Our Story

Our Story

In the fall of 2010, as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Jackson, MS (FBCJ), Stan Buckley led his church into a mission project in Haiti whereby they would build a sustainable community for those still living in tents as a result of the devastating earthquake that took place in January of 2010. In May of 2011, they began construction of this sustainable community on 17 acres of land. The land is located in a community called Galette Chambon, in the region of Ganthier, that is approximately 18 miles east of the airport in Port-au-Prince. The sustainable community includes:

1. medical-dental complex
2. 40 houses
3. church
4. water wells
5. soccer field
6. agriculture plots
7. orphanage
8. playground
9. house for nurse missionary and family
10. house for agriculture missionary and family
11. dorm for visiting American teams

Spiritual Component

In addition to meeting physical needs, our goal at But God Ministries is to share the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That Good News is that God so loved Haiti that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. But God Ministries seeks to share the hope and love that are found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Transition

The construction of the sustainable community went so well, so quickly, that Stan resigned from FBCJ effective August 14, 2011 to form But God Ministries to continue this work. But God Ministries is a non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organizaiton.

Progress

The medical-dental complex was completed in February 2012. It includes 6 buildings. Two of the buildings are used for medical purposes, the third building is a dorm for visiting teams, and the fourth building contains bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen. The fifth building is a missionary house for the American nurse and his family who operate the medical-dental clinic full-time. They sixth building is a missionary house for the American agricultural missionary and his family. In addition, a water well, security fence, and septic system are part of the medical-dental complex.

As of May 2013, 34 of the 40 houses have been built and the foundations for the next 6 houses have been poured. Twenty families, involving dozens of people, have moved from the filth and hopelessness of a tent city into one of the new houses. A second well has been dug and is used daily by the people to receive clean water for drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing. As of March 2013 forty-six teams have been to Haiti and worked on the project, involving hundreds of volunteers and numerous dental and medical teams. Thirty-three teams are scheduled for 2013 involving approximately 400 people. Over 10,000 patients have been seen at our medical-dental clinic. Hundreds of children have attended Vacation Bible Schools. Countless shoes and items of clothing have been distributed. Dozens and dozens of jobs have been created. Over 200 children have received scholarships for school. Numerous gardens have been planted and have provided food for the families from the tent cities.

In August 2012, an American nurse, his wife, and youngest son moved to The Hope Center to live and work on a full-time basis. Tony West, his wife Mickie, and youngest son Jacob operate the medical-dental clinic daily and host mission teams that come to The Hope Center. Tony and Mickie have an older son, Jonathan, who is a college student in Jackson, MS.

Orphanage

In the spring of 2012, we partnered with two churches in Pensacola, FL to build an orphanage on our property. First Baptist Church Pensacola and Hillcrest Baptist Church are building and supporting an orphanage that will house up to 32 children. Children should begin moving into the orphanage in July 2013. The orphanage consists of 4 buildings: two dorms, one caretaker's house, and one building containing a kitchen, bathrooms, and dining area.

Partners

Shortly after beginning the work in Haiti, other churches from around the country joined our effort and began sending teams to help build the sustainable community. In fact, a significant portion of the funds raised came from outside FBCJ. When FBCJ broadcast the sermon in October 2010 in which Stan set forth the vision, people who watched the national broadcast as well as the state broadcast responded in an amazing way.

Mission trips taken in 2011:

1. February 18-23 (Land survey)
2. February 24-28 (Dental)
3. April 24-28 (Land survey)
4. May 21-28 (Construction of Medical-Dental Compound)
5. May 28-June 3 (Construction of Medical-Dental Compound)
6. June 18-24 (Construction of Medical-Dental Compound)
7. June 24-28 (Medical Exploratory)
8. July 2-9 (Construction of Medical-Dental Compound)
9. July 30-August 5 (Construction of Medical-Dental Compound)
10. August 6-13 (Construction of first residential house)
11. September 3-9, 2011 (First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS)
12. September 10-17 (Park Place Baptist Church, Brandon, MS)
13. October 8-15, 2011 (First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS)
14. October 22-29, 2011 (First Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL)
15. November 14-20, 2011 (But God Ministries - Variety of Churches)