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Giving News

Marc Orlan Jean Louis has help in his heart.

That’s what distinguished him from other applicants of Raleigh First Assembly of God’s $20,000-a-year missions scholarship. While many international students would jump at the chance to study in the U.S. for degrees and a job to enrich themselves, Southeastern sophomore Jean Louis wants to help people back home in Haiti as a doctor.

Jean Louis, who goes by the nickname “Marco,” is a 22-year-old with a deep love for God. He became a Christian in Haiti when he was 11 and lost his parents when he was 16. But Marco continued in the Lord, serving as a Sunday school teacher and praising God through dance and song. Although Marco’s dream was to serve as a doctor, he lacked an opportunity to study medicine. The few medical school slots in his country are typically doled out based on who you know, he said.

About two years ago in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Missions Committee of Raleigh First Assembly was looking for an international student from a developing nation to sponsor at a Christian university. Parishioners sought to diversify the distribution of the roughly $300,000 that the church gives annually to missions in the U.S. and abroad. Since Raleigh First Assembly’s senior pastor, Chad Harvey, sits on an advisory board at Southeastern, the church turned to the school to find a good candidate.

Southeastern graduate Michael Jeune, also of Haiti, grew up with Marco in Port-au-Prince and praised the Lord beside him as an older brother in Christ. While Jeune was a senior at Southeastern, he heard about the new Raleigh First Assembly scholarship. Jeune helped Marco, who was still back in Haiti, apply for the scholarship.

“Marco’s desire to become a doctor and return to Haiti, and his superb academic record led Raleigh First Assembly to award the first scholarship to him,” said Bob Stock, missions director for the church. The scholarship, which is renewable each year until the student graduates, covers tuition, housing, food, books and supplies, travel and other fees that full-time Southeastern students must pay. In exchange, the student must earn good grades and stay in close contact with the church.

When Marco started as a freshman at Southeastern last year, he struggled communicating in English. That’s when—because of regular communication between Marco, the university and the church—First Assembly arranged for Marco to be tutored in English. Marco, who grew up speaking Haitian Creole and French, happily reported that he ended his first year at Southeastern with all As and Bs.

Marco’s blessings continued over the summer. Since political turmoil in Haiti prevented Marco from safely returning home last summer, the church’s Missions Committee arranged for him to spend the summer in Raleigh. Dr. Mike Hagland, who is a parishioner at First Assembly, a brain surgeon at Duke University Hospital and one of Marco’s mentors, invited Marco to accompany him in his duties at Duke. Marco watched 40 surgeries at Duke Hospital in Durham and Rex Hospital in Raleigh. “It was very, very exciting for me,” said Marco, who rose at 5:30 every morning to observe and didn’t return to his apartment until 7:00 or 8:00 at night. Raleigh First Assembly covered Marco’s expenses this summer and provided him with lodging that was owned by a church member. Marco’s time in North Carolina also enabled parishioners to learn more about the student they were sponsoring. His positive attitude, eagerness to learn and humility ministered to church members. “The church fell in love with Marco,” Stock said.

Back at Southeastern for his second year, Marco says his faith is growing daily. Once he graduates, Marco has big plans for work in the Lord. They include attending medical school, establishing clinics and Christian medical schools in each province of Haiti, and providing opportunities for international students to study in Haiti. “Through me or someone else, I know God’s going to do something great in Haiti,” Marco said.

Stock recommends that other churches support scholarships at Christian universities. “Through foreign, Christian students such as Marco, a church can impact thousands of lives for the Lord once the students return to work in their home countries,” said Stock. “It’s a great, alternative way to fulfill the Great Commission.”