DNS RELIEF FELLOWSHIP
Distributing to the Necessity of Saints
Romans 12:13

HISTORY OF DNS RELIEF FELLOWSHIP


DNS was formed following a visit Alfred Adams made to Ouanaminthe, Haiti. His visit was motivated because, having just returned from a Missions Conference in the Bahamas where he met several Haitians, his uncle, John Adams, asked the now great question: “Do we have any assemblies in Haiti?”

Upon contacting the brethren in the Dominican Republic it was discovered that they too were interested in making contact with a brother who had moved back to Haiti to take the Gospel to his family in Ouanaminthe. There they discovered the city and surrounding area with a population of 70,000 people.

It is located adjacent to the north west border of the Dominican Republic. Much to everyone’s surprise, the brother had already established a small but growing assembly. The assembly folk there were living (existing) on just two meals a week. The only two doctors available in the city had just a few aspirin tablets. No other medication.

Because very few Haitians live past 50 years of age it was decided to build a medical clinic and staff it with a doctor and nurse. Through an article in MISSIONS Magazine and a NUDGINGS newsletter Christian friends were informed of the need in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and immediately expressed concern.   DNS was established so that donors could receive income tax recognition. In order for friends in the U.S. to receive the same recognition, an office in Marysville, Wash. was formed.  Later, DNS was able to expand their efforts to Cuba, Zambia, Russia, Honduras and other countries.  One 40′ container of food, medicines, vegetable seeds, clothes and other needed items was shipped from Ontario via Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Because the Haitian believers are not used to managing funds, (daily wage can be as little as $1.00), a committee of 14 [7 Haitian/7 Dominican] responsible men was formed in the Dominican Republic. They are responsible for the handling of funds and purchasing of supplies. Virtually everything is acquired in the Dominican Republic and transported across the border into Haiti.