Raleigh's Hope Community Church partners with Haitian church facing gang violence

Eglise Agape has been a partner with Hope for more than a decade.

"They've had their challenges but the most recent challenge really started developing two years ago," Dawn Stride, Global and Domestic Mission Director, Hope Community Church said.

That's when Haiti's president was assassinated, and gang violence took over.

Two years ago, Hope provided Agape's pastor with an armored vehicle for his own safety.

"Just a few months later, after he received this vehicle, they were attacked in their home, and it was direct gunshots to the vehicle that without this vehicle, they would not be here," Dawn Stride said.

WRAL News spoke with pastor Jean Alix to hear what it's like living there today.

"Things that are happening now are things that I haven't seen in my whole life. and I've seen a lot in Haiti," Jean Alix Pastor Eglise Agape said.

He spoke with us from where he's staying in Haiti.

Undisclosed for his own safety.

"Even right now, where I am, I'm not safe because we don't have a police force who can do anything," Alix said.

He tells us that gangs have released all criminals from prison.

They've taken over the airport, so nobody can leave.

No medical help and no police.

"You're all on your own. so whatever happens to you, it's you. you cannot say hey, I will call, and they will come help me; that will not happen, that will not happen," Alix said.

Back in Raleigh, Hope Community Church is praying better days will come for their partner-turned-family.

"They're people. That's why we need to care," Stride said.