In 1984, Missionary James began Sponsoring a Child from Haiti, through Compassion International. Not long after that, Missionary James had a vivid Dream to go meet His Sponsor Child. Missionary James asked the Lord to confirm this vivid Dream, if truly the Dream was from Him. Telling no one of His dream, a few days later, Missionary James went to His usual Monday Night Youth Group, called NBYF-North Brunswick Youth Fellowship, in North Brunswick, NJ. The guest speakers that night were from YWAM-Youth With A Mission. Their timely message to our Youth Group was: "We are going to Haiti and we believe the Lord sent us here to Invite anyone interested to come with us". Missionary James was floored, yet pleasantly surprised, who swiftly & obediently volunteered for that Divine call.
And so it began. In late December of 1985, Missionary James took his very first Missions Trip by volunteering to participate/assist YWAM on their very first Short-Term Mission Trips to Haiti. Missionary James learned the Logistics of running Short-Term Trips under the tutelage of YWAM Leadership as they conducted several Mission Trips to the country of Haiti over the next 2-years.
ALMS was created 2-years later in 1987 by the direction of our Lord Jesus Christ, who envisioned Missionary James to conduct Short-Term Mission Trips to HAITI in the near future. Back then, Missionary James was attending ALCC-Abundant Life Christian Center in Edison, NJ for about a year. ALCC Church Members, Leaders, Pastor Scott Walsh and His wife Priscilla prayed about doing their very first Missions Trip to Haiti. ALMS decidedly presented a Haiti Slide show to the ALCC Congregation and shortly thereafter, ALMS/ALCC conducted their very first Missions Trip in 1989.
ALMS the name, was inspired by a sermon verse (John 10:10), preached to Missionary James, a convicted thief at the time, and later, by stumbling upon (Eph 4:28) which instructed Missionary James to stop his thieving ways and instead, to work with his hands to provide for those in need, and by the story of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-48), who was a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much ALMS to the people, and prayed to God always. The Lord Jesus Himself appeared unto Cornelius to commend Him for living a life of sincere dedication to God, one of Prayer and of giving ALMS to the Poor. God was watching Cornelius from above and kept Records of Cornelius' giving of ALMS. As a result, the Lord Jesus decided to mightily use Cornelius to move the Apostle Peter, to go and Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentile nations. And of course, Cornelius undoubtedly, gave much ALMS to the work and ministry of the Lord. Our hope, prayers and goals are that ALMS will always be a Ministry of Prayer, of Preaching the Gospel to the Lost and of giving ALMS to the Poor, that become a well pleasing Memorial and Aroma before the Throne of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, who become Poor, that we might become Rich in God and in godliness.
Therefore, let us be compelled to remember the sure words of our Lord Jesus, who said: "It is more blessed to give, than to receive" - (Acts 20:35). There are several other pertinent verses that have deeply inspired our Name and Ministry:
Pro 19:17 - He that gives Alms to the poor lends to the Lord, who will repay Him
Ecc 4:1 - I beheld the tears of such as were oppressed and they had no comforter
Isa 58:7 - Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?
Gal 2:10 - They requested that we should remember the poor; which I was very zealous to do
Eph 2:9 - Created in Christ Jesus for good works....God ordained that we should walk in them
ALMS since 1987, has conducted/participated in over 70-Trips to Haiti, rendering services Here and Abroad that provides the Leading, Training, Organizing, Networking, and Consulting, including an Educational INFO-PAK (Haiti-Island Of Hope), to assist interested Churches, Youth Groups and/or Organizations in conducting Safe, Successful and Productive Short-Term Mission Trips to this deeply impoverished nation of vividly stark contrasts, called: Haiti - Gods Island Of Hope!
ALMS has assisted in the Long-Term establishment and construction of Schools, Churches, Medical and Dental Facilities, Orphanages, Housing, Wells, Out-Houses and Child-Sponsorship Programs that provide Impoverished Children with: Love, Tuition, School Clothing, Books, Teaching Materials, Daily Hot Meal, Dry Feedings, Medical-Dental Care, Gifts, Care Packages, Bible Class and Instruction which in turn, provides Jobs for Teachers, Ministers, Cooks, Masons, Carpenters, Administrators, Drivers, Security Guards, Mechanics, Maintenance Engineers, Janitors and much, much more!
Finally, ALMS specialize in conducting and training those New Leaders from New Churches that periodically arise, who want to do their Church's First Missions Trip ever.
Past Projects & References
Throughout the years, ALMS has accomplished many of these Great Works by the Hand of the Lord and by Networking and Co-Laboring together, along-side of the various Ministries below:
YWAM - Missionary James volunteered and assisted YWAM on their first 2-years of Short-Term Trips to Haiti, starting back in 1985, 2-years before ALMS was birthed. Missionary James learned the Logistics of running Short-Term Trips under the tutelage of YWAM Leadership. YWAM since, has produced in Haiti a Gigantic Ministry holding weekly Services of Thousands inside a Football Stadium situated on the YWAM-HAITI BASE which conducts Bi-Annual DTS's (6-mth Discipleship Training School) and other Programs/Ministries for Haitians in the town of San Marc and abroad. This YWAM Base also has a local Prison Ministry, where Missionaries are always welcomed to share the Word. For More Info go to: www.ywamhaiti.org
ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN CENTER - ALMS was birthed at this church ALCC, where Missionary James attended regularly for several years. Missionary James led ALCC on its First Missions Trip ever! ALMS led Short-Term Trips every year for 5-years which trained up past Leaders, Joel and Wendy Goldstein. Joel has continued the on-going Haiti Ministry. For More Information regarding the work that Joel is doing in Haiti, please contact JOEL GOLDSTIEN at: [email protected]. Pastor Scott also frequents Haiti to Minister to fellow Haitian Pastors as well. Contact ALCC-Pastor Scott: (732) 355-0225 or go to: http://abundantlifechristian.com
MISSION E4 - ALMS provides HAITI INFO-PAKS to ME4, for Tri-Annual Trips to Haiti. Missionary James had the privilege of co-laboring as a Team Leader with Pastor Scott Long, the Founder of MissionE4 in Worcester, MA. Pastor Long was the Director of the NEW MISSIONS BASE in Haiti for 3-years. MISSION E4 also conducts Short-Term Trips to KOSOVA, ALBANIA and SOUTH ASIA. For More Info, go to: http://www.missione4.com
NEW MISSIONS - Missionary James is a New Missions Representative. ALMS has conducted several trips to this Mission Compound, using NM as our Short-Term Base of Operations back in the late 80's and early 90's. NM-Main Office is located in FL. The NM-Haiti Base is located in the town of Leogone. NM is beautifully situated on a sandy Coast-Line, surrounded by lush scenery and plains. NM does Mission Work in Haiti and Dominican Republic, a great place to stay. For More Info, go to: http://www.newmissions.org
NEW RIVER FELLOWSHIP - The Senior Pastor of this Church is the Contemporary Christian Artist, Michael W. Smith, near Nashville, TN. Pastors Smith & Raphael Giglio approved/hired ALMS to Lead NRF on their very 1st Missions Trip ever, to Haiti in 2004. Anna Smith (Michaels' Daughter) came along with ALMS for her very 1st Missions Trip ever! Our Base Of Operations was New Missions (see above). Pastor Raphael is now Pastor of Zarephath Community Church in Zarephath, NJ. For More Information about New River Fellowship, go to: www.NewRiverFellowship.com To contact Pastor Raphael Giglio, please go to: www.RaphaelMusic.com You may contact Pastor Raphael on FB as well: www.facebook.com/RAPHAEL.REIGH
PROVIDENCE GUEST HOUSE - Rick and Sandra Sowers ran this Missionary Guest House in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti for 10-years until they Retired. Rick & Sandra Sowers first became involved with Haiti, by going on a Short-Term Trip that Missionary James started conducting back in 1988 at the Abundant Life Christian Center where they went to church at the time. Since several Short-Term Trips, the Sowers retired, sold all that they had and started a Ministry in Haiti, the Providence Guest House. The PGH is situated just 1-mile from the Air-Port in the Capital town of Port-Au-Prince. PGH is thee place to stay! For Info, contact Rick Sowers at: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000288787795
