, and physical hardship. In the fall of 2024, JiHM sent two pastors out from Victory Bible Church after they had been displaced by the gang violence in Cabaret. Through these two men, their team, and some remarkable villagers, God has paved the way for incredible changes in just a few short months.

Our mission

To bring the love of Christ to the people of Village Demier through discipleship, practical service, and gospel-centered community development.

Activities currently underway:

  • Door-to-door evangelism 2x/week
  • Weekly discipleship meetings with 13 youth
  • Weekly youth outreach events attended by 100+ people
  • Care ministry for widows

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to Village Demier

Help Pastor Derson, Pastor Evald, and their team meet urgent spiritual and physical needs.

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History of the village

Village Demier, April 2025

Built in May 2009 by the humanitarian organization Food for the Poor, Village Demier was created to provide shelter and hope to the most vulnerable. What began as a humble settlement of 20 houses has grown to include 40 homes, housing over 300 people.

The families of Village Demier come from all over northern Haiti—Terrier Rouge, Au Trou, Dolva, Gran Bassin, Au Pèche, and beyond. They were chosen to receive homes because they were unable to build one for themselves. These are the forgotten ones—widows, the elderly, the disabled, and families living in extreme poverty. While the village provides shelter, it lacks many of the basic necessities needed for a thriving community.

The Needs

The village lacks a church.

Instead, a voodoo temple stands as a central part of the village’s cultural and spiritual life. Many villagers believe in the power of voodoo’s mystical practices. People live in fear of retribution from the spiritual world. Only 11 villagers proclaim Christ.

The village lacks a school.

Children walk 30-45 minutes each way to attend classes. For many families, the cost of education is too high, and some children are unable to attend school at all. This lack of access to education perpetuates the cycle of poverty, leaving the next generation with limited opportunities for a better future.

The village lacks basic amenities.

Basic amenities like electricity and clean water are absent. The villagers rely on a lake at the edge of the village for irrigation and fishing, but the water is not safe for drinking. Without electricity, the village is completely dark after sunset. 

The village lacks jobs.

Economic activity is lacking. To make a living, villagers cultivate small gardens and cut trees to make charcoal to sell. These activities, while sustaining them, are not enough to lift them out of poverty.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Discipleship and Spiritual Growth: Pray for the 13 young adults in the discipleship program, that they may grow in faith, understanding, and boldness to live out the Great Commission. Pray for Pastor Derson as he leads them. Pray for youth outreach events to bear fruit in the village and beyond. Pray for new evangelism opportunities, especially among neighbors who have shown interest in future visits.

Provision of Resources: Pray for the provision of Creole Bibles and discipleship workbooks to equip the youth and families in the community with the Word of God. Pray for sound equipment and chairs to make outreach events more efficient.

Elderly Care and Outreach: Lift up the widows and elderly in Village Demier who need physical and spiritual support. Pray for more volunteers to help care for the elderly and serve them with dignity.

Continued Protection and Safety: Pray for the protection of the community from encroaching gang violence. Pray for continued peace, security, and unity within the village. Pray for safety for JiHM’s team as they travel to and from the village.

Community Transformation: Pray for lasting transformation in Village Demier, that the love of Christ will continue to break barriers, restore relationships, and bring people to faith in Jesus.

PRAISES

In January, 3 new believers came to Christ in Village Demier. Wideline, 17, said, “I never knew God loved me until you shared the gospel with me.”

After 9 years of nightly darkness, Village Demier now shines! On April 18, our team installed 9 solar yard lights in public areas and distributed solar light kits to every household. 300+ villagers now enjoy evening safety and productivity.

On April 24, our team served 33 families in Village Demier with food and hygiene kits that included rice, beans, cooking oil, and toiletries—each one distributed with the message, “This is a gift from God.” With help from three local volunteers using motorcycles for transport, we saved costs and strengthened community ownership.

On May 1, the discipleship team visited a 70-year-old widow caring for her grandson. Volunteers cleaned her home, did the laundry, and braided her hair. A hot meal was shared with 20+ neighbors, breaking social barriers and impromptu children’s ministry and evangelism followed.

Updates from Village Demier

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