Providence Ministries
The purpose of Providence Ministries
is to enter into partnership with Haitians to better the lives of individual children and others in the Haitian community.
We concentrate on two main areas:
1) Providing a safe and nurturing home for individual Haitian children in particular need.
2) Reaching out to the community around these children to create educational, vocational and spiritual opportunities.
Greg and Marcia Erickson co-founded Providence Ministries, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in 1997.
We have an all-volunteer board of directors based in Saint Paul, MN.
Our home church is Woodland Hills Church in Maplewood, MN.
We have an all-volunteer board of directors based in Saint Paul, MN.
Our home church is Woodland Hills Church in Maplewood, MN.
Providence House
Providence House is located in southern Haiti. The home houses six girls at this time. These girls receive medical care, clothing and an education. In order to establish a family atmosphere, the home is intentionally small. These girls and the Lebielle family, with whom they live have formed deep relationships, and function very much like a family unit. This furthers our purpose by not only providing spiritual growth and educationl opportunities for these children, but by also providing jobs and economic opportunity for the family they live with.
People frequently ask us what will happen when the girls aqre grown and finish their education. Providence House is not an institution. It is not an orphanage. Our commitment to these girls is very much like a commitment to any child in any family. Sometimes kids lie at home while they attend college. Sometimes they get involved with missions work and need help in the form of finances. Sometimes they fall in loe and start families of their own. It's no different with these girls. We can imagine possibilities, but we really can't predict the direction each of the girls will take. If Providence House were and institution, these questions would be easy to answer. We would create a policy and enforce it. But this is a family. Policies don't seem appropriate.
We will do whatever we can to help these girls succeed and thrive in the special circumstances of a challenging third world environment. It's a comfort to know that we're not alone with these decisions. We're confident that the Lord cares more for these children than any parent ever could, and he will give us direction and wisdom. That's really all that any parent can hope for.
People frequently ask us what will happen when the girls aqre grown and finish their education. Providence House is not an institution. It is not an orphanage. Our commitment to these girls is very much like a commitment to any child in any family. Sometimes kids lie at home while they attend college. Sometimes they get involved with missions work and need help in the form of finances. Sometimes they fall in loe and start families of their own. It's no different with these girls. We can imagine possibilities, but we really can't predict the direction each of the girls will take. If Providence House were and institution, these questions would be easy to answer. We would create a policy and enforce it. But this is a family. Policies don't seem appropriate.
We will do whatever we can to help these girls succeed and thrive in the special circumstances of a challenging third world environment. It's a comfort to know that we're not alone with these decisions. We're confident that the Lord cares more for these children than any parent ever could, and he will give us direction and wisdom. That's really all that any parent can hope for.
Haitian Education Project - Terri Churchill, Director
Every year, Providence Ministries raises funds to help educate children in Haiti whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. Over the past eight ears, the Haitian Education Project (HEP) has given over 1000 scholarships.
On average, it costs about $70.00 a year fo reach student to attend class. This money provides books, uniforms and supplies for the students. But beyond that the money reaches deep into the communities and changes everything. It employs teachers and administrators. It builds feeding centers and school buildings and latrines and wells. It employs the people who work on these projects. It provides hope.
On average, it costs about $70.00 a year fo reach student to attend class. This money provides books, uniforms and supplies for the students. But beyond that the money reaches deep into the communities and changes everything. It employs teachers and administrators. It builds feeding centers and school buildings and latrines and wells. It employs the people who work on these projects. It provides hope.
For more information:
Providence Ministries
P.O. Box 4711
St. Paul, MN 55104
providenceinhaiti.blogspot.com
P.O. Box 4711
St. Paul, MN 55104
providenceinhaiti.blogspot.com