Our Story

In November, 1977, Barry Benton took his first team to Ranquitte, Haiti to visit the home and ministry of Ducange and Ivy Salomon.

Those three souls would unite in one common purpose – to show the love of Christ among the poorest of the poor in Haiti,…..but how did this first short-term missionary excursion happen?  Who are these people, and how did they end up in the small community of Ranquitte in Northeast Haiti?

Let’s start with Ducange Salomon (1909-1990), a great grandson of Lysius Salomon (1815-1888) who was President of Haiti from 1879-1888.  The town of Ranquitte, Haiti was part of land inherited from his ancestors.  The town square was donated land from his family and his house was on the main street of Ranquitte across the street from the Catholic Church which is always a central founding architectural landmark in all Haitian communities.  Ducange had been Superintendent of Schools, a politician in the “Papa Doc” Duvalier regime, a musician, and a highly respected community leader who spoke several languages.

Ivy Salomon (1920-2017) was born in Jamaica, practiced Nursing in Jamaica, Haiti, and the U.S. and buried two Haitian husbands in Haiti – the first dying in prison as a political dissident, and the second, Ducange, dying of cancer in old age.

Barry Benton is an attorney, former Army Ranger, former CIA operative who currently lives in Calhoun, GA who along with a handful of fellow aviators began to look for Christian missionary opportunities throughout the Caribbean and South America in the 1970’s.

The American Missionary Haitian Christian broadcasting network 4VEH introduced Barry to Ducange and Ivy.  Barry said, “I knew immediately they were the team we wanted to partner with.”  Ducange invited Barry and his fellow “men in a plane for Jesus” to come to visit Ranquitte to see if they might develop a collaborative common ministry.

From 1977 to 1989, Barry Benton would fly 30 teams to Ranquitte.  On weekends he would tirelessly speak to Churches or any community group who wanted to hear how to join him in service to this developing ministry.

No one accidentally ends up in Ranquitte, Haiti.  Ducange belonged there because it was his ancestral home.  Barry and Ivy were invited, committed guests who by the power of the Holy Spirit of Christ were drawn to this small community to bless it with their gifts, their talents, and with the love of Christ. This was one of the hundreds of missionary outreaches that God facilitated in order to develop collaboration between the souls of the most materially blessed nation on earth with the souls of one of the most materially deprived nations on earth. 

Three unique gifted individuals, born in three different countries, united by their Lord Jesus Christ in Kingdom service to the poorest of the poor, …..giving the rich in material wealth the opportunity to recognize Haitian spiritual wealth, hope, courage, and faith without the external trappings of material abundance….and giving the materially poor Haitians the assurance that God hears their cries for daily bread and the core necessities of earthly survival.

Three cords, woven together, 50 years of partnership, and faithful Kingdom service.