As new church planters,
Jerome and Mertha Herald know the challenges of starting a new church. Jerome
describes his new church experience as a rollercoaster ride. “But by faith we
are hanging in there,” he said.
The Heralds planted Bethal
Christian Church, a Haitian Disciples congregation, approximately three years ago in Brooklyn, New
York. Since that time they have had to change their
address and share a building with another congregation, who has been in the shared
site for 40 years. Because the Bethal congregation are newcomers to the
building, they have agreed to meet in afternoons for their Sunday worship
service.
They recently attended New
Church Ministry’s Super Peer event, a gathering designed to provide support and
encouragement to new church planters, whose churches are underway but who may
be in need of a little recharging.
“Being at the Super Peer
group event has been a sweet experience,” said Jerome. “We have come here to
enjoy ourselves,” he said.“I received
more than what I expected,” said Mertha. “When I came here I didn’t know what I
was going to enter into, but I found it to be very refreshing for my ministry. This
has been an experience where I have learned about different ways of
communicating to the people. Now I can take what I have learned back home to
help others.”
Jerome is a member of the board
of the Northeastern Region for the
Disciples of Christ, and has made it one of his missions to inform other Haitians
about the Disciples denomination. “We are trying to unite other Haitians with
the Disciples message.” The couple also has a radio ministry, www.radiotropically.com,
that broadcasts around the world.
Our vision is to ignite the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in all expressions, as individuals, regions and general ministries, to become passionately involved in birthing, nurturing, engaging and encouraging sustainable new churches in as many ways as possible.
