Marlane Codair – Secretary
Marlane Codair with a group of Pilgrim School children in Faugasse, Haiti
Marlane Codair lives her Christian belief even when it requires huge and courageous life change. As a fairly new Christian she became intrigued with the Haitian ministry team at the Pilgrim Church in Beverly. She began participating—collecting wedding dresses for the early mission trips.
In June 2001, Marlane made her first mission trip to Haiti. The main purpose of that trip was to interview perspective teachers and meet students for the first classes of the Pilgrim School which was to open in September 2001. As they met the students, the team was informed that some of them were orphans. Marlane wanted to visit the orphanage but was informed no orphanage existed in the area. The orphans were cared as much as could be by neighbors or relatives, most of whom had tremendous difficulty providing for their own children. Hunger was apparent by the extended bellies of the orphans she met. She caught the vision for the orphan ministry.
The 2001 mission trip was a turning point for the ministry. Driven by compassion, the team members began the paper work to formerly become a non-profit organization. Marlane has served on the Board of Directors of Doorway to Peace since then.
Marlane’s vision for an orphan ministry turned to practical application. Over the years she adopted four Haitian children, who have lived with her at her “Abba House.” Her full vision is for an Abba House on the ministry property in Haiti.
One morning during the 2003 mission trip with EMI Canada, Marlane looked at the plans posted on the wall. She noticed the orphan housing had been removed from the site plans. She said nothing but instead prayed that night that if this was truly the Lord’s vision, then He would bring the vision.
eMi Canada drawing of the Doorway to Peace future orphan housing in Faugasse, Haiti
The next morning Steve Ulrich of EMI asked her to look at the newest version of the site plans. He asked her if she noticed the orphan housing had been removed from the plans the day before. She informed him that she knew but prayed if it were truly His plans, to let it happen. Steve told Marlane that the idea hit him in the late night hours of how the housing could fit into the plans. Here is his drawing.
In 1998, even prior to attending Pilgrim Church and becoming involved with the Haitian ministry, Marlane had begun pursuing a degree in Urban Ministry at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary Boston. In 2008, Marlane graduated from Gordon Conwell with a Master’s in Urban Ministry. Soon after, she became the Immigration Advocate & B.I.A. Representative of the Compassion Immigration Ministry at the Northshore Assembly of God.