Editor's Note
Each of these stories was recorded in the Storytelling Booths at the Fourth Lausanne Congress in Incheon, South Korea, in September 2024. These booths served as a sacred space for global participants to share testimonies, prayer requests, and offer ministry insights from their unique contexts. We are honored to pass these along as glimpses of how God is moving in the Caribbean.
The Caribbean is considered one of the most dangerous regions within the Americas and contains a third of the world’s homicide deaths. Many countries have recently seen an increase in violent crime, gang activity, and general unrest among youth. In 2017, 33% of homicide arrests in Trinidad and Tobago involved youth, even though they only made up 11% of the population. One study found that 6% of young people are affiliated with a gang, but statistics for young men may be significantly higher.
Yet, in the midst of these challenges, God is raising men and women who boldly and sacrificially pursue young people with the love of Christ. These individuals choose not to grow discouraged, cynical, or fearful in the face of youth misbehavior, but they serve their communities with prophetic vision, relentless intercession, and faithful ministry. They ground themselves in hope, believing in the power of Jesus to transform and save souls. Their lives are testimonies of gospel hope being planted in the souls of young men and women.
Praying for Peace and Discipleship | Clovis St. Romain | Antigua and Barbuda
💬 Click the “≫” icon in the top-right corner to open the transcript.
Clovis St. Romain, a Christian worker at St John’s Church in Antigua and Barbuda, encourages the church to press into prayer and ministry, despite violence in the region.
Antigua and Barbuda have experienced an increase in the importation of drugs and guns, and crime has damaged the tourism industry, a significant sector of the nation’s economy. Unfortunately, violence has also had an adverse effect on young people
As a result, Clovis turned to prayer and intercession. He spearheaded a National Day of Prayer movement that received government attention and support. Clovis asks the international church to pray as well. He pleads, ‘We want peace, and that’s our prayer. God, will you return our region to a region of peace?’
In addition to prayer, God also gifted Clovis with prophetic discernment and vision for the next generation. He believes God is calling the church to step into deeper waters and prioritize next-generation discipleship. Because of this, Clovis has begun to focus on drawing young people to ministry and discipling them to walk in Jesus’ steps.
Clovis’s testimony paints a picture of the church standing in solidarity against violence, through diligent intercession and outreach.
God is moving in Antigua and Barbuda, mobilizing and redirecting the local church through Clovis to pray for and prioritize discipleship among young men and women in the community. Clovis’s testimony paints a picture of the church standing in solidarity against violence, through diligent intercession and outreach.
Gospel Not Gangs: A Haitian’s Mission to Reach Youth | Jacky Gilles | Haiti
💬 Click the “≫” icon in the top-right corner to open the transcript.
Jacky Gilles is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Haiti and has a special passion for conducting outreaches among the children of his community. His testimony is one of beautiful redemption.
Jacky was born into a large family with eight children. Due to financial hardship, his parents sent him to an orphanage when he was five years old. There he met Jesus when he was ten and was baptized at thirteen. Looking back, Jacky sees God’s hand of providence guiding him to salvation despite difficult circumstances.
Soon after Jacky came to Christ, he became involved in children’s ministry. He currently shares the gospel and love of Jesus by implementing sports and play-based activities.
As Jacky observes challenges such as gang violence within Haiti, he has deep hope and joy in the Lord because of his confidence in his faithfulness. He declares boldly, ‘The Lord will raise up a new generation to serve Him and to bring shalom in our country.’
‘If we can reach the next generation before the evil reaches them, we can make an everlasting impact.’
Jacky balances his faith and trust in the Lord with active ministry. Instead of giving in to despair or passivity because of the violence around him, Jacky actively shares the love of Jesus. He exercises an eternal mindset, sharing, ‘If we can reach the next generation before the evil reaches them, we can make an everlasting impact.’ This focus drives him to action and motivates him to love others, so they can ultimately know the love of the Father.
Jacky’s life testifies that God uses challenges in our lives for his glory and our good. His work mobilizes the local church in Haiti to share about Christ and serve the next generation.
You can connect with Jacky at jgillespassionforchildren@gmail.com
Reaching Young Men Through Bible Clubs | Deborah Dowlath | Trinidad and Tobago
💬 Click the “≫” icon in the top-right corner to open the transcript.
Deborah Dowlath passionately engages young people in Trinidad and Tobago through educational and Bible programs.
Crime has deeply affected this region, and young men who lack a strong father figure at home are especially susceptible to gang violence.
Eighteen years ago, Deborah’s neighbor realized that many youth lacked educational support. Together, she and Deborah started a homework center and later a Bible club, which many young men frequently attend. Although they cause some disruptions and fights, Deborah rejoices in their attendance. She shares, ‘At Bible club, they find a safe space . . . and I see this as an opportunity for us to redirect them from a life of crime.’ Through these programs, Deborah mobilizes the local church in Trinidad and Tobago to serve youth and invest meaningfully in their lives.
God has given her the ability to see potential in these boys, rather than simply viewing them as challenges or burdens.
As Deborah sows seeds of gospel hope, specifically in the hearts of young men, God has given her the ability to see potential in these boys, rather than simply viewing them as challenges or burdens. Despite the difficulties they bring to her program, she chooses to forgive and love over and over again, expectantly waiting for what God will do in their lives. Her story is one of persevering redemption and trust that God will bring about fruit from her ministry in his timing. Her willingness to persistently engage with these young men reflects the intentional love of the Father who goes after one missing sheep and rejoices at the homecoming of his sons and daughters.
Conclusion
These stories demonstrate the brightness of life-altering hope, as believers in the Caribbean stand together in prayer and ministry towards the next generation. Their testimonies are an encouragement to us to reconsider difficulties in our own lives through the lens of hope—hope in a God who resurrected his Son and who graciously promises to redeem difficulties for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28). God’s work continues in the Caribbean through the faithful sacrifice of many believers. In his timing, he will bring about eternal fruit in the lives of the next generation.
Opportunities to respond
- Pray with Clovis for God’s peace to be restored in Antigua and Barbuda.
- Pray for ministries like Jacky’s that are reaching at-risk youth with hope and healing.
- Pray for and encourage the ‘Deborahs’ in your community—those faithfully investing in the lives of troubled young people.