Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity alumnus Jake Bryan is preparing to return to one of the poorest countries in the world, picking up on mission work he first began in 2014.

Bryan, a former Northwestern State University football player who is now a science teacher and strength & conditioning coach at JJ Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas, will travel to Haiti on June 2-8, 2018.

Bryan and his wife Taylor will join about a dozen other volunteers at the Haitian Baptist Convention’s (LA Reach Haiti) mission center, which is still under construction. In partnership with the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home/ Orphans Embrace, orphan support is being provided in the impoverished country.

Jake first became connected to the organization in 2014 while looking for an opportunity to serve.

Jake first visited Haiti on a mission trip in 2014.

“I wanted to kind of take a risk and trust God to guide me. I was in a good place spiritually and previously had to turn down an earlier opportunity to go to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. So I posted online, looking for mission opportunities.”

A church in his hometown of Pollock, Louisiana helped connect him to Orphans Embrace.

“My heart, mind, and perspective were forever changed. It was the experience of a lifetime and many lives were positively affected.”

Jake and Taylor Bryan are currently raising funds to support their mission trip expenses.

The devastation left by the 2010 earthquake is still felt by millions of Haitians, with an estimated 80 percent of its population living in poverty.

According to the Orphans Embrace website, “There are over 400,000 orphans in Haiti and 42% of children less than five years of age suffer from stunting of growth due to lack of food and proper nutrition. Only 45% of the population can read and many children will never attend school due to lack of resources. One out of five children will die before the age of five and the life expectancy of Haitians is just over 49 years.”

Still under construction, the LA Reach Haiti mission center will include a church plant and a children’s village, a housing community, a micro-business center and trade school, and a school for educating the children.

In addition to construction projects, the Bryans and their mission group will provide Vacation Bible Schools and Backyard Bible Clubs, host pastors’ conferences, lead evangelistic crusades, outreach projects and prayer walks, plant churches, work at medical clinics, and install safe drinking water systems.

Rendering of the Haitian Baptist Convention mission center, currently under construction.

The Bryans are currently fundraising $4,000 to cover the expenses associated with the mission trip.

“We are grateful for all gifts, donations, and especially your prayers. We are incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such a great group of Christian influences and we are so thankful for each and every one of you all!”

To learn more about this organization or to support Jake and Taylor, click here.