Position: Pastor of Eglise Baptiste Bethanie, Fort Lauderdale, a Haitian Southern Baptist congregation of 550 members founded in 1981 by Bethany Baptist Church of Miami.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in biblical studies, Miami Christian College; master’s of arts in religion, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Personal: Born: Miami. Age: 55. Wife: Aida, an interviewing clerk for a state clinic. Children: Usland, 21; Anida, 17.
Q. What’s a distinctive feature of your religion?
A. There is a variety of Baptists, even in Haitian culture. Some worship like Pentecostals; they raise their hands and say “hallelujah.” Others don’t.
Q. If you couldn’t be a minister, what would you be?
A. An evangelist. And I still want to be one. I want to retire at 65. Then if I’m still alive, I’ll go back to Haiti and preach.
Q. What are ministers supposed to do?
A. First, preach the gospel. Then teach. And set an example to people.
Q. Favorite part of your work?
A. Worshipping God. I feel my whole body almost transformed with the presence of God. It gives me the ability to love people more.
Q. What’s the hardest part?
A. When members get on my nerves. If I want something red, others say yellow, and others say “Don’t give in.” (laughs)
Q. What do you do to relax?
A. That’s a good one. I don’t relax. I work six or seven days a week.
Q. Doesn’t it wear you down?
A. I never get tired. I minister, then go home and enjoy being with my family.
Q. Do you have a favorite pastime?
A. I exercise three or four days a week. I walk and jog, two miles at a time.
Q. Favorite vacation spot?
A. I always vacation in August. My wife likes to go to New York City every other year. Sometimes we go to Haiti, Orlando or Montreal.
Q. Do you have a hero?
A. Renaud Balzora, a retired pastor who lives in Margate. Whenever I have a concern or a problem, I go to him. And before I go, he always says, “Let me bless you,” and we pray together.
Q. What one thing would you change about yourself?
A. I’d organize myself better: my time, my Bible readings, personal appointments, my office.
Q. If you could live your life over, what would you do differently?
A. As a pastor, I would not put a lot of pressure on leaders surrounding me. I used to have too many restrictions, and they caused conflict.
Q. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned?
A. I’ve learned to know my wife. When I first got married, there were problems. But when I took time to know what kind of person she is, there were no problems.
Q. Have you ever doubted your faith?
A. Not my faith. But I knew a woman who died in an accident. She was a young lady with an active ministry and three children. The Lord should have protected her. I asked the Lord, “Why?”
Q. How was that doubt resolved?
A. I took Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the lord.” Some things he knows and we don’t know. So I just submitted to his will.
Q. Do you have a motto, or favorite scripture verse?
A. Phil. 4:4-8. Verse 5 is my key verse: “Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” Sometimes, I don’t have to teach or preach, just be an example.
Q. What would you like most to be remembered for?
A. Usually, I tell them not to say anything good about me. I haven’t done anything good. Whatever I’ve done, it’s been the Lord through me.
This is one in a continuing series profiling area religious leaders. Do you know someone we should profile? Tell Religion Editor James D. Davis at 954-356-4730, or via e-mail ().
