When Student Becomes Teacher
By Brian Thompson
The primary goal of Source of Light Ministries is to see the disciples that we are working with worldwide become disciple-makers. That goal comes from 2 Timothy 2:2 where Paul encourages Timothy to teach faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Our joy has been to watch the progress of Claudy Jean Baptiste, who is now the Branch Director of SLM Haiti.
Claudy accepted Christ as Savior in January of 1990. His growth in Christ was due to the studies he did with the home office staff in the early 90’s. He was taking the lessons, but quickly began to use them to give the Gospel to other young students. It was not long before he started to direct his own Associate School. His students were friends, schoolmates, and even family members. “God allowed me to do the Bible courses at Headquarters with Sister Florence Houck. My life has been transformed and God has put in my heart the burden of sharing His Word with my community and all generations of my country,” Claudy says of those early years.
Some of Claudy’s current Associate School Directors come from those early students. One of his friends from school, Ronald Theronier, who took the lessons from him, ended up moving to the Dominican Republic for several years to work. While there, he used Spanish and French lessons to reach people for Christ. God has brought him back to Haiti and he continues to use opportunities to witness and disciple people for the kingdom of God.
God has shaped Claudy’s career goals as well. He shares, “I find my joy in every student that becomes a teacher, every person who accepts Jesus Christ, and everyone who has a relationship with Jesus through the lessons.” While he has been in charge, the Branch has increased its usage of materials to thousands of lessons every quarter.
A new building was built to house the Branch office, meeting rooms, storage for the lessons, guest quarters, and housing for his family.
“Today despite the situation of my country where we are experiencing riots, violence, and social injustices every day, we are convinced that God is calling us to serve in these difficult circumstances,” Claudy reports. The unrest and economic turbulence have caused many to lose their jobs. Inflation is stifling and there is a great lack of food. These challenges do not deter Claudy from the calling of God.
Claudy attributed the commitment of his family to God’s will. “God never left us alone in this ministry, but we are always led to the peace and joy of continuing to advance in His service through the transformation of many lives that have been prized in the eyes of God.”
Claudy married Guerrine in 2004. God has protected them and strengthened them for the calling they have. Recently Guerinne fell and her broken ankle was able to heal without surgery. They have two children, Florence and Joel. The children have not gone to school (it is closed due to the unrest) since September, so every day they are helping in the Branch headquarters. The office has been open every day now for weeks. People are learning literacy and Bible principles. Most days 20 to 40 souls are coming to hear the Word.
Their plan is to continue serving daily throughout this crisis.
God promised that He would send forth laborers. We thank Him for answering that prayer with the Jean Baptiste family.
