Update from Phyllis Schmid

35 seconds is all it took on January 12 to change the face of Port-au-Prince and our STEP campus for years to come.  Our campus became a place of refuge providing safety and shelter for almost 5000 people in our area. They knew it would be temporary and God provided through many different sources for their needs.

The seminary (STEP) lost the original Bible school building built in the 1940’s. It partially collapsed trapping several students and causing the death of one student. There is a scholarship set up in the name of the student who perished and the first recipient of that scholarship this fall is his brother.

Others students were injured but not seriously. It took 5 hours to find Romel buried in the rubble. He escaped with scrapes and bruises and has returned to classes this fall. 

By mid April the campus “tarp city” was emptied as people began to repair homes and find other places to live. Work began to prepare for classes to resume in the fall.

The Seminary opened September 6 with 45 new students registered. The enrollment (120) is down because of the economy after the earthquake. Many students lost family members, homes and/or jobs as a result of the quake. We praise God for those who are able to return.

Thanks to many different individuals, a temporary wooden structure holding 3 classrooms and a house remodeled as an administrative center were completed before the start of classes. David has “shifted gears” from helping get the buildings done to preparing to teach again. He is teaching two classes of Hermeneutics and one class of Daniel/ Revelation this semester.

Please pray for the administrative council of STEP as they look to the future. We trust in God’s sovereignty in all that has transpired and know He will lead and give wisdom and direction in the planning process. We praise God for the leaders He has placed in the STEP administrative council.