Carrefour Dufort

PROGRESS UPDATE

The church at Carrefour Dufort is facing unique reconstruction challenges. Decisions about how the rebuild will proceed there are pending. However, Compassion International has committed to rebuild the school on this site.

RECOMMENDATIONS/NOTES

All of the buildings on the property need to be demolished. There was major damage to all buildings and the standing buildings are very unstable and unsafe.

The church has already built a temporary structure for worshiping. At the time of the inspection there were neighborhood kids playing on the basketball court even though the buildings around them had been destroyed.

Building #4 is a badly damaged building that was not inspected and its use prior to the earthquake is unknown.

The two-story kindergarten building that appears to be standing was structurally damaged to the extent the assessment team did not enter for safety reasons.

INTERVIEW OF PASTOR JOSUE WAGNAC

Pastor Josue Wagnac

Pastor Josue has been at the church since 1961, even before its official beginning in 1962. The church was a church plant by Pastor Henry Ortlip. According to Pastor Josue,  his congregation averages about 350 people, of which seventy-five percent are under the age of 30. In 2009 there were 24 people who came to Christ. Since the earthquake there have been 25 new converts and they were anticipating baptizing ten people the following Saturday. The church has an active sports ministry, which includes basketball and soccer.

Two of the congregation died and three were injured as a result of the earthquake. Pastor Josue’s house was destroyed.

Pastor Josue’s vision for the future of the church includes rebuilding the church and school and continuing with sports and music ministries.