Global Mission Partner

GREAT NEWS!  The missionary we will be supporting with our St. Louis New Misisonary Initiative has been named.   Patrick Bentrott was appointed by the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ to serve a four-year term in Haiti beginning September 1, 2008.   He will serve as advisor for theological education and diaconal projects and programs. 

The National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti (CONASPEH) is formed by churches whose members are very poor.  They are doing ministry in the midst of extreme poverty and often times, with people living with a sense of hopelessness.  Haiti is a country which has suffered from long-term economic and social deterioration.  Increased insecurity and natural disasters have further weakened people¹s fragile health and nutritional status.  Patrick¹s work will assist CONASPEH to increase its capacity to train pastors and lay leaders, and at the same time assist in creating development programs to enhance the quality of life of the people of Haiti.  CONASPEH has brought together grass-root churches from different denominations in order that they may better respond to the desperate needs of the people and its liberation theology seeks to transform the conditions of exploitation, marginalization and alienation of the Haitian people with their holistic approach to the Gospel. 

Patrick is 30 years old  and finishing his M.Div.  He is married to Kimberly Bentrott.  Kimberly, who is a physician, has also been appointed to serve with CONASPEH in their efforts to improve quality of health of Haitians through the training of health agents within local congregations.   The Bentrotts are in Denver finishing up their studies. It is hoped that both Patrick and Kimberly will be able to visit St. Louis in early fall before they leave for Haiti.

Don Miller (from Community Christian Church in Manchester) led a Mission Trip to Westside Christian Church in New Orleans on January 14 - 20, 2007. For more information, please look on page 5 of the November 2006 Connection. He led more trips in 2007, which resulted in the restoration of the church and parsonage. Groups went into the community in summer 2007 to renovate houses destroyed in the hurricane. More trips are scheduled in 2008. You may contact Don at 636-394-2772 or email him at don@disciplesforchrist.org for more information on upcoming trips. To view more photos and the progress of the renovations, visit: http://grrccdoc.smugmug.com/Religion/199064. For summer options for mission trips with SEGA, see the church camp page.