Haiti Project Helping Hand from Brooklyn Church of God (Holiness)
Before there was a congregation on Tilden Avenue in Brooklyn, there were more than twenty years of preaching in the mountains of Haiti. Rev. Enock Lors carried the gospel there long before he moved to New York in 1970, and the church he founded has never forgotten where its story began.
The Haiti Project Helping Hand is how that history continues today. Through it, Brooklyn Church of God (Holiness) supports children in Haiti with educational assistance, prayer, and compassionate service.
Why Haiti Matters to This Church
The founder's ministry in Haiti shaped everything that followed. Pastor Surbrook, who had known and worked with Rev. Lors there, was the one who encouraged him in 1985 to open a ministry in Brooklyn. Pastor Parker and Pastor Mark Surbrook both played a role in establishing a Haitian ministry in the city.
Forty years later, the congregation still looks south. Supporting children in Haiti keeps the church tied to the place where its founder first served.
What the Project Does
The work rests on three commitments.
Educational Assistance
The project helps children in Haiti continue their education. Schooling gives a child a foundation that lasts, and this assistance is the practical heart of the effort.
Prayer
Members pray for the children the project serves. For a congregation whose founder was known as a man of prayer, this is not an afterthought. It is part of the work itself.
Compassionate Service
Beyond school support, the project expresses the same care the church shows its neighbors in Brooklyn through its community outreach ministries, extended to children far from Tilden Avenue.
The Annual September Collection
Once a year, during the third week of September, the congregation takes up a special collection for the Haiti Project Helping Hand. That week falls close to the church's own anniversary: the building was purchased on September 6, 1986, and the fortieth anniversary was celebrated on September 6, 2026. Members who want to plan their gift can mark the third week of September on the church calendar. Other ways to support the church's work are described on our fundraising and giving page.
The project has its own leadership team:
- Rev. Jean-Pierre Lors, Director
- Sr. Marie Michel, Director Assistant
- Sr. M. Paul, Assistant
- Pasteur Alphonse Baptiste, Coordinator, Liaison, and Supervisor
The complete Helping Hand booklet is available in both English and French, so members and supporters can read about the project in the language they prefer. Learn more about the congregation behind the project on the Brooklyn Church of God (Holiness)
home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the annual collection for the Haiti Project?
The collection is held each year during the third week of September at Brooklyn Church of God (Holiness), 2315 Tilden Avenue.
Who does the project help?
It supports children in Haiti through educational assistance, prayer, and compassionate service.
Who leads the project?
Rev. Jean-Pierre Lors serves as Director, with Sr. Marie Michel as Director Assistant, Sr. M. Paul as Assistant, and Pasteur Alphonse Baptiste as Coordinator, Liaison, and Supervisor.
Is information about the project available in French?
Yes. The complete Helping Hand booklet is published in both English and French.
How did the church's connection to Haiti begin?
Founder Rev. Enock Lors preached in the mountains of Haiti for more than twenty years before moving to Brooklyn in 1970. He began the Brooklyn ministry in 1985, and the congregation bought its building on September 6, 1986.
How can I ask questions about the project or request a booklet?
Call Brooklyn Church of God (Holiness) at (929) 400-0067, or visit 2315 Tilden Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226. Ask for the Helping Hand booklet in English or French.