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Haitian Mardi Gras Festival Replaced with Three Days of Prayer and Fasting

By Jeremy Reynalds
Correspondent for ASSIST News Service

March 2010

There's talk that the Lord is moving in an unprecedented fashion in Haiti.

According to a news release from Reciprocal Ministries International (RMI), for the first time in Haitian history the country's president cancelled Mardi Gras and replaced the festival with three days of prayer and fasting.

A national Christian leader told RMI that from Feb. 12 through Feb. 14, more than a million people each day gathered across from the National Palace.

The leader said, "In unity and humility we cried out to God. One can truly assert that God has visited Haiti during these three days and has poured his shower of blessing and forgiveness over our nation.

According to RMI, more than 3,000 people gave their lives to Jesus during this time. This included 120 Voodoo priests.
The Christian leader told RMI, "We closed the three days with seven tours around the National Palace (like Jericho). It took us four hours to make it because of the density of the crowd."

Another national Christian leader told RMI that a "wind of revival" has swept the whole country. One church in Port-au-Prince reported over 2,000 conversions. The pastor said that there are so many he doesn't know what to do with them.

RMI said the president's cancellation of Mardi Gras was historic. The organization wrote that celebrations in Port-au-Prince are internationally attended, and have become the largest parties of the entire year. The festival is known for its loud partying interspersed with Voodoo ceremonies.

Preparations were well under way when the earthquake hit, with floats partially made. Band members of nationally known Haitians were killed, as well as many people who were working on the parade and parties.

RMI's source said that Christians had been urging the president for more than three years to set aside a national day of prayer. He continued, "(The President) always seemed to be willing to do it, but with only one hesitation; what would think the Voodooist group, the Catholic groups think? After the earthquake we contacted him again, and he finally agreed to officially proclaim three days of fasting and prayer in lieu ... of the Mardi Gras."

RMI said a number of resolutions came out of the three days of prayer. They included a recommendation that Jan. 12, the day the earthquake struck Haiti, be officially set aside as a National Day of Reflection and Thanksgiving in remembrance of those who died and the lives God spared.

Also recommended was that Feb. 14 be officially proclaimed as National Prayer and Fasting day every year.

Other recommendations were that the Bible should be adopted as the spiritual constitution of the new Haiti and should be taught in all Haitian schools, and that the president should finish all official speeches with the words, "God bless Haiti."

For more information about the three days of prayer go to www.allaboutgod.net/video/haiti-3-days-of-prayer 

RMI helps lay people to minister cross culturally. For more information about Reciprocal Ministries International go to www.rminet.org