Introduction / History

Haitians are almost entirely descended from African slaves, who were brought to Haiti by European colonizers. Their job was to harvest sugar, coffee, and timber. Then, in the 1790s, former slaves Toussaint L'Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines rebelled against France. They won their independence from France in 1804.

However, since its independence, centuries of economic, political, and social difficulties have put Haitians in severe poverty. A century of paying reparations to France (amounting to $22 billion in today's money) prevented Haiti from developing its infrastructure and society. It is now the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of Haitians in poverty and 60% unemployed, and the number may continue to rise.

About 40% of Haitians live in the country, but due to lower prices in food imports, an increasing number are moving to urban areas. Many are even emigrating, sometimes illegally, to other countries like Canada, the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean nations such as the Bahamas. In the Bahamas, most Haitians live on the islands of New Providence, Grand Bahama, and Great Abaco.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Some Haitians in the Bahamas are in the service industry, construction and hotels. Others work on farms or as gardeners. There is both a language barrier and a stigma of being Haitian. Haitians are associated with illegal immigration, poverty, and a low education level.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Some Haitians practice voodoo. Others are Christians in name only who believe that tradition is the way to salvation. More than half of the population identifies itself as Roman Catholic, with 1/4 being Protestant. Older Protestant denominations like Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians were established in the 1800s, while Baptists, Mormons, and Seventh-day Adventists came from 1915-1934 when the U.S. occupied the country. Western culture has been an influence on the country, causing some Haitians to replace faith with secularism.

What Are Their Needs?

In the Bahamas, Haitians usually live in squatter camps with limited clean water, electricity, and garbage collection. They do not have the law enforcement they need.

Prayer Items

Pray for Haitians to get training that will lead them into higher-paying jobs.
Pray for a Holy Spirit-empowered revival that will purify their churches and thrust them out as a mission force to the spiritually lost.
Pray for Haitian disciples who will make more disciples and bring light to their dark circumstances.

Scripture Prayers for the Haitian in Bahamas.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Haiti
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-47799258
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/haitis-troubled-path-development https://www.britannica.com/place/Haiti/Government-and-society https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/29/food.internationalaidanddevelopment
https://minorityrights.org/communities/haitians/
https://journals.sfu.ca/cob/index.php/files/article/view/97