About Us
Founding Director Leon Dorleans began preaching in Cite Soleil, one of the poorest slums in Port-au-Prince, in 1989 on a narrow street under tarps with raw sewage running in a ditch directly alongside. Despite the destitute conditions, Pastor Leon’s congregation grew as people responded to his preaching of the Word and his steadfast belief that God was with them in the face of extreme hardship. Pastor Leon’s vision was to address the spiritual, educational, and healthcare needs of the residents of Cite Soleil. While HOM was born through an initial collaboration with a Virginia-based Christian church, it has since grown to partnerships with a wide array of faith communities, foundations, and individuals.
For nearly 30 years, Haiti Outreach Ministries has been sharing the message of God’s goodness with the people of Haiti through evangelism, education, and medical care. Now, HOM’s thriving ministry operates on four campuses, serving with our Haitian partner, Mission Communautaire de l’Église Chrétienne des Cités (MICECC). MICECC staff lead and manage all programs, providing essential local expertise and deep cultural understanding to best address the needs of our Haitian brothers and sisters. MICECC is composed of a dedicated group of Haitian pastors, community leaders, and teachers.
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“This country being a better country can help the world become a better place.“
—Loundla Ocean, Nurse and former HOM student
About HOM
Our Mission
To share God’s love and the Good News of Christ through service and partnerships that assist the people of Haiti.
Our Vision
To develop self-sustaining communities that help people become the individuals God intended them to be.
Our Beliefs
HOM represents a variety of Christian denominations, and we do not focus on any particular denominational doctrine. Rather, we call on the foundational principles in Scripture that unite us and provide our calling.
We are striving to love our neighbor through being the living, breathing embodiment of Christ in our daily lives and encouraging others to do the same.
Leadership
HOM functions under the guidance of a highly engaged and active Board of Directors, who bring functional expertise in many key areas. For the bulk of HOM’s existence, there were no paid employees, and Board members served largely as volunteer staff. With the growth of the ministry and increased organizational complexity, HOM hired its first Executive Director in 2018. A part-time Sponsorship Director manages HOM’s commitment to educational access for students in HOM-supported schools.
HOM exists to support its Haitian partner, Mission Communautaire de l’Église Chrétienne des Cités (MICECC). The programs supported by HOM are led by MICECC and the Haitian people.
Staff
Bio
Caroline Chambre Hammock became the Executive Director in January 2022. Prior to this she was the Associate Director, primarily working in the areas of communications, development, our community health initiative in Repatriote, special projects, and grant writing for HOM.
Caroline is a proven leader with domestic and international experience. She most recently served as the Executive Director of Healing Hands of Joy, an organization working to improve maternal health outcomes in Ethiopia. From 2010 to 2017, she worked for Urban Ministry Center leading innovative programs to reduce homelessness in the Charlotte region. Caroline has also worked for the Peace Corps and the World Food Programme.
Caroline holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from New York University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of North Carolina. Caroline and her family live in Charlotte. She is a member of St Peter Catholic Church and also attends Caldwell Presbyterian Church with her family.
Bobby Benson
Accountant
Pawley’s Island, SC
Bio
Dawn Walker has long been active in ministry work, including having served as an Essentials Ministries Director as well as a youth leader for middle and high school students. She began working as a volunteer for the HOM sponsorship program in 2013, assuming the role of Sponsorship Director in April of 2017 and then Financial Secretary in 2022.
Dawn’s first mission trip to Haiti was in the summer of 2016 with her daughter Lora (then 15) and her husband Eddie. She reflects that the most memorable part of that mission trip was the sharp contrast of the beautiful smiles, infectious laughter, and joy of the children at play amid their very difficult living conditions.
Board of Directors
Carol Vassey
Board Chair
Raleigh, NC
Bio
Carol visited Haiti for the first time in 2007, looking for a pathway to Christian service after the loss of her husband. Since that time, she has led and participated in multiple mission trips, including 19 to Haiti. Her passion for reaching out to others has inspired her to devote time to both community and global projects. She is an elder at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC and serves on their Haiti and Outreach Committees.
Recently retired, Carol enjoys reading and hiking and she has completed theAppalachian Trail. Carol’s professional career spanned 43 years in various managerial law firm roles. She has been blessed with 3 children, 3 stepchildren, 10 grandchildren and 5 great-granddaughters.
Bio
Carol Anne is an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC. A retired CPA, she served for 15 years as the Director of Outreach at First Presbyterian, where she oversaw the Friendship Fund which has helped Wake County residents in need for over 60 years.
Carol Anne’s first trip to Haiti was in 1998, and she has returned annually on HOM mission trips since 2010. Her husband and daughter have joined her on one trip to Haiti, and she hopes her son will accompany her on a trip at some point in the future.
Ben Mitcham, JD
Secretary
Gray, GA
Bio
Ben Mitcham first traveled to Haiti on a one-week mission trip to HOM in February 2011. That experience captured something within him which led to his return as a long-term volunteer with HOM later that same year. He remained in Haiti or a year, living on HOM’s Terre Noire campus and serving as volunteer coordinator for the ministry.
Ben is a proud graduate of Mercer University, B.A. 69, J.D. 74. After twenty years as an assistant district attorney and public defender, in recent years he has transitioned into a private law practice with his daughter in Gray, Georgia. He is married to Karen, an educator and bi-vocational Pastor of the Barnesville Presbyterian Church, and they have two adult children and two pre-teen grandsons. Ben is proud that all his adult family members have joined him in ministry on location in Haiti.
John Bruns
Floyds Knobs, IN
Bio
In March 2017, John traveled to Haiti for the first time with friends from another church and was immediately hooked. The next year he began leading trips from his home church, Georgetown Christian Church, Georgetown, Indiana. On their last trip in March 2020, they learned upon arrival back in the US that Haiti had documented their first two cases of COVID-19 and closed the border that day.
John is a 1976 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He earned an MS degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio (1984) and a Certificate of Christian Leadership from Louisville Bible College (2012). He is retired from the US Air Force Reserves and UPS.
John is married to Debbie, and they have five children and eight grandchildren. He is very involved in his church, leading the Galatians 6:10 ministry—a group that provides home repairs and builds handicap ramps for people in need. In addition to local projects, they recently traveled to western Kentucky to aid in tornado rebuilding.
Bio
Leon began as a student minister during his sophomore year of college and subsequently planted 14 churches in different areas of Haiti over a six-year period. He went on to work as a Bible teacher and leadership instructor, training others to lead and serve churches. He raised funds for several missions and along the way earned degrees in Sacred Literature, Theology, and Divinity. Leon was ordained into the ministry in 1975 at Red Quarry Christian Church in French-Lick, Indiana and graduated from Cincinnati Christian Seminary in 1987.
In 1989, Leon started Cité Soleil Christian Church. What began as preaching in the most impoverished and destitute area of Port-au-Prince became Haiti Outreach Ministries. Today – thanks to Leon’s passion and with his beloved wife Jacky by his side – HOM has grown to a thriving ministry serving over 40,000 Haitians annually through education, health care, clean water access, vocational training, and spiritual care.
Steve Engle
Morristown, NJ
Bio
Steve is a ruling elder at First Presbyterian Church of Moorestown New Jersey, currently serving as the chairman of the Missions Committee. Steve was first introduced to HOM when Pastor Leon Dorleans visited his church the year following the earthquake. Steve and his wife Pam were so touched they signed up on the spot to join the church’s mission team the following January. They have since been part of seven church mission trips to Haiti and are deeply committed to HOM. Since retiring from IBM’s Global Banking Industry team in January 2017, Steve has become very active as a volunteer in many Outreach/Mission programs at FPCM. Steve and Pam reside in Cinnaminson, NJ and have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Steve joined the board in 2018 and serves on the Communications Committee.
Rick Giles
Jacksonville Beach, FL
Bio
In 2000, Rick was ordained as an elder at Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach, Florida and served as the co-chair of the outreach ministry. In 2003, he led the first Palms team trip to Haiti where they assisted in the construction of the first phase of the primary school at Terre Noire. Numerous other Palms Presbyterian trips followed with continued assistance at Terre Noire, installing a clean water system in Cite Soleil and building school desks. After the 2010 earthquake, Rick assisted in the reconstruction efforts. He typically makes two trips a year to Haiti and helps stateside with architecture, engineering, and master planning.
Rick is co-owner of Giles McIvor Inc., a general contracting company headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, constructing commercial projects throughout the Southeast. He and his wife Sally have two grown daughters and two grandsons. In 2017 Rick and Sally bought a 92-year-old second home in Montreat, NC. After completing an extensive renovation, they have enjoyed getting to know the Montreat community.
Nikita Lindsay, MD
Charlotte, NC
Bio
In 2007, Dr. Nikita Lindsay first visited Haiti when she joined a team for a medical mission. She fell in love with the resiliency of the Haitian people and the smiles of the children she treated. She has returned each year and has led ten teams on successful medical missions. She has a passion for both international and local service especially to children and has been a student sponsor for 15 years.
Dr. Lindsay has been a pediatrician for twenty years and is currently in private practice in Fort Mill, SC. She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband and two teenaged children and attends the CN Jenkins Presbyterian Church. She loves photography and travel and recognizes that her faith in God is what affords her the opportunity to continue to help others.
David Rainey, MD
Winston-Salem, NC
Bio
Born in Lusaka, Zambia to missionary parents, David’s unique background helps explain his love of caring for others – and especially children. He received his MD degree from the Georgia Health Sciences University and completed his Pediatric Residency at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he was Chief Resident. Continuing education is very important to David; he holds a Master’s in Public Health in Maternal and Child Health (from UNC-CH) as part of a Preventive Medicine Fellowship. To prepare for his career focus on teens, he completed a Fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
In 1994, he returned to Winston-Salem and joined Robinhood Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, where he leads the Robinhood Adolescent Medicine Clinic. Clearly influenced by his parents, Dr. Rainey has traveled to Haiti semi-annually since 1997 on medical mission trips. “I cannot express how grateful I am to work with partners and staff who allow me to pursue this passion.”
David and his wife are parents to three daughters.
Wick Smith
Fayetteville, NC
Bio
Wick Smith joined the board in 2014 and held the office of Chair from 2019-2022. Wick is a member of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC where he leads their carpentry ministry. Wick was appointed to the HOM Board after making several trips to work with HOM through his own church and others. He first visited Haiti in September 2010 with the NC Baptist Men. He recently retired and lends his talents in the technology realm for both HOM and MICECC.
Wick is married to Jane McDuffie Smith, and they have one grown child and two beautiful grandchildren living in Virginia Beach, VA.
Maddie Wilkins
Dallas, TX
Bio
Maddie Wilkins first visited Haiti on a short-term mission trip in the spring of 2012. She fell in love with the vibrant culture, the welcoming community, and the HOM ministry and vision. After a second short-term trip the following year, Maddie decided to spend the summer of 2013 as a long-term volunteer. That summer, she worked alongside the visiting teams in the medical clinic, on various construction sites, and with Vacation Bible School at each of the HOM campuses. From 2014 to 2019, Maddie led annual mission trips to Haiti for her home church, Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. She loves sharing her passion for Haiti with others and is encouraged by the wonderful work of the Lord that continues happening in and around the HOM communities.
Maddie lives in Dallas with her husband, Jeremy, and their young daughter, Margo. Maddie serves as an ordained Elder at Highland Park Presbyterian Church and attends Peak Street Church, a church plant which Maddie and Jeremy helped launch within the Highland Park Presbyterian family of churches. A former elementary teacher and librarian of 10 years, Maddie currently teaches Pilates and volunteers at her daughter’s school. Maddie looks forward to future trips to Haiti and is honored to continue serving the ministry in various capacities.
MICECC / Haitian Leadership
Profaite Medeus
Administrator
Bio
Profaite has a life-long love of learning. He graduated college in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and then completed his Bachelor’s degree in Theology in 2001. In 2008, he earned his Master of Arts of Religion and Pastoral Leadership from Cincinnati Christian University in Ohio. In May 2013, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia University of Lynchburg, VA.
Profaite was ordained in 2003. He is the Senior Pastor of Cities Christian Church (Cité Soleil) where he and his wife, Francia are joyfully serving the Cité Soleil Christian community. He is the President of MICECC (Mission Communautaire de l’Eglise Chrétienne de Cités, English translation, Mission Outreach of Cities Christian Church). Profaite also serves as the Incountry Chief Financial Officer of MICECC/HOM and superintendent of MICECC vocational schools.
Jaqueline Dorleans
Superintendent of Schools
Bio
Jacky Dorleans (Leon’s wife and Nadege’s mom) serves as the superintendent of schools. Her work has deeply impacted hundreds of young Haitians who have been enrolled in HOM-supported schools in Haiti. The achievements of these students would not be possible without Jacky’s professional skills and faithful dedication.
Jacky was born in Cap-Haitian, a city on the Northern coast of Haiti. She completed all of her schooling, from kindergarten to university, at the very best schools that Haiti could offer. She fluently speaks French, Creole, and English.
Her educational background is diverse. She attended medical school for four years at University Henry Christophe in Cap-Haitian and then studied psychology at Faculte d’Ethnologie in Port-au-Prince. She furthered her education in school management at the University of Science of Education as well as studied advanced English at the Haitian-American Institute and computer science at the French Institute, all in Port-au-Prince. She was awarded a Certificate of Honor & Merit from the Leadership Training Institute for her many contributions as interpreter, translator, and student .
As school superintendent, Jacky is responsible for overseeing students at the three primary schools and at the secondary school. She supervises over 110 teachers, the secretary, nurse, and librarians.
When she was asked in 2008 what her hope was for the HOM schools in the next ten years, she answered, “I hope and pray that our schools will keep their reputations as the best schools in the community for their standards of excellence.” Through perseverance, discipline, hard work, and prayers, the HOM schools have indeed maintained their reputation and are regarded as amongst the best schools anywhere in Haiti. Jacky thanks God and HOM sponsors/supporters for all these accomplishments. She prays that we may continue to bring glory to our Lord by dedicating ourselves more fully and together educate more Haitian children who are the hope for a better future in Haiti.
Suzie Plaisir, MD
Medical Director
Advisory Board
Mike Baker | Moorestown, NJ
Bart Edwards | Mount Pleasant, SC
Steve Engle | HOM Board Liaison | Moorestown, NJ
Jeb Jeutter | Chair | Raleigh, NC
Tom Lawson | Winston-Salem, NC
Bill McLees | Macon, GA
Rick Raines | Mechanicsville, GA
Rick Wesley | Winston-Salem, NC
Haiti Action Committee
Nadege Gay Haney – Lynchburg, VA
Lydia Kerr – Denver, CO
Byambison Pierre – Durham, NC
Karlie Sudlow – Foster, KY
Jordan Wesley – Charlotte, NC
William White – Raleigh, NC
Maddie Wilkins – Dallas, TX
Our History
Haiti Outreach Ministries’ beginning can be traced back to a chance meeting between two students at Cincinnati Christian University in the mid-1980’s: Leon Dorleans from Haiti and Walker Gaulding from Virginia.
A God-incidence between these two young men led to a friendship, which in turn led to another God-incidence that began the ministry you see today.
The First Missions Trip
After college, both of these graduates went their separate ways. Walker returned to a church in Virginia, and Leon returned to Haiti where he started a church in Cité Soleil, the poorest community in the Western Hemisphere. The worshippers of this church were meeting in a narrow street under tarps, a street where raw sewage ran in a ditch directly alongside. Leon’s congregation numbered about 120 at this time. They had been able to secure some land, but had no means to erect a building on the property.
About the same time, Walker’s home church, Fairmount Christian Church in Mechanicsville, Virginia, contacted him to see if he had suggestions about potential mission trips. Walker immediately thought of Leon and had the church contact him.
In August of 1989, the very first team went to Cité Soleil. Twenty-one members from Fairmount, along with Walker, built a crude “pole-barn” type structure with a tin roof that became the church building. Walker was honored to preach to these people who were hungry for the Word.
During that week, the team from Fairmount witnessed firsthand the deplorable living conditions in Cité Soleil. The houses were mainly small tin and cardboard shacks with dirt floors and lacking inside plumbing and electricity. There were open sewers and over 85% unemployment. Access to medical care was virtually non-existent and most of the adults were illiterate with no money to educate their children. The lack of availability and affordability of food was a disturbing reality.
The team members shed tears over what they saw. It was so far beyond their comprehension that people could be living like that in this century, but they felt God was in this place. In the Haitian people, the team saw resiliency, as well as a love and trust in God. They were truly thankful for what they had. The team was deeply touched and quickly realized that there was so much more to do.
Leon shared with the team his perspective on the impact the lack of education in his country has had over many decades. He shared his dream of wanting to start a school along with the church. In discussing the possibility, the idea of a sponsorship program was born, and team member Pat Smith offered to find sponsors.
The Genesis of Haiti Outreach Ministries
On the plane ride home, there was much prayer and discussion about the overwhelming needs they had seen among the Haitian people. The Fairmount team knew they had to do more than just get sponsors – God was moving them to do much more. Once back in the United States and with more prayer, David Armistead, a member of that first team, approached Leon about forming a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation to help make any gifts to the Cité Soleil church tax deductible.
This was the organizational foundation of Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM) and the beginning of a great partnership. In 1990, HOM was incorporated with David Armistead as President. Pat Smith, Jo Ann Miles, and Pastor Leon were HOM’s founding Board Members.
David provided 16 years of volunteer service as HOM President through 2006 and is now President Emeritus. Bill Glass succeeded David as president and served through the challenging years after the earthquake until July 2013. Chris Northup assumed this role in mid-2013 until October 2019. Wick Smith currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. In 2018, in response to the growth of the ministry and increased organizational complexity, HOM hired Gary Fulton as its first Executive Director.
Present Day
Today, HOM serves to support the work of its Haitian partner, Mission Communautaire de l’Eglise Chretienne des Cites (MICECC). MICECC is led by Pastor Profaite Medeus with support from Pastor Leon and provides direct ministry to the people in their communities through spiritual formation, education, and health care. Together, with God’s grace, HOM and MICECC strive to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the Haitian people.
Since its humble beginnings in that Cité Soleil street, HOM and MICECC have grown to minister in four communities around Port-au-Prince: Cité Soleil, Terre Noire, Repatriote, and Baryè Fè. Although improvements in overall Haitian living have been minimal, we have been blessed to be the hands and feet of Christ for many in the Port-au-Prince area. We are immensely grateful for the countless volunteers over the years who have not only gone to Haiti but those here who have prayed, donated their time and money, and volunteered in so many ways.
Want to become part of the story?
Our mission is to share God’s love and the Good News of Christ through service and partnerships that assist the people of Haiti.
Haiti Outreach Ministries
PO Box 942
Matthews, NC 28106
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All Rights Reserved.