VISION
Howard and Ruth see God’s people in Haiti engaged in community transformation so that the Kingdom of God flourishes with God’s love, peace, justice, and compassion until all have surrendered to Christ’s lordship.

MISSION
Howard and Ruth are a part of a community of International Christians representing the CRCNA in Haiti called “Sous Espwa” meaning, “Source of Hope” in Haitian Creole. Together they collaborate with Christian organizations and churches to promote and participate in the ministry of transformation.

MISSION WORK
Howard and Ruth Van Dam work in the Caribbean country of Haiti. Haiti is a small country that holds more than eight million people and shares an island with the Dominican Republic (DR). However, these two countries differ in both language and culture. While the DR is a Latin based culture with Spanish as its main language, Haiti’s roots are in Africa and France. Haiti’s two official languages are French and French Creole. Haiti as a whole is still primarily an agricultural based economy.

Christian Reformed World Missions, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, and Back to God Hour Ministries International are the three main mission agencies representing the Christian Reformed Church of North America. In Haiti, these three agencies are joined together in ministry under the name of Sous Espwa.

Our mission strategy for church and community development involves partnering with seven Haitian organizations who share a common vision with Sous Espwa and a desire to improve their ministry programs and organizational development. Sous Espwa currently has eight North American hired staff members, along with two partner teachers plus spouses and children, as well as several Haitian staff members.

Howard’s main focus is directed towards the following three Christian organizations doing ministry in Haiti:

-- The Haitian CRC (ECRH) began in 1987 and was legally established in 1999. There are currently 26 organized churches and seven stations with nearly 3,000 members. Several committees are established to develop different ministry areas and a family quota system was started for members to support the work of their denomination. Sous Espwa consults with the HCRC and provides matching funds to help the church develop their ministries.

-- The Ministry for Christian Development (MDK) is an ecumenical training program by extension for church leaders and Christian school teachers. They also provide a Bible correspondence program. MDK has revamped their training methodology so that it has become a biblical, practical, community based, holistic and participatory training institute. Sous Espwa provides MDK with consultative and financial support.

-- The Consortium for the Reinforcement of Christian Education in Haiti (CRECH) is a coalition of organizations that have dedicated themselves to producing sound biblically-based curriculum for church and mission affiliated schools in Haiti. CRECH has completed a Bible curriculum for grades one through six. They are now developing a syllabus to accompany the government-required curriculum for other subjects to help teachers present the subjects from a biblical worldview.

Ruth’s main ministries lie in two places. At home, she and Howard are raising four children and open their home for hospitality and encouragement. At the Sous Espwa office, Ruth works in administration, communication, and team building.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
2 Corinthians 4: 7-9


CONTACT INFORMATION
Howard and Ruth Van Dam
Email:
Howard: hvandam@crcna.org
Ruth: rvandam@fastmail.fm