In April 2019, Haitian community leaders Ritha & Fedner Antoine along with American, Hannah Stucker began a young women’s Bible study and fellowship in Gressier, Haiti. High levels of interest and enthusiasm resulted in rapid growth. Our current programs were developed to further address the spiritual deprivation we witnessed in our ladies. In the face of national instability, a pandemic, and a presidential assassination God continues to bless this growing ministry.
We are a Haitian-led and faith-based ministry with a team made up of solid Christians, Fedner and Ritha Antoine (Haitian leaders) and Hannah Stucker (American leader). We collaborate to lead the day to day mission which encourages an amazing group of young women and children.
Women’s Bible Studies
Women attend our Bible Studies weekly because they are accepted, loved, valued, wanted, and cared for by God and by our ministry staff. When our ladies come to sit with us, they are cherished as chosen daughters of the One True God. Through our deep investment in them, we strive not only to see our ladies grow in the Word, but also to disciple them to go out and reach others.
Children’s Bible Studies
We host weekly children’s Bible Studies to reach out and share hope with children in our community who are not attending school. We prepare age-appropriate lessons and activities to give them the opportunity to learn how to read and write. Most importantly, we teach the children about Jesus and the basic foundations of a Christian life.
Leadership-Based Scholarships
Our Haitian leaders choose girls from our weekly Bible Studies to receive scholarships to attend Haitian schools. Our expectations, requirements, and oversight provide direction for girls to remain in our program. We also connect with their parents which allows for more ministry. Not only does this program provide life changing opportunities for these girls and their families, but it also integrates our team into Haitian schools for positive influence and impact. We believe this approach offers us great potential to strengthen what Haitians have established in their nation.
Christian Counseling
We provide essential counseling services for the young women we serve, as most of them have experienced trauma and neglect. Our program is designed to help women heal from these hurts by meeting one-on-one for sessions with a psychologist. We also conduct home visits which provide our Haitian leaders with better insights about the girls’ home environments and opportunities for one-on-one ministry.
Continuing Education
We offer continuing education opportunities to our community through ESL classes once weekly and Adult Literacy twice weekly. These classes are providing Haitians with vital skills and life changing opportunities by learning to read, write, and speak the English language. We see this as an important opportunity to further serve friends in our community and deepen our relationships for the future.
Women’s Outreach Events
Our monthly outreach events are hosted to provide a comfortable, fun environment for ladies to get connected with The Bridge. During these events we share the Gospel message, a joyful activity, and a meal. Our goals are to reach the unreached and to continue uplifting and supporting those already connected with our ministry.
Women’s Bible Studies
God has blessed us to share the love of Christ with many ladies through our women’s Bible studies every week. They come Saturday after Saturday because they are accepted, loved, valued, wanted, and cared for by God and by our ministry staff. When our ladies come to sit with us they are cherished as chosen daughters of the One True God.
Children’s Bible Studies
We host weekly children’s Bible studies geared towards reaching children in our community who are not attending school. These Bible studies are held twice weekly for a few hours. We prepare age-appropriate lessons and activities to provide these children with a basic Christian foundation. We give them love, hope, purpose, and nourishment.
Leadership-Based Scholarships
This is our third year of awarding leadership-based scholarships to young women in Gressier, Haiti. Selected recipients have displayed ongoing engagement and dedication to The Bridge ministry through attending Bible studies and enjoying community outreach events. The goals of our scholarship program are to provide young women with resources to further their academic or professional training, receive quality mental health services, pursue deep spiritual growth, and to build a cohort of future leaders within the community.
Christian Counseling
Through our Mental Health Program we offer Christian counseling to promote healing and restoration. All of our sponsored students and some of our ladies are finding deeper peace, hope, and purpose through counseling. In 2020 we began conducting home visits for every girl and family represented at our weekly gatherings. Through these encounters we discovered overwhelming needs and we know that God has given us great opportunities for ministry.
Continuing Education
We offer continuing education opportunities to our community through ESL classes once weekly and Adult Literacy twice weekly. These classes are providing Haitians with vital skills and life changing opportunities by learning to read, write, and speak the English language. We see this as an important opportunity to further serve friends in our community and deepen our relationships for the future.
Women’s Outreach Events
We fully enjoy planning and hosting our monthly women’s outreach events. These gatherings provide opportunities for friends to come and fellowship together while getting connected to the programs and services we offer. We believe providing these often first time, fun life experiences for ladies is another avenue to demonstrate the love of Christ to them.
