UCI Haiti
Beginnings. Beliefs. Governance.
Support
UCI
Reaching Haiti For Christ
United Christians International began in February 2005 with JeanJean and Kristie Mompremier's God-given desire to share JeanJean’s seminary training with the lay pastors of the area near Caiman (JeanJean’s home town). What began as a 3 month stay in the fall of 2005, has now grown into a nutrition center, health clinic, elementary school, university, seminary, and training center for medical and agricultural students.
Today, UCI's vision for the future involves three primary objectives:
- Teaching The Word Of God
- Equipping Future National Leaders Through Education & Training
- Uniting Christians Around The World
Beginnings
How do a farm girl from Orange City, Iowa and a Haitian boy from Caiman, Haiti meet, marry, and become missionaries?
Beginnings
Kristie (DeBoer) Mompremier was born in Northwest Iowa (USA) and became passionate about vocational missions after college. She joined ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization), an agricultural mission out of Fort Myers, FL which took her to the Central Plateau of Haiti.
Jean Jean Mompremier was born in Caiman in the Central Plateau of Haiti, and eventually became a teacher at a Christian high school, an experience that would strengthen his love for, and trust in God.
Their love for Jesus and a strong desire to serve others brought them together in Haiti where they married and now have two daughters, Rithana (Tana) and Kerlande (Kerri). After returning to the U.S. so Jean Jean could complete seminary and Kristie could become a nurse, they returned to Haiti with a vision to serve Jean Jean’s childhood community.
What began as a 3 month stay in the fall of 2005, has now grown into a nutrition center, health clinic, elementary school, university, seminary, and training center for medical and agricultural students. And UCI continues to grow, meeting the needs of the community, while touching the lives of Haitians through sharing, studying, and living out the Gospel. From these small beginnings, the gospel has turned a small village that was marked by vodou and hatred, into a community that works together. Today, UCI has over 600 elementary students and over 500 university students with the vision to train up Godly leaders that will revive their communities for Christ.
Beliefs
These core beliefs provide the foundation of our mission to testify, disciple, and care for people in the name of Jesus.
Beliefs
Holy Spirit
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit who glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ and in this present age convicts people of sin, regenerates them, and then indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service.
Scripture
We believe in the divine inspiration and inerrant authority of the Scriptures (both Old and New Testaments) as the only authoritative Word of God.
Human Being
We believe that human beings were created in the image of God, but fell into sin and are therefore lost and that only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can sinful and lost people experience God’s salvation.
Trinity
We believe that there is one God, infinitely perfect and eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Ordinances
We believe that the Lord’s supper and water baptism are ordinances to be observed by the church during the present age, but that they are not a means of salvation.
Church
We believe in one holy Christian church, the body of Christ which is comprised of all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and experienced saving faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, there is a vital spiritual unity of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Head of the Church, and every local church has the right under Christ to decide and govern its own affairs.
Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross, a sacrifice for our sins, according to the Scriptures. He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.
Salvation
We believe that faith in the blood shed of Jesus and His resurrection provide the only grounds for justification and becoming the children of God. It is only by the grace that comes through faith in Christ that salvation and spiritual life can be obtained.
Bodily Resurrection
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost. Those who are saved unto the resurrection of everlasting and blessed life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of everlasting, conscious punishment.
Return of Christ
We believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ which will bring about the consummation of all things and that this “blessed hope” has vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer.
Governance
UCI operates under a unique dual board system consisting of a local Haitian board and a satellite U.S. board.
Governance
Our volunteer Haitian board determines the main needs of the area and where to direct UCI’s resources. They determine the budget and project list as they are Haitian nationals who know and care about their community's long-term needs. The U.S. board has been with UCI since its inception and are dedicated volunteer Christians from a variety of denominational backgrounds that desire to pray for UCI’s mission and help keep all things accountable to God. Their main objective is to support the Haitian board and ensure U.S. accountability. The U.S. and Haitian boards meet for an annual retreat and the U.S. board members are committed to visiting UCI in Haiti once a year. UCI hopes to one day provide a way for more Haitian board members to visit the supporting churches in the United States.
Haitian Board
Eliberne
Pierre
Supervisor of Construction
Supervisor of Construction including all buildings on UCI property; houses, latrines, and cement floors in the community; churches and school buildings. Eliberne is married to Dimancia and they have 2 children, one of whom is studying agriculture at UCCC. Eliberne is an active member of the Worship Center of Caiman and a strong community leader.
Justin
Mompremier
Supervisor of Primary School
Supervisor of Primary Schooland Financial affairs. Justin is the board member that handles the day-to-day cash flow. Due to Haiti's situation, Justin has to physically carry the cash from our micro-finance institution (our 'bank' in Pignon), to UCI. He also ensures the teachers are meeting the national standards of education and UCI's standards for spiritual formation. He is married to Dieula and they have 7 children, 2 studying medicine and 1 studying theology at UCCC. Justin is an elder of his church, sings in the choir, and is on many community committees.
Lamour
Mompremier
Supervisor of the Univeristy
As supervisor of the UCCC University, Lamour oversees dorm life at the university, helps with disciplinary issues, and verifies that our accreditation requirements are met. He also works with Eliberne to evaluate which families will receive houses, floors, or latrines in the community. Lamour is married to Dieudonne, has 3 children (one of which is studying nursing at UCCC), and has also adopted a 2-year old named Lyse. Lamour is a member of the Worship Center of Caiman and a member of our community's local soccer team.
Saint
Louis
Supervisor of Agriculture
As Supervisor of Agriculture, Saint Louis (Saul)oversees projects including tree nursery, drip irrigation gardens at nutrition centers, motorized pump irrigation gardens, animal husbandry, and teaches the practicum for the agricultural department of the university. Saul is dedicated to teaching all about the importance of agriculture and inherent Christian economic principles that need to be followed. He is married to Denise and they have 3 children. Saul is an elder at his church and in charge of the evangelism ministry of his church.
Lanyo
Fenix
Prayer
Warrior
UCI's Prayer Warrior. Seventy-nine year old Lanyo has started each morning praying with all the workers at UCI, Monday through Friday for the past 6 years. He wants all UCI ministries to be covered in prayer. Lanyo has been instrumental in casting the vision for the university, the clinic, and now is lifting up the possibility of a high school to the Lord. Lanyo is married to Mme Lanyo and they have 5 children and 7 grandchildren. Lanyo has been an elder at his church and has sung in his men's choir for over 30 years.
US Board
Jason
Farver
US Board President
Jason and Whitney Farver are high school sweethearts who have been married for 16 years and have been blessed with four children.
Jason and Whitney first took a mission trip to the Caiman, Haiti area in 2009 and were drawn to the people and the country. On their first trip to Haiti they visited UCI for a Sunday worship service with a UCI tour to follow. They immediately fell in love with UCI, its mission, the hearts of Jean Jean and Kristie, and were excited and encouraged to see God moving so evidently in the Caiman area.
Since their initial visit to Haiti, Jason and Whitney have felt called to return each year for the last 5 years. Their oldest son, Brayden (13), has joined his parents for the trip to Haiti the last four trips. He is actively learning Haitian Creole because of his desire to connect with those to whom UCI ministers. He, like his parents, has a passion for the country and God’s ministry there.
Jason and Whitney joined the UCI board in January of 2016 and are excited to share their time, talents and treasures to move the ministry forward as God directs!
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by
works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do."
- Ephesians 2:8-10
Whitney
Farver
US Board Member
Jason and Whitney Farver are high school sweethearts who have been married for 16 years and have been blessed with four children.
Jason and Whitney first took a mission trip to the Caiman, Haiti area in 2009 and were drawn to the people and the country. On their first trip to Haiti they visited UCI for a Sunday worship service with a UCI tour to follow. They immediately fell in love with UCI, its mission, the hearts of Jean Jean and Kristie, and were excited and encouraged to see God moving so evidently in the Caiman area.
Since their initial visit to Haiti, Jason and Whitney have felt called to return each year for the last 5 years. Their oldest son, Brayden (13), has joined his parents for the trip to Haiti the last four trips. He is actively learning Haitian Creole because of his desire to connect with those to whom UCI ministers. He, like his parents, has a passion for the country and God’s ministry there.
Jason and Whitney joined the UCI board in January of 2016 and are excited to share their time, talents and treasures to move the ministry forward as God directs!
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by
works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do."
- Ephesians 2:8-10
Jason
Jackson
US Board Member
I grew up in Chicago Illinois in a Christian home where the Bible was taught and we took our faith very seriously, both in our desire to know God and living it out.
My first overseas experience was in Quito, Ecuador where our team spent time evangelizing and encouraging believers. Ever since that time God has given me a heart to see where He is at work globally and I count it an honor to now be on the board of the global ministry of UCI.
I currently serve as a youth pastor and missions coordinator at Sunnybrook Community Church in Sioux City, Iowa and take yearly trips to Haiti with our senior high students. To be part of an organization dedicated to sharing the gospel holistically is a pure delight for me.
US Board
Jim &
Marcy
Ryken
US Board Members
Jim and Marcy Ryken live in Ames, Iowa and attend Christ Community Church. They have been married for 24 years and have five kids – Taylor, Grace, Delaney, Bennett, and Jonathan.
“God placed missions in the center of our hearts through the Perspectives class in 2007. Perspectives changed the way we thought about the World and changed how we lived. That year we also took our first family mission trip to Jackson County Kentucky.Our family’s first trip to Haiti was in 2012 as part of Grace’s homeschool “class project”. We have since traveled to Haiti at least every year and have lead three teams from the Ames area. These trips have all been memorable and amazing.
Some highlights from our Haiti life include taking blond-haired Jonathan when he was only four; having Taylor find her calling as a nurse while serving alongside a doctor in Haiti; and connecting the Ames community to the Leger School in Lobo Bohoc through Christmas gifts, school lunches, and building projects.
Initially, we felt a strong calling from God to help establish a connection between believers in the Ames area and UCI in Caiman. We are blessed by God’s faithfulness in realizing this vision. We have had the opportunity to help mobilize and mentor two short-term trips from other Ames churches this year, with more being planned.”
Marcy and Jim joined the UCI board in August of 2016. They are excited to serve UCI in this leadership capacity in addition to leading teams on short-term trips.