Board
Member
Profile

Tim Mastenbrook

Tim has been travelling to Haiti since the 1986.  This summer he will
make his 40th trip to Haiti.  He "camped out" in our guardhouse for
4 months to help oversee the construction of the first school
buildings.  Tim has worked with many school programs in village
churches here in Haiti.  For the last 5 years he has brought in
speakers for a summer seminar for preachers and leaders from all
over northern and central Haiti.


March 2007 Chairman's Newsletter:

Greetings, dear brothers and sisters in Jesus, our Lord and Savior:

David Dirrim, director of our preacher training school, and I just returned
from Haiti with LOTS of first-hand news for this quarter’s newsletter.  I’m
excited, so buckle up and read on....


FLASH !!!  We are seeking a second missionary or missionary family
to join the Dirrims

Imagine the impact of this:  our mission efforts administered by not one,
but two US missionary families, and our Haitian staff expanded by some of
the experienced alumni of the Center for Biblical Training (CBT) itself.  
Soon, we will make available the first of the extensive Bible study materials
in Creole  to our alumni for their use with those who would never attend
the CBT.  Having two missionaries will allow us to respond better to our
alumni’s request to help them strengthen their congregations as well as
use the study materials the most effectively.  Of course, we will be
continuing our proven 3-year preacher training program at the CBT.  

We have already begun searching for another missionary family to join the
Dirrims.  We have asked three men, but none have been able to accept.  
We are continuing the search, trusting God to provide in His own good
time.  This person would move to Haiti as soon as possible and begin in a
teaching role at the CBT.


FLASH !!!  We will be trying a new way to administer the school for
the next 2 trimesters

Going back more than 10 years to the beginning of the Foundation, we had
a goal of someday turning over more responsibility to Haitian brethren for
administering the CBT.  On this trip, with the approval of the Foundation
and those Haitians that advise us, we have put a Haitian committee in place
as a trial for administering the school.  This trial effort will be reviewed after
two trimesters.  At that time, we may stop it, continue it, or something in-
between.

For the next two trimesters (beginning May and September), David will
continue as Director, but the Dirrims will live in the US.  David will make
several visits to Haiti (interspersed with other Board members) to monitor
progress.  Fonrose Teogene, who has already been serving long and well
as “Aide to the Director”, will remain in that position, continuing to report
to David.  Fonrose will be joined on the new administrative committee by
Bellot Calice (Valedictorian of the class of 2000), Cherfils Wisnique (class of
2000), and Jackie Pierrot (class of 2006).  They have asked Guy Hillaire to
be their advisor should they need the counsel of an older, highly-respected
Christian.

We are very excited by this step toward giving the Haitians more
responsibility over the school.  After seeing first-hand the high level of
commitment of the new committee, we are confident they will exceed our
expectations.


FLASH !!!  12 new students will begin classes on May 7

Meet our new students --

I wish you all could have looked into the faces of these men to see their
commitment and willingness to sacrifice over the next 3 years to be able to
better spread the gospel across their nation.  They will join the previously
graduated 35 men who are having an unprecedented impact on the
kingdom in Haiti.  If you had been there with me to see into their eyes, you
would know without a doubt that we are doing a great thing in our
support of this mission.  The new students are:

1.        Val Wiltis of Gingembre
2.        Saint-Clerirl Edouard of Bas-la Rivièr
3.        Raphaël Jonathan of Petit-Anse/Thomassique
4.        Ceid Jeaunace of Madeline/Carice
5.        Saintilnord Celigny of Savane Longue
6.        Etienne Diony of Lavictoire
7.        Charles Calixte of Bord-de-Mer
8.        Dumorné Enoc of Lagossette
9.        Perceval Jackson of Galman du Plaa
10.      Desarme Madsen of Grand-Gilles
11.      Saintil Gusmann of Petite-Place Cazeau, Port-au-Prince

We were so sorry to hear that Louis Jonathon of St. Michel de l’Attalaye
(who was to be the 12th student) had drowned a few days before our
arrival.  Please pray for his family.  We are in the process of selecting an
alternate, so we will still have 12.


Meet our new office person

Have you noticed a new name on some of our correspondence?  Last
month Elaine Bryant took over from Ann Herron in our Abilene office.  Ann
was a special blessing to me and the Board - we wish her all the best.  
Elaine is now our “Fund Coordinator” and is available to you for any help or
questions you may have.  Our e-address is hcfcbt@juno.com and phone
number is 325-677-0033 (her office hours are in the mornings only).


An important plea

The goals and objectives above come with a cost.  For our mission to
grow, our support must grow.  If you continue to believe in what we are
doing and trust us to do it prayerfully and sacrificially, won’t you please
continue to do it with us?  There are two ways we need your continued
support.

When the Board established our endowment fund last year, we set two
goals.  The first was to achieve $50,000 by the Fall of this year.  Thanks to
God and our donors' commitment and foresight in spreading the gospel,
we have met that goal.  The goal before us now is to have $150,000 by the
Fall of 2009.  If you wish to give a gift that will outlast you and have
everlasting results, please contact us.

Our regular monthly donations have, quite frankly, fallen off recently.  
Every dollar has always been important to us, and continues to be so now
more than ever.  As we expand our mission and our staff, expenses go
up.  The reality is we cannot do it without you.  Won’t you please consider
us afresh in your monthly and one-time giving decisions?


“Ke Bondye beni ou!” (May God bless you) – Tim