BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP?? Faith has been a constant for the Rev. Michel Louis, a tool that guided him through a childhood in the impoverished country of Haiti and a terrifying kidnapping ordeal in Egypt earlier this year.
"God is real. He exists," Louis, 62, said before he delivered a sermon at Trinity Pentecostal Church on Sunday during the congregation's weekly service at Burlington Township High School.
The visit from Louis?? a husband and father of four who serves as pastor for two Boston-area churches?? marked the first time he'd seen his New Jersey family members since his fateful trip in July. With his wife, Frederick, by his side, Louis reunited with his nephew Joel Valme, who is the pastor of Trinity Pentecostal Church, and his brother, Alexander Valme, both of Willingboro.
Louis, along with a fellow American tourist and their guide, was kidnapped from a bus July 13 in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula during the pastor's yearly visit to the Holy Land. The captives were released three days later to the relief of family members in Boston and Willingboro.
The kidnapper had taken the hostages as a way to force a relative's release from jail. The abduction highlighted the unrest that has shaken the country following the last year's ouster of President Hosni Mumbarek.
While squeezing his brother's shoulder, Alexander Valme recalled the panic the family felt before Louis was released.
"We just had to pray," he said.
Joel Valme was thrilled that his uncle was able to make the trip to South Jersey. "I'm so glad to see him," he said.
In his sermon, Louis urged the flock to prioritize faith above all.?
"We live in a world where everyone is always looking for new things. But we have to look for the kingdom of Christ first. After that, everything will come," said Louis, who moved to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s.
He expressed gratitude for all of those involved in his safe return, including family members, authorities in Egypt and the United States, and elected officials.
The congregation on Sunday was also celebrating the ninth anniversary of the church, which counts nearly 100 Haitians as members. Trinity Pentecostal Church is affiliated with Assemblies of God, a global network of Pentecostal communities with 62 million members.
The Trinity Pentecostal Church members began meeting at a member's home and later held regular services at Samuel M. Ridgway School in Edgewater Park and First Christian Assembly in the township. Joel Valme said the congregation is trying to raise money for a permanent home.
"As you can see, we are growing," he said.
"Unity" is how he describes the spirit of the church members, who meet regularly for Bible study and make an annual missionary trip to Haiti. Joel Valme recently returned from a trip to his native country, where he helped out at an orphanage and a warehouse that supplies food for schools.
The anniversary filled Louis with pride for his nephew.
"Nine years means good work by Pastor Joel," he said.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50449864/ns/local_news-delaware_valley_pa_nj/
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