Pastor Cebien Alexis † EBAC
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Cebien Alexis has dedicated his entire adult life to the ministry of the gospel in his native Haiti. He has been “on mission” for 46 years. His work is called EBAC: Evangelical Baptist Army of Christ. This ministry affects the lives of tens of thousands of people, Cebien is a man who is walking the walk and talking the talk. Cebien, raised a Catholic, came to the Lord as a boy through a Baptist missionary’s vacation Bible school. When he came home in great excitement to tell his family, his father kicked him out of the house. With help from relatives, he completed high school, and Bible school as well. His training there included practical skills as well, such as carpentry, block laying, and drafting, which Cebien has put to good use. He went on to obtain his theological degree from a Swiss seminary, then his MD in phytotherapy (plant-based medicine) from a university in Ivory Coast. |
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The History of EBAC
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In 1971, following graduation from Bible school, Cebien launched into evangelism, impelled by a God-given desire to reach his people with the gospel. The Lord encouraged him with a word: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you” (Genesis 12:2).
At age 27, Cebien used his last $12 to rent a run-down building in the town of Ile Adam and buy lumber for benches. He held his first evangelistic meetings and planted a church in that town with 11 newly saved people. Before the end of the year, 100 people were meeting regularly for worship. Cebien continued to hold evangelistic crusades and plant churches, but he soon realized that each of those churches needed its own pastor. To find such men and train them, he formed Baptist Church Army of Christ - EBAC. Though unaffiliated with an official Baptist denomination, he chose the name “Baptist Church” because he was saved through Baptist missionaries. |
Cebien supports himself and the work in large part through his medical clinic, where he sees patients nearly every morning beginning at 4 a.m. He calls his waiting room the preaching room, where he preaches the gospel to patients. He charges only a modest fee, but some wealthier people have given large donations in gratitude once they returned to health. Cebien lives in a simple apartment over the clinic, living very frugally and giving virtually all the money he earns to the work.
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While evangelism and church planting are Cebien’s passions, his work is often dictated by the serious needs that exist in Haiti. In 1977, he started the EBAC orphanage with the help of Kathy Gouker and Alice Wise, two young American women who came to Haiti willing to do whatever they could to help. They started a school at the orphanage; for the past 40 years, they have provided an education that has transformed the lives of hundreds of children. Some of the graduated orphans have gone on to launch ministries of their own.
Cebien sees education as a key need if Haitians are to take control of their own future. He has started 85 schools in conjunction with EBAC churches. Because of the severe hunger and need in many of these areas, Cebien aims to provide students with uniforms, books, materials, and daily lunches through the R.E.A.C.H. program.
In 2003, Cebien founded Faith Christian University, a long-time dream of his. He wanted to provide both pastors and young Christian men and women with skills to help the churches and communities grow and develop. The University, on spacious grounds not far from Cap Haitien, provides education and training in Bible and theology, agriculture, construction, nursing, environmental protection, and disaster risk assessment, among other subjects. Its campus consists of men’s and women’s dorms, classrooms, offices, and an auditorium. Cebien is in the process of building a much larger meeting space where conferences can be held.
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The Lord has continued to use Cebien in powerful ways to win his people to Christ and help them improve their lives. God has taken the little Cebien had and has multiplied it incredibly. He is known by most people in Haiti, including the powerful. At one time, he was asked to be Haiti’s ambassador to Germany but turned down the offer. “I was afraid to get into the political realm,” Cebien confessed. “Besides, why should I serve man when I can serve the King of kings?” The current president of Haiti, Jovenel Moise, knows and admires Cebien and his work. He has created an unpaid position for him – “Ambassador for Victims and Afflicted Citizens” (translated from the French). This title is really just an official acknowledgement of what Cebien has always been doing and will continue to do.
Every other weekend Cebien gets into his SUV and heads out to visit and encourage different churches. Travel is difficult in many parts of mountainous Haiti, where roads are mostly in a state of disrepair. He often does not eat, because the people he visits have no food. Or he may bring some to share, and end up giving it all away. The primary aim of EBAC’s ministry is to spread the gospel and plant churches. Because of the poverty in Haiti, the ministry also provides educational opportunities, encourages income-producing projects, helps increase agricultural output, and works to raise the level of prosperity for those in the community. |
Since 1971, Pastor Cebien has dedicated his time to transforming the lives of people in Haiti.began spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ ever since. Now, at age 74, he continues to preach, as well as treat over 120 patients per day in his medical clinic to help support the EBAC ministry. To carry on this tradition, Mike & Alexis Swittel, daughter of Pastor Cebien, formed Olive Cove in 2016. Working directly with Pastor Cebien, Olive Cove designs all projects & programs to support, assist, compliment and expand the EBAC ministry. We hope you'll join us in supporting this important ministry now, and in years to come! |
Preach
Since 1971 EBAC has been planting Christian churches throughout the Haitian landscape. Your support goes directly to assisting a local pastor, facilities management, and general sustenance.
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TeachNearly 85 schools in various forms of development have been cultivated over the past 40 years. Supporting a school provides food, clothes and critical education to those in need.
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Evangelize
Each year Pastor Cebien and a team of evangelists engage in four outreach events. The cost for these events, however, is tremendous. Your support allows the Gospel to affect citizens in remote areas of Haiti.
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