Bob Salo (http://www.bob-salo.artistwebsites.com)

This artwork has a special spot in my heart and on my wall at home.  Look at the eyes.  Have you ever seen such a beautiful picture?

I would like to share briefly a version of Bob Salo's story:

I met Bob over 20 years ago through a business contact.   

 When the Joy and Hope of Haiti volunteer group put on their first Haiti Auction to raise funds to build schools, Bob donated his time and talent and produced a video presentation using our pictures from Haiti.  This year we held our 14th dinner and auction on May 27th (see http://www.joyandhopeofhaiti.ca/).  Bob has produced the video every year since then! 

In the spring of 2006, Bob went to Haiti himself and had an experience that only he could and should share.  Let me just say he wept much and our 2006 video for our Haiti auction still gives me goose bumps.  Bob has taught me faith and perseverence.  Bob's God-given artistic gift cotinues to bless Haitians as well as people throughout Canada and the United States as they enjoy his work (he gives a portion of the proceeds from the sale of his Haiti artwork back to Haiti). 

You can see this picture and many more in Bob's online Gallery:  http://www.bob-salo.artistwebsites.com/ 

"Watch out for the Pauls"

I went to Esther and Gord Pauls' cottage to "relax" for a couple of days and do some work on the Gord Pauls' "Triple Ironman" event (swim, bike, run 678 km in 3 days!!).

As it turns out, Gord and Esther started training me!  One day I swam 1 km and then did a 40 km bike ride, then a 1-1/2 km run.  The next day I did the same thing and Esther added a 4 km canoe paddle.  Five days later I'm still recovering.

I have a real respect for Gord and his courage to do this triple ironman.

Gord on the right (in shape) holding me up

Please take a moment to check out Gord's website and consider doing what Elaine and I have done if you're able. Sponsor 1 km at $370.00.  You'll get a tax receipt and help Gord to reach his goal of $250,000.00 for micro credit loans in Haiti:  http://www.gordpauls.com/      http://www.empowerglobal.org/

East Coast, July, 2010

I am taking a short detour from "highlights" to share a more recent experience:

From left to right:  Doug Boutilier (my uncle),  Maryann Johns (my sister) and myself

I had the privilege to share in a church in Nova Scotia last Sunday (July 11th). My mother was born and raised in Nova Scotia. The last time I was in that province was 35 years ago. I was 19 years old. Because of my lifestyle and habits at the time, 7 men from a motorcycle club beat me to near death. I was in Nova Scotia "recuperating".

Today, 35 years later, I'm sharing about taking action to help the poor and lost (gang members!). See "The Call" message below. I wish my mom were alive to have been in Nova Scotia with me.

THE CALL TO ACTION


THE CALL

1. Call
2. Fear
3. Confirmation
4. Decision (Action)
5. Changed life
(from John Allsop, Pastor)


ARISTOTLE’S ETHICS

→ Virtue
Actions → Habit → → Character → Destiny
→ Vice

(from Artistotle, Philosopher)

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 2: 14 – 20

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

(from NIV translation)


If you had all the money you needed with all your obligations and responsibilities taken care of, who would you help?

I would__________________________________________________________


The answer may very well be your call.

Prayer – confirm my call in the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

I'd be happy to discuss further with anyone who has any questions.

Emmaus Biblical Seminary, Haiti

Emmaus Biblical Seminary, Haiti




The summer of 2005 was an exciting time. I can picture a meeting that happened at the OMS office in Canada where some very special people committed some personal funds to jump start a very large construction project: constructing a new Emmaus Biblical Seminary. The proposed seminary site would house 11 buildings. Another Canadian and good friend of mine donated his time and this artist’s rendering was put together:

The current seminary was in very rough shape:

<>

After a serious rain storn....damage in a classroom

Half the ceiling missing

It took prayer, work, fundraising, planning, more prayer, more work, more planning, more fundraising and many, many teams travelling to Haiti to help with construction. The project started to take shape:

Pouring Foundations

To be continued.....next week.

Wes Robinson

Wes Robinson was one of the original members of an MFM Team who left for Haiti in August, 1989.

Front Row (l-r)
Ron Donaldson, Bill Lane, Wes Robinson

Back Row (l-r)
Percy Campbell, Gerry Baker, Jim McDermott, Warren Hardig, Scott Jacks, Jim Turnbull.

Since 1989 hundreds of people from Hamilton and across Canada have been travelling to Haiti to work on construction projects (primarily elementary schools) connected with OMS in Haiti.

Wes celebrated the grand opening with us on April 9th, 2005 and as he was leaving to get into his car, God called him home right then and there. It certainly confirmed for all of us that we don’t know when it will be time to leave our earthly life and start our heavenly life with Jesus. Wes was deeply involved in mission work supported by St. John United Church in Hamilton for many years which was ignited by his first trip to Haiti.

On May 11th, 2006 there was a celebration of the life and ministries of Wes Robinson and our large meeting room here was dedicated and named the “Wes Robinson room”.

My Fourth Pillar - Micro-economy (giving a hand up, not a hand out)

•Micro Credit for South Asia
•Micro Credit for Africa – Seed Program, Fish Farm, Micro Loans
•Micro Credit for Haiti: Triple Iron Man (BC), Iron Will Production
•Medical Initiative – mobile & stationary medical clinics

Report Card

Goals
–To develop and implement partnership and plans for up to ten countries by 2015

Results
–South Asia -Malawi –Mozambique –Haiti – Cap Haitien

My Third Pillar - The Joy and Hope of Haiti

•Trade School for Cap Haitien
•Annual Auction
•Golf Tournament
•Road to Hope
•Containers

Report Card
Goals

–Provide education, food & shelter for Haitien children in need
–Build 40 schools
–Build and sustain an orphanage
Results

–21 schools have been built
–33 children are housed in Cap Haitian Orphanage

My Second Pillar - Men for Missions (laymen's arm of OMS)

“Do, Go, Give” whatever God asks of me!

Men for Missions is a dynamic movement born of God's Spirit in the hearts of laymen. Through Men for Missions, thousands of men and their families, from various church affiliations and all walks of life, find a channel for harnessing and releasing personal skills and abilities in practical, direct missionary involvement.

MFM Report Card

Goals

–Recruit and send over 1000 men and women on short term mission trips to facilitate the building of schools, churches and needed infrastructure by 2015
–Water Projects – drill 250 wells and manufacture 50 bio sand filters in Haiti by 2015
–Partnership with Promise Keepers Canada

Results

–Over 600 men and women have been sent on mission trips
–Partnership with Promise Keepers Canada achieved
–Over 200 wells have been drilled in Haiti and over 20,000 people now access clean water
–Manufacturing of bio sand filters has begun and 20 have been completed

My First Pillar - One Mission Society

One Mission Society ("OMS") is a multifaceted organization with a variety of ministries in 46 nations. However, even with such a wide range of ministries, OMS has always been guided by the conviction that "a nation can best be won by its own sons and daughters". OMS accomplishes this through a fourfold focus:

1. Evangelism

2. Church Planting

3. Leadership Training

4. Strategic Partnerships

OMS- ART DUERKSEN

• 
  
  Ordained minister - preaching, teaching, evangelizing, prison ministry
• 
  
  Alliance: OMS/MFM
• 
  
  Alliance: OMS/Joy and Hope of Haiti
• 
  
  Alliance: OMS/LeaderImpact Discovery Groups

OMS REPORT CARD

• 
  
  Goal for 2005-2010
  - Recruit and send 600 men and women for service on ministry teams to OMS fields abroad.
  - Raise over $2.8 million for OMS projects
• 
  
  Results (as of November, 2009)
  - 773 men and women recruited and sent
  - $2,091,146.85 has been raised as well as $1.3 million gifts in kind sent to Haiti and Malawi, Africa.

Biography

I've been convinced by many friends and family members that having a blog is an excellent communications tool. I'd prefer to see you all and talk to you in person but sometimes it just isn't possible. I've prepared something called "Art's Four Pillars of Service" to share with others what I am involved in as a "homeland" missionary in Canada. Here are my Four Pillars of Service and Biography:

THE PILLARS

• OMS: One Mission Society (Christian based)


• Men for Missions (laymen's arm of OMS)


• Joy and Hope of Haiti (community based volunteers providing education for Haiti)


• Micro-economy (giving a hand up, not a hand out)

BIOGRAPHY

• Art has been sharing the gospel in jails, churches and in business for the past 12 years which resulted in many conversions. In 2006, while in Malawi, Africa, God opened a new chapter in open air evangelism and by God's grace, hundreds have come to embrace their faith.

• Along with teams going to build schools, churches, orphanages and seminaries throughout the world, containers of medical supplies, clothing and emergency food are collected and sent. Networking those who have with those who need is one of Art's passions.
  

• His main responsibilities are raising funds across Canada for building and micro-credit projects in Haiti, Africa, South Asia and soon other countries. Art arranges and often personally takes men, women and youth on short-term mission trips to these developing countries.




• One of Art's favourite verses: James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
  



• Art, born and raised in Hamilton, has been married to Elaine for over 25 years and has three children, Art Jr. and twins, Raquel and Max.









• Art has been in sales for most of his career and June 1st, 2005 sold his jewelry business and now has a position as Eastern Regional Director, Men for Missions International, Canada. His main responsibilities are raising funds across Canada for projects in Haiti, Africa and soon other countries. Second, Art arranges and often personally takes men, women and youth on short-term mission trips.

• Art went on a short-term mission trip in 1995 to Haiti which changed his direction and goals in life completely. Art has become one of the key organizers for the Joy and Hope of Haiti Group initiatives in our community.



• The main mission of the Joy and Hope of Haiti Group is to build schools in Haiti to provide the educational facilities to create opportunities for Haiti's future leaders.

Fauche: Before construction, during construction and after construction