When I was in manufacturing, I wanted every operator on the plant floor to know the answers to three questions:

1. What is the numeric goal?
2. Are you ahead or behind?
3. Do you know if your work is good or bad?

More concerning than the actual answers to these questions was whether or not they knew the answers.

I find these questions translate seamlessly to disaster relief.  So, as we prepare to head back to Haiti next week, let me give you our update:

1. The goal is 50 churches by the end of summer.
2. We’re behind schedule.
3. What we’re producing is very, very good.

When we first came to Haiti, we quickly realized we would not be reconstructing churches, but instead would need to approach our building effort as if we were constructing churches for the very first time.  There was simply nothing to work with.  We quickly donated 34 transitional shelters, made of wood, which has allowed pastoral work to continue.  Then, we immediately began making long-term plans for permanent structures.

Although the project has been delayed due to logistical problems, we have been committed to providing a solid foundation for our Haitian churches to build upon instead of rushing to an inferior solution.

Today, we’re in striking distance of putting up the first of these structures, which are slated to go up in early June.  Here are some of the distinctive features of this building:

• Structurally sound: The open-air structures have been designed according to California seismic codes, which account for 8.0 magnitude earthquakes.  They are also hurricane resistant, or able to withstand winds of up to 140 MPH.

• Jumpstart: This is a roof-only structure that will allow churches to meet under a stable roof.  Over time, the church will build the walls and inner furnishings to their taste, which will not have an affect on the structural integrity of the building.  This works in harmony with traditional Haitian construction as they build their homes over a lifetime while living in them.

• Clear span: Most steel structures of this kind have a large I-beam spanning the entire building, weighing thousands of pounds, and requiring heavy machinery for assembly.  However, our partners, Metal Construction Resources and Joe Meheen, inventor of the tunable bridge, have replaced that I-beam with something that looks like a bridge.  The clear span (i.e. free from support posts in the middle aisles) is achieved through light-weight trusses.  If you’ve ever sat behind a column in church, bumped your knees and strained your neck to see the pastor, you’ll know why a clear span is a practical architectural move for a church.

• Capacity building: Most importantly, the unique and lightweight composition of the structure allows it to be assembled almost entirely by the congregation with simple hand-tools.  The building team will be recruited, trained, and eligible to receive certification when the building is complete, which in theory will help them find employment in steel construction – a blossoming Haitian industry – after the project ends.  The team of builders will in turn head to the next church to train a new team, who will build their own church, and then send a team to the next church, until all of the churches have been built.

• Match-funding: Notably, these structures will cost between $4-$5 per square foot to complete, an unbelievably low price per square foot for a seismic and hurricane resistant structure.  CHC financially matched the program 1:8 to intentionally provide our Haitian pastors with ownership in the project.  It was important to involve the churches in the process financially.  Jesus could have fed the 5,000 with nothing, but instead, purposely multiplied what they already had – no matter how small – to provide more than enough to feed the multitudes.  These congregations have each seen God multiply their limited resources to meet their needs far beyond what they could have imagined.  CHC is proud to match over $100,000 raised through the local church congregations.

When I describe our Haitian church structure, its cost, and the method we will use to build each building to experts in the industry, they don’t believe it can be done.  They say the technical specifics are too high, the building is too cheap – and wonder how it’s possible that average people with limited training can work together to build something so strong.

At that point I simply tell the critics that the story gets even better: God also provided JC Construction, a startup light-gauge steel construction company based in Haiti, willing to loan us their equipment. And He provided unexplainable favor from other Haitian and American vendors.

We may be behind schedule on our new churches.  But by taking the time to understand what will work best in the long term, and then thoughtfully designing our approach, and serving a gracious God who has blessed this project abundantly… these Haitian congregations will receive more than just a new church building.  They will be part of a building process will be edifying to God, to His churches in Haiti, and to the congregations that serve Him.

When all is said and done, we will have more than just 50 church structures.  We will have 50 congregations that have each grown exponentially through the effort.

God is at work in Haiti.  And we’re glad to be there to help.

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

Thomas Kim
Churches Helping Churches| Executive Director