Dan Shoemaker, President of Reciprocal Ministries International, spoke to the Lehigh Acre Kiwanis Club Breakfast Meeting recently, of his lifelong desire to see the Haitian peoples’ lives
improved spiritually, economically, physically and socially. He has been involved in partnering churches through Reciprocal Ministries International Partnerships with churches in Haiti for his entire life. He says that “Bridging Cultures-Transforming Lives” has been a way of life for him for 33 years
Reciprocal Ministries International’s Five Impact Points: Evangelism, Discipleship, Social Compassion, Education and Poverty Alleviation through a five-phase implementation pathway,
provide a trans formative strategy for mission’s involvement with the Haitian people. “Hope for Kids” is their program in Haiti that feeds about 5,000 children a hot meal each day. He stated that 60% of Haitian schools are church-sponsored and for $28.00 per month, they can educate and feed a child a hot meal daily.
The “Goat Program” provides a young person with a goat, whereby they are taught how to care for the goat and start a herd, providing the family with goat meat and milk. “Eventually, this program much improves their economic status”, Mr. Shoemaker explained. The first kid born to that first goat is passed on to another young person, to spread the nutritional, educational and economic benefits. Goat meat and chickens are the main sources of protein for the Haitian people. Cholera has been another serious problem there and Mr. Shoemaker stated that his ‘organization’s ministry has been able to resolve this with water filtration programs as part of the training of the Haitian people to improve their lives.
Mr. Shoemaker stated that the Reciprocal Ministries International now has 35 Haitian and 5 U.S. missionaries serving in Haiti.
Lehigh Acres Kiwanis Club Breakfast Meetings are held each Wednesday, at 7:00 A.M in the Hope Hospice Community Room, 1201 Wings Way, off Beth Stacey. The public is invited to visit as guests to see what wonderful programs your local Kiwanis Club supports for children and families in our Lehigh Acres community!
Future Guest Speakers are: March 23rd-Andrienne Diaz, Lee County Master Gardener and Certified Square Foot Gardening Instructor, March 30th-Roseann Mason, Manager, Med Express Urgent Care.