Statement of Faith: Josué Cesar
Co-Founder, IFOSuD
My family attended church regularly from the time I was a baby in Jeremie, my hometown in Haiti. Since my childhood I have a fire on me to serve God. Loving God is automatic in my life. I can’t stop praising his name. I don’t know the day that I have accepted Jesus, but I only find myself at God’s way and I am feeling so blessed to be there. All I really remember, in my childhood, was that I used to ask my mom to get my shoes and my clothes ready, one day before, so that I could go earlier in Sunday school. When she didn’t, I started to cry until she got me dressed up.
When I was 16, I made my decision officially to be baptized in order to start my ministry which was to lead service in my church, to preach, to evangelize non Christian people, to work with Christian youth association of my church, and to lead Sunday school.
3 years ago, there was an earthquake that hit my country; God saved me, I don’t know how, but yes he did. I conclude that God wants to use me for his work… Let it be in the name of Jesus.
I believe that:
- I have sinned and fallen short of God’s perfect righteousness
- This sin separates me from God
- The Bible teaches that the penalty for sin is eternal death
- The Good News is that Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, died in my place on the cross
- I can accept the free gift of salvation by admitting my sin to Him, submitting my life to His rule, and trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
All the glory be to God!
– Josué Cesar.
Statement of Faith: John Draxton
Co-Founder, IFOSuD
I grew up in Northwood, ND. My family attended a small country Lutheran church. My parents were very active in local Bible studies, and I attended many Bible camps and youth programs. At a very young age I received Christ at a Child Evangelism Conference. When I was fourteen I remember waking up one night from a reoccurring dream of accepting Christ and being overwhelmed by the Spirit of God. This was when I made the choice to always praise and worship God! I had a passion for God all through high school, debating with other classmates and standing up for my faith to teachers.
When I went off to college I had some bumps in my road trying to fit in to the culture, but never lost my faith, just wasn’t living only for God. My second year in college I was approached to go on a mission trip to Haiti. I jumped on that opportunity knowing I wasn’t strengthening my faith where I was. On my trip to Haiti I got the fire that I desired for my Lord and Savior. I also fell in love with my future wife on that trip! I was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church, but, after getting married, decided to get baptized as an adult as a statement of faith, proclaiming my personal relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
My faith has really strengthened over the last several years. As I was trying to seek God’s will for my life I went through losing my farm. It was so hard for me to leave a family farm of over 100 years of history, but when I was in the middle of shutting down I tried to praise God though it all, knowing that His will would be much better than my own. It was hard to understand at the time but I know now it was God’s only way to get me where I am today . I decided to drive to Williston, ND to look for work. I can’t describe how amazing following God’s will is. I no longer own the business I built in Williston, but it set me up for full time ministry.
After our family sold our business, home, and other property, we spent time in Haiti and have moved back to my hometown where we attend Northwood Community Bible Church. I also have been blessed to have the opportunity to co-found an organization in Haiti called IFOSuD (International Farmers Organization for a Sustainable Development) and serve as Executive Director for Friends of IFOSuD. Seeing an opportunity to use my ag and business background, Josue and I started a sustainable business in Haiti, a butcher shop named Farmer John’s.
I am so blessed to have had good parents and grandparents praying for me and leading very strong Christian lives as role models for me. I give all glory to God for the opportunities he has placed in my paths. I like to say “If you just make yourself available God will use you, you just need to hold on!” My Bible verse that I am trying to live by is 1 Corinthians 15:58; “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain!”
To God Be the Glory,
John Draxton