Civil unrest and shortages of food, water, and fuel have prompted Resonate missionary families in Haiti to temporarily leave the country.

All Resonate staff and their families in Haiti are safe and have not been directly affected by the unrest. However, anticipated shortages of fuel could force the island nation’s airports to close if the situation deteriorates. Resonate has opted to bring its staff back to North America in accordance with CRCNA security guidelines out of an abundance of caution.

Our partner CRCNA agencies Back To God Ministries International and World Renew have been in contact with their in-country staff in Haiti and together we are monitoring the events.

Resonate has also canceled all volunteer travel to Haiti, including a church group preparing to depart in the coming days.

Protests that began related to fuel subsidies last year have restarted and broadened in scope, prompting warnings from the US and Canadian governments. The US government has evacuated all non-essential staff already and the Canadian embassy in Haiti has been closed since Wednesday, February 13.

Resonate missionaries in Haiti report that normal life has been interrupted amid tension and frustration. Protests rekindled on February 7th, and Resonate staff and their families have stayed in their homes since then.

Resonate director Zachary King, who served in Haiti with his family for 12 years prior to leading Resonate, is part of the CRCNA’s Crisis Monitoring Team for Haiti. “My heart breaks for the vast majority of Haitians who long for peace and stability in their country,” Zachary said. “While this departure of our staff and their families is necessary, Resonate remains fully committed to the Haitian churches and ministries with which it partners. Please join with us in praying that God will bring peace to this country and ministry there can resume.”

Missionaries describe a country “on lockdown.” While Resonate staff have the resources to prepare and stock up needed supplies, they are surrounded with friends and neighbors who don’t have the means and must attempt to go out for each day’s necessities. “Those who live on day-to-day supplies have really been affected,” said one Resonate missionary. “We know a lot of Haitian families are struggling to find rice and other staples.”

As Resonate continues to monitor this crisis and stay in continual communication with our staff and partners, we ask you to pray for peace. Pray for governmental leaders as they seek solutions. Pray for our ministry partners still in Haiti—that they would be safe and have access to the resources they need.

Please pray also for your missionaries as they face long days of unexpected traveling, uncertainty in the coming weeks, and anxiety about what the impacts of this unrest will be on mission work in Haiti. We hope in a God who is in control and who has a plan for Haiti. God’s hand is over this country and your missionaries.

Resonate Regional Mission Leader Luis Pellecer, who supervises ministry in Haiti, asks, “Please don’t stop praying for Haiti and for peace to return to the land.”