Our journey began way back in 2005, when a group of ladies from First Baptist Church in Blackshear, Georgia, asked Glenda to join them on a mission trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This was her very first mission trip, and she was unsure what to expect. What she experienced was horror, shock, and love, all in that order. Horror at the living conditions. Shock at the poverty. Love that would never dim for the people of Haiti.

After that first trip, the missionary in PAP that Glenda had stayed with began sending updates on her ministry. Johnny read each one, falling in love with the country as well. He prayed for the Lord to give him the opportunity to experience Haiti for himself. Almost four years to the day of Glenda’s trip, Johnny found himself on a mission team in Gonaives, Haiti. This trip would begin a friendship with Emory Wilson that is still strong today. Emory, from Waynesville, GA, was a missionary sent to stop starvation. His area of work was in Jubilee, a village built on a garbage dump outside of Gonaives. Johnny and the team joined Emory each day at the feeding center. Each day, Emory had the painstaking task of picking which child would eat that day. He only had enough support to feed 150 children each day. Some had to remain outside to watch the others as they ate. But those who did have the good fortune of eating that day would save as much as they could and take it back to their families. Haitians love their families dearly and want to provide for them. Fast forward many years, Gonaives now has a school, clinic, and they still have the feeding center, all mostly run by Haitians. Many little block houses have been built through kind donations from large corporations for families.

Through one of our trips to Haiti, Johnny met Pastor Accilien from the Central Plateau of Haiti. Pastor Accilien has a very humble spirit. He loves the Lord and his people very much. He was asked once while spending time in the States why he didn’t just stay here. He said that he could do more for his people by going back home.

When we first met Pastor Accilien, he was working with another ministry. Through the help of that ministry, he had a church and a school. The church was mainly tin and poles, with support added by purchased 2x4s here and there. It was very primitive, but the people would pack in for service every time God’s word was preached. The school was a wooden, two-story building with around 300 students. Pastor Accilien spoke to Johnny, along with Dave Rowland from Holt’s House of Hope in the DR. He told them of the need for a clinic there. The sick were trying to walk the four hours to the nearest clinic for help. Some were unable to make the journey. He was very burdened by the need for his people. Upon their return to the States, Johnny and Dave began to pray about the clinic. A quote had been given to Pastor of $40,000 USD to build the clinic. Only six people knew the cost as we prayed. A short time later, a benefactor presented a check for $40,000. An answer to prayer! We understood that God wanted the clinic built. Once it was known that we were going to build and supply the clinic, the other ministry decided they were no longer called to work in Haiti. We inherited a school and a church. We trusted God would supply what we needed.

In 2023, we became a 501(c)3 with the name, Impacting Haiti, Inc. We now have 409 children in grades pre-K through 9th grade. With the help of Camp Pinckney Baptist Church in Folkston, GA, a new church building has been built. A clinic stocked with medicine and a full-time nurse sees patients from all around the community. God continues to bless this ministry. We are so blessed to be a small part of His story. 1 Samuel 12:16, “Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes!”

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We invite you to partner with us in this noble cause. Together, we can bring about positive change and empower the people of Haiti.