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Short Term Missions Trip

Project Ebenezer


Overview

Ebenezer is a Hebrew word meaning “Rock of Help.” Project Ebenezer works through local churches to bring physical relief to those in need.  Project Ebenezer provides opportunities for church congregations to participate in modeling holistic missions through short-term mission trips by not only helping people who are often overlooked, but also helping them learn to help themselves.  This holistic ministry is implemented by local leaders, after research by MIA’s staff to determine the social forces at work in the community.

Depending on the specific need two types of ministry have been developed: (1) Service Projects. Visiting work teams together with local residents build homes for the homeless, medical clinics, primary and secondary schools, churches, day care centers, multi-purpose buildings for literacy and job skills training centers in addition to leading vacation bibles schools for children. (2) Implementing Biblical Free Enterprises. Ministries In Action teams up with local churches to set up gift shops, bakeries, water processing facilities, sheep breeding businesses and more.  The Biblical Free Enterprises often help to fund the operating costs for the Service Projects.  All Project Ebenezer endeavors are designed to be self sustaining and easily reproduced.

Current Projects


Hato Nuevo, Dominican Republic

The main focus of this trip is the completion of an approximately 5,000 sq. ft. medical building to be used by the surrounding low-income community.  Once completed, this facility will allow MIA missionary Dr. Silvia Martinez and her staff to greatly expand the reach of their ministry.  Read more about the clinic here.  Short term missionaries will also have opportunities to evangelize, help with VBS and assist Dr. Silvia and her staff on medical caravans into the surrounding communities. 

Flamands, Haiti

The Flamands School enrollment now exceeds that of the original school, and a second floor is being added to accommodate the overflow of students. The school enrolls students from kindergarten to high school. 

Fontamara, Haiti

Ministries In Action is working with the Evangelical Baptist Elim Church in Fontamara, a poor hillside community just outside Port -au-Prince, Haiti, to construct a school building that will have ten classrooms and space to operate a feeding program.

Guichard, Haiti

The first phase of a school that accommodates 300 students has been completed. The construction of the 2nd phase of the school is getting underway. A clinic has been constructed on the premises, which is staffed by missionary nurse, Joan Page Bain.

Mirabeau, Grenada

In 2004 the island of Grenada was devastated by Hurricane Ivan. Much of the islands infrastructure was destroyed and many families were left homeless.  Homes have been constructed for ten families that were affected severely.  Plans for more homes are underway.  MIA is also helping with the repair and renovation of a church in Mirabeau. 



Bamboo Missionary Church

Bamboo, Jamaica

Ministries In Action along with the members of Bamboo Missionary Church are in the final stages of constructing a new building to replace the original one that was completely destroyed by fire in 1998. The new facilities include sanctuary, school, medical clinic and a computer center. 




Contrivance, Jamaica

Ministries In Action is working with a small church named Sharon Gospel Assembly in the farming community of Contrivance, Jamaica to construct a small Christian school. 




Mandeville, Jamaica

Ministries In Action is working with a Emmanuel Missionary Church in the community of Mandeville, Jamaica to complete the expansion of a Christian school building. 

Biabou Evangelical ChurchBiabou, St. Vincent

The Biabou Evangelical Church is situated on the windward side of the island of St. Vincent in the British West Indies.  The Church has had a tremendous impact not only on the community but on the nation as a whole.  This missions opportunity involves helping with the construction of the church and VBS opportunities. 


Philosophy

Project Ebenezer is a holistic ministry. Meeting the needs of the whole man (body, soul and spirit). It is based on the following principles:

Church Centered

The evangelical tradition is scriptural holiness, personal salvation and social righteousness”. The church is under biblical obligation to participate with God in demonstrating in tangible ways its concern for the poor, the oppressed and the downtrodden of earth.

Culturally Sensitive

We must be careful in our development projects not to impose a foreign culture on them and/or destroy them. We must in fact preserve the culture of the people unless it clearly conflicts with the scripture.

Comprehensive in its Components

We must not only seek to meet physical needs but develop both service ministries and biblical free enterprise ventures - teaching people how to use their natural talents to provide jobs and help them make money. In this way the projects become self-sufficient and the people are not robbed of their dignity and self worth.

Compassionate in its Development

There is a tendency to ride rough-shod over people in our zeal to help them. We must not lose sight of the fact that our efforts are motivated by love. People are more important than projects.

Communal in its Scope

Many projects focus on helping individuals, and there is nothing essentially wrong with that. However, the scriptures call us into a new society, where (1) there is caring for one another (2) as God's Kingdom people we are to minister together in His name to others. Besides in many countries with limited natural resources, we have to “pool” their resources in order to maximize our efforts.

Continuous and Biblical in its Application

We do what we do not because we are social scientists but because we are committed to modeling God's Kingdom. And we do so in such a way that others of His Kingdom will be able to emulate our labor of love. When people are given a helping hand and then having been helped, we challenge them to help others, it helps them to realize their true humanity. Even more importantly, God has called all of us to participate with Him in declaring His grace and in demonstrating His justice. Give others the resources- they will finish the job.

How it Works

Once a project has been defined and approved by MIA Leadership, the MIA staff takes over the administration of the project.  The Project is administered as follows:

  • Ministries In Action works with the local church to form a committee, which will be responsible for overseeing the project on the field.   This includes, securing materials and labor locally when needed, keeping good records and facilitating short term mission teams from other churches.
  • Ministries In Action recruits short term mission teams to help with the construction of the project and partner with the local church in ministering to its community.  The short term missionaries help to cover the cost of the materials they use with the funds they raise.
  • Ministries In Action also attempts to raise additional funds from Foundations, Churches, Individuals and Organizations to provide labor and materials not covered by the short term missionaries.  
  • Ministries In Action missionaries work with the local church and committee throughout the duration of the project to ensure that the testimony and love of Jesus are displayed to the local community.
  • Upon completion of the project Ministries In Action works with the local church to:
    • Develop another project for another need inside or outside their community.
    • Implement a Biblical Free Enterprise to finance the operation of the facility if needed.
  • From start to finish the project is owned by the local church.  Ministries In Action's role is to help and provide accountability.