Life on the hospital campus in Haiti, where I reside, doesn't happen behind high concrete walls, unlike many properties here. I live right in the heart of the community, surrounded by neighbors, a bustling tree nursery, and a tennis court. It is a vibrant, open place where ministry, community, and my deep love for teaching and animals all beautifully intersect. It is the perfect setting for a ministry rooted in everyday life, allowing me to combine my passion for teaching and my love for God's creation with the neighborhood families.
My name is Lisa Hassinger and I am a 49-year-old woman, and since 2017, this house has been my home, my mission, and a sanctuary. Outside of my yard, gang violence has brought unspeakable death and destruction to this beautiful nation. But inside, by the grace of God, life happens uninterrupted.
In this space, we run a kids' discipleship program, known as “the club” by the children, modeled closely after the way Jesus made disciples. We intentionally keep our groups small—just 10 to 12 children. This intimate size creates a safe space for real discussion and deep lasting relationship building.
Each week, divided over 4 days,150 kids come to my house, the majority are boys, with about 30 girls. The kids range from as young as 6 all the way up to 20. They are met by five incredible Haitian teachers who serve alongside me; Yvons, Manno, Nerlande, Fabienne, and Lafleur. These five teachers are not just staff; they are shaping the next generation of Haiti. The children don’t just see a foreign missionary talking about Jesus; they see their own people—men and women from their own neighborhoods—living out a vibrant, unshakeable faith.
We start with games, most of which they don’t have the opportunity to play apart from here. Games like ; connect four, dominoes, magnetic chess, spoons, uno, etc… Although soccer is the countries favorite sport by far the kids enjoy playing basketball when they come as well.
For these children, many of whom have been coming to my yard every single week for years, this isn't just a youth group. It is a refuge. It is a safe place where they can simply be children, completely shielded from the dark realities of the streets just outside.
After the energy of the games, we gather for our Bible lesson. The kids are divided into four groups and they sit with the same teacher every week. This allows trust and lasting relationships to be built.
Our ministry is anchored heavily in two foundational truths. We believe deeply in the calling to train a child in the way they should go, knowing that the roots we plant today will hold them firm for a lifetime. But we also challenge them to not just sit and listen. We teach them to be doers of the word, not just hearers. We look at the chaos around us and talk about how to live out love, integrity, and faith right now, in the middle of a crisis.
Following Jesus's example, we use hands-on object lessons and everyday life experiences to teach. In a recent lesson, we used simple cups of dirt and seeds to teach a profound truth: it is often in the darkest, most difficult soil that God produces the greatest growth. We also practiced watering and caring for these seeds, demonstrating the power of consistent love and discipleship. Kids might forget a lecture, but they will always remember what they saw, what they touched, and what we did together.
This ministry is a deeply collaborative effort.This work would be impossible without the five faithful Haitian teachers who serve alongside me. Through our weekly lesson preparation and shared life experiences, I have seen them grow immensely in spiritual maturity. We truly do life in community—praying for one another and lifting each other up through incredibly difficult and dangerous times.
Even as severe gang violence has forced many to leave the region, these five leaders have stood firm and continued the ministry. The instability has displaced many families, making it a profound joy whenever a child unexpectedly returns to the club after a long absence. No matter what challenges we face outside my yard, our mission remains focused and clear: we close every single lesson by sharing the life-changing truth of the gospel, anchoring these children in a hope that no earthly circumstance can shake.
Living and serving here is a daily battle against heartbreak and logistical hurdles, that requires a daily reliance on God’s grace. But the victory is seeing where these kids are not. Every hour they spend laughing, learning, and praying in this yard is an hour they are kept off the streets. It is an hour they are protected from the recruitment and pull of local gangs. We are building a foundation of hope in a generation that desperately needs it, one faithful week at a time.
There are days marked by political unrest, gang violence, resource shortages, and heartbreaking stories of grief. As a woman in ministry, I often find myself playing many roles: a teacher, a counselor, a protective figure, and a spiritual mother to many.
Yet, the hardships pale in comparison to the joy of seeing a young person grasp their identity in Christ. My story in Haiti is not about what I have brought to this country. It is about what God is doing through the beautiful, resilient people who live here.
Through every Bible story told to a wide-eyed child and every prayer shared between a mentor and a youth, a new legacy is being written—one of unwavering faith and enduring hope. Through mentorship, we aren't just teaching theology; we are equipping future fathers, mothers, leaders, and community changemakers.
God Bless,
Lisa
Please feel free to share what God is doing in Haiti through this ministry. I would ask that for safety reasons, mine and the people I work with, please don’t share it on social media. My contact info is below, feel free to write anytime or if you would like to receive my letters.
hassingerlisa@icloud.com or hassingerlisa@gmail.com
