How can a nation be healed of its brokenness but by the Love of God transforming each individual heart?  “For, ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?”  (Romans 10:13-14)  As LIA caregivers participate in the First 1,000 Days, they are able to receive formation through Spiritual Discipleship classes.  The core curriculum, called Revive the Remnant, was written by Bev Brand to teach the Biblical principles of who the Holy Trinity is and how each part of the Trinity is foundational to the life of a Believer.  Read the following open letter as Bev shares both her heart and the process involved in writing this curriculum. 

On October 29 of 2015 I was sitting in my sunroom overlooking Lake Red Rock, doing my morning devotions and praying for Haiti.   A friend of mine, who had also been very involved with working in Haiti, had shared with me that the Lord had given her a vision of a remnant of people in Haiti who would be used in a mighty way to lead that county out of the stronghold of deception and lies that Satan had placed over Haiti.  I kept thinking about what I saw in Haiti.  Everywhere I looked in Haiti I saw the words “God” and “Jesus”.  The words, “God” and “Jesus”, are written on school busses, on tap taps, on barbershop doors, on signs above businesses, on t-shirts, on walls, everywhere!  The symbol of the cross was found on necklaces, jewelry, statues, decorations and painted on walls and signs almost everywhere I went.   Was Jesus some kind of good luck charm to wear around your neck or paint on a wall? Was the name of Jesus displayed to attract people to a business or ward off evil spirits?  NO!  Jesus is the way, the truth and the life!  Jesus’ name is not just a word to display.   Do they really know God?  Do they really know Jesus? Have they seen and felt the power of the Holy Spirit, the gift Jesus promised when He went back to heaven?  God wants us to know Him, not just know about Him, not just use His name.  God wants us to know His Son, Jesus, not just read His name on tap taps.  And most of all, God wants us to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts – in our lives – with each other – so we can receive salvation and live with HIM forever! 

Bev Brand with a small Haitian girl in 2014

As I was reading in Isaiah, this verse came to light, “A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.” Isaiah 10:21 .  I wrote it in my journal and then God gave me some thoughts and I wrote them down and dated them.  It was a series of things I (we or someone) was to develop.  The first was to speak truth and bring light about who is God, who is Jesus, and who is the Holy Spirit.   I really prayed about this and several days later sat down to see if I could put something on paper.  To my amazement, the words just came and it was very clear. A series of lessons was born to share with the moms who attend Premye Mil Jou (First 1,000 Days), that speak truth about what we believe as Christians.  I had my pastor read the document to make sure it was accurate theologically and then formatted the series into a booklet called, Revive the Remnant.  I was praying that it could be a foundational piece that would be used for spiritual development. The series included four parts:  Who is the Trinity?  Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? 

Bev Brand with a small Haitian girl in 2014

As I was reading in Isaiah, this verse came to light, “A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.” Isaiah 10:21 .  I wrote it in my journal and then God gave me some thoughts and I wrote them down and dated them.  It was a series of things I (we or someone) was to develop.  The first was to speak truth and bring light about who is God, who is Jesus, and who is the Holy Spirit.   I really prayed about this and several days later sat down to see if I could put something on paper.  To my amazement, the words just came and it was very clear. A series of lessons was born to share with the moms who attend Premye Mil Jou (First 1,000 Days), that speak truth about what we believe as Christians.  I had my pastor read the document to make sure it was accurate theologically and then formatted the series into a booklet called, Revive the Remnant.  I was praying that it could be a foundational piece that would be used for spiritual development. The series included four parts:  Who is the Trinity?  Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? 

A mother and child signing in for the First 1,000 Days program in Maliarette 

Who is the Trinity?  God is the Father, our creator. Jesus is the Son, our Savior. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God who lives in us today.  All three of the persons in the Holy Trinity are equal in power and majesty. All three of the persons in the Holy Trinity are God Almighty, the Holy One, the Most High. 

Who is God?  God is our father who lives in heaven. He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. He is patient when we are learning, He is forgiving when we make mistakes, and He loves us even when we do not love Him. His majesty and glory fill the earth. He is the perfect father. 

Who is Jesus?  Jesus, the Son of God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, came to live with us here on earth.  He did not come as a king, but as a baby. He died and was resurrected; at His return, death will be no more.  Jesus has conquered Satan and has defeated evil spirits and will crush them beneath His feet. Jesus gives grace, forgiveness, and new life to all who believe in Him. 

Who is the Holy Spirit?  God’s Spirit had been with His people since the earth was created, but at Pentecost, God filled them with the power of His Holy Spirit. The One Jesus promised before He ascended into heaven. He comes to give comfort. He comes to give guidance. He comes to give power to proclaim the gospel to every nation in every corner of the world and He comes to give strength to live the way Jesus taught His disciples to live. 

Each section has questions to ponder and an invitation to accept Jesus as your Savior at the end.

 A booklet currently being used in Maliarette

The series was translated into Creole and printed into booklet form so each participant could have the information to take home when completed.  Heidi Schulte (Whaley) first presented it in the fall of 2016 as a foundation piece for moms as they enter the First 1000 Days Program, so all will have heard the truth of the gospel from the very beginning.  Since then until now, April 2019,  200 caregivers have completed this course in Sylvain, Haiti and another 37 caregivers are currently studying the material in Maliarette, Haiti.  Additional sections of the Revive the Remnant course are planned for the future, providing practical ways for mothers to exercise their faith.  This includes teaching moms to pray for and over unborn children, their families, and speaking blessings over their homes and their communities.

God wants to change us by the power of His word and the gift of His Son.  He wants to Revive the Remnant so they can live in truth and light and share this truth and light with others in Haiti.  “Then a remnant will return to the Mighty God.” Isaiah 10:21 

And this remnant can impact a family, a community, a nation!  That’s my prayer!

Bev Brand

Education Team Lead, Sponsorship Coordinator

 Heidi, Sara, and staff check the moms in (2016)