Vern Annis President:

Vern is a licensed minister with 11 years of pastoral experience, who oversees the spiritual aspects of Source of Life.

Charles Hegberg Secretary:

Chuck is educated as an environmental scientist, whose work with Source of Life includes creation care, environmental restoration, food security, sustainable clean drinking water, and perma-culture design.

Susan Luers Treasurer:

Sue, in conjunction with a local Christian CPA firm, oversees the finances of the ministry.

Linda Spafford Director:

For nearly 20 years Linda had been involved in missions’ programs and has traveled frequently to Europe and Africa in support of those projects.

Kathleen Annis Director:

Kathy is a certified travel consultant. She organizes and oversees group of US Christians, who travel to other countries to perform missionary service.

Jacques Merine Director:

Jacques and Marie are Haitian born US citizens, whose burden for their native country led to the formation of Source of Life Ministry. They have been actively involved in Haitian ministry since 1999, starting with the construction of a building, that is now home to a Christian congregation and a K-12 rural school. Most recently they oversaw the opening of a safe home for abandoned children, that is located just outside of Haiti’s capitol city.

Marie Merine Director: See above.

Joseph Luers Director:

Joe is a business owner, who has used his business to bless Christian mission endeavors both in the US and abroad.

Jean Leak Director:

Jean is an RN, who assists with nutritional and health issues

Dr. Donna Saunders Director:

Donna is a child psychologist, who specializes in the emotional development of disadvantaged children growing up in an urban environment.

Our Ministries:

At the present time, the school, located in a remote village in the southern part of the country, educates 120 children and provides them with a hot meal 3 days per week. (As additional funds become available, we hope to increase that to 5 days per week) We just completed the construction of 2 additional classrooms, to accommodate the student body. At the present time, we are providing salaries for 7 teachers and 360 hot meals per week for $1200.00 per month.

In February of 2009 we opened up a safe home for abandoned children in Haiti’s capitol city. The home provides 24/7 care for 10 children between the ages of 4 and 9. It costs $1700.00 per month to operate the home. This amount covers the salary of 4 employees (all Haitian), rent and utilities for the house, water (which must be delivered to the home via truck), clothing, and food for the children and staff.

We have just enrolled all 10 children in private schools (mandatory schooling begins at 3 years of age [2-pre-K] and there is no public education in Haiti). Tuition and the cost of transportation are projected to cost approx $54.00 per student / per month ($584.00/month total). Education expenses are in addition to the cost of operating the safe home.

2010 Budget: $42000.00 USD

Haiti Earthquake:

On January 12, 2010 a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Port au Prince, the Haitian capitol. There was widespread destruction of buildings and more than 200,000 residents of the city lost their lives. Nearly 2 million were left homeless. Our Safe Home was damaged by the quake and, though still standing, it is unsafe. Shortly after the quake, we were able to locate a smaller undamaged building to use as a temporary shelter. Two additional children, who have been unable to locate their parents since the quake, have joined the Safe Home family. At the present time 17 children and 7 adult are living in the temporary shelter.

Immediate Needs:

We are raising funds, to purchase a permanent site, suitable for 25-40 children plus staff housing. Few buildings are available in Port au Prince, so we are looking in more rural areas of the country. Our goal is to raise $200,000.00 for the project.
NOTE: Our administrative costs are 3%, which covers the cost of wire transfers and accountant fees. The only paid employees of Source of Life are the Haitians, who actually work at the school and safe home.