Mission - Faith Missions International exists to make an eternal difference in the lives of orphaned children in Haiti, by providing a safe place where their physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs are met through our staff, partners, and volunteers.
Vision
- Faith Missions International’s vision is to see an entire generation of orphaned Haitian children be empowered to secure a future of viability for themselves and their country.
Faith Missions International (FMI) is a Christian ministry established in Omaha, Neb., in 1998. Recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, FMI began primarily focusing on the nation of Haiti, both in reaching people with the Gospel message and in meeting the needs of the poor. The ministry developed close relationships with Haitian nationals by leading short-term missions teams to the country in those first years.
In 2001 FMI expanded its missions outreach teams to include the countries of Trinidad, Taiwan, Sweden and Russia.
In 2002 FMI recognized a need in the Omaha metro area for a Christian newspaper and began publishing “The Heartland Gatekeeper.” Now in its eighth year of publication, the Gatekeeper is provided free of charge. More than 10,000 copies of the paper were distributed monthly through nearly 300 churches, schools and businesses across the community. In 2011, the Gatekeeper moved to an online-only publication: www,heartlandgatekeeper.org
In June 2004 FMI purchased land in the northern city of Gonaives, Haiti, to build a permanent home for orphans in that city. By September construction was underway. On Sept. 18, a devastating flood hit the city and all construction to that point was destroyed.
By November 2005, the home was finally complete, and within a few short months, 25 orphaned children finally had a home.
Late in 2007 a second story was added to the home and 20 more children joined the FMI “Gift of God Orphanage.”
On Sept. 1, 2008, another hurricane ravaged the city of Gonaives. Flood waters 11 feet deep trapped the children in the orphanage, leaving them stranded for 16 days with very little food or water.
FMI board of directors and the orphanage leaders determined it was no longer safe to rebuild on the old site in Gonaives, as any future hurricanes or heavy rains will no doubt flood the region again. The children were evacuated and moved to the capitol city of Port au Prince, where temporary housing was secured for them.
After just a little more than a year in temporary quarters, the children and staff in the orphanage suffered another catastrophe with the earthquake in Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. Thankfully none of the children or staff were injured, but for the next 8 months, they lived in the sweltering heat of military tents.
With the help of short-term teams from the U.S. in the summer of 2010, construction began on a new home for the children. Within 3 months from the time ground was broken at our new site, a new, safe facility was constructed. The children moved into their new home on September 3, 2010.
The need in Haiti is extreme. FMI is committed to prayerfully and purposefully meeting the needs of the Haitian children who call the “Gift of God Orphanage” home.