Joseph Delva – Vice President
Joeseph Delva with the 109 Year old man in Faugasse, Haiti
Joseph Delva is one of those people who God has moulded to do His work. He was born and raised in Les Cayes, Haiti. Although he attended Christian school as a boy he wanted nothing to do with being a Christian. “Why should I be a slave to some dead man,” he told his mother when a very devote uncle called close to his own death and requested to see Joseph to pass on something that God had told him to tell the boy. Joseph ran to avoid the meeting. Yet a few years later he found himself living in a different country, the United States, and a Christian. At that time he had absolutely no intention of going back to Haiti.
The Lord did have a plan and began to speak to Joseph’s heart. Slowly he would take more and more seriously the dreams that he must return and do the Lord’s work for the people of Haiti but he was not sure how. Still in obedience to the call he obtained a degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Hamilton, MA. He spoke repeatedly at Pilgrim Church in Beverly, MA and gave presentations many other places raising awareness of the situation in Haiti and establishing funding.
Joseph with the unwavering help of his friend and fellow Haitian immigrant Gama Belizaire discussed the situation for many, many hours and together they formed a plan of action for a ministry that has evolved over the years into Doorway to Peace. Years before Joseph had met Gama and had evangelized, discipled and then mentored so that Gama was prepared to enter the seminary. Over the years other’s have been drawn to the ministry and have made very significant contributions. Each of the current Doorway to Peace board members has a story that includes obedience and response to God’s call.
While both Joseph and Gama live and work in the United States they make regular trips including Doorway to Peace mission trips to Haiti where have spread the gospel to many individuals. They have motivated and funded the projects and plans of Doorway to Peace based upon what they have seen and experienced on their trips as being of greatest benefit to the people while maintaining the ultimate purpose of their God. They have an ever growing team of Haitian citizens who are gainfully employed in Haiti through the projects of Doorway to Peace bettering the lives of many other Haitians and establishing a groundwork of Christian belief and morality in a country where it is very dangerous and difficult to live. With great faith they have taken on a great challenge.