Get to know Pastor Bazile (Part 1, 2 & 3)

Part One

Pastor Gumps Bazile is Head of Operations for Haiti Empowered in Haiti. He provides spiritual guidance for our villages in Léogâne, and leadership to our organization based on his vast knowledge of Haiti and her people.

We want to take the time to share some of his story so that you can better understand the heart of those who are working so hard to make a difference in this war-torn country.

Pastor Bazile was born the youngest of 6 children and raised by a single mother. He never knew his father, not because he died, but “because he simply abandoned my mother I was still in her womb.” He had three sisters and two brothers and life was difficult. You can only imagine the challenges of a single mother, raising 6 children alone, without the help of their father or any other support. The family lived in extreme poverty and his mother worked very hard to take care of the children. She worked at running a small business and placed an emphasis on education. While she didn’t have very many resources, she knew that having a solid education would be critical to changing their situation as they grew, and she put everything she could into making sure they went to school.

As he reflects upon his life as a young man, he remembers a time when the country felt secure and where people could move around without problems. The primary religion of the area was Voodoo, and while his mother didn’t raise the family around those activities, they also didn’t know Jesus. Looking back, he knows that they were poor but recalls that things didn’t cost a lot of money during that time either.

Pastor Bazile remembers a time when he was very sick as a young child. In Haiti, it is very expensive to go to the hospital and patients are expected to provide everything the medical team might need for their procedures. They must prove that they can pay for the treatment up front, or they do not receive care. Because of this, many Haitians do not seek medical care and ultimately die. Pastor Bazile’s mother scraped together all she could and took him to the doctor. It was determined that he would likely not be cured and that she would return the next day to take him home to die. Pastor Bazile remembers vividly a man at the foot of his bed telling him to get up and walk and to go home because he had bigger things for him. As he walked out of the hospital, physicians and other patients were shocked as only moments before he was about to die. Pastor Bazile did not know who that man was, but he knew that there was a purpose to his life.

Part Two

Last month we began an inspiring journey of Pastor Gumps Bazile, our Head of Operations in Haiti. His story is one of resilience, faith, and purpose. Despite numerous opportunities to leave Haiti – like so many talented individuals – Pastor Bazile chose to stay. He felt a deep, undeniable calling from God to make a lasting difference in the country where he was born.

At just six years old, Pastor Bazile entered school, driven by an extraordinary hunger for knowledge. His academic journey was marked by hard work and perseverance—he taught to earn money for his engineering degree and later pursued law. But it was during his years as a student that God’s calling on his life began to take shape.\

Raised in a home without Christian influence, Pastor Bazile was introduced to his faith through missionaries. At a church camp, he not only met his wife but also encountered Jesus in a life-changing way. This newfound relationship with Christ ignited a hunger for spiritual growth, leading him to study theology alongside his law courses. Though he earned a law degree, his heart found its true calling in ministry.

Pastor Bazile reflects on his life with humility: “It’s like David, who was despised by his father, but God raised him up. I thank God so much for picking me up from the trash to save me and use me for His glory. I am very grateful for all that God has done in my life and I want to serve God forever. All glory to God!”

Part Three

Last month, we shared the remarkable story of how Pastor Gumps Bazile, our Head of Operations in Haiti, was divinely called from a stable career as a school principal into the life-changing work of ministry. This story, one of unwavering faith, courage, and obedience, is more than just about a man’s journey—it's about the transformative power of God’s call in the life of an individual, and the ripple effect that faith can have on an entire community. 

At the time, Pastor Bazile had everything many people would consider essential for a comfortable life. He owned a car yet had never driven it. That all changed the day he felt the undeniable tug of God’s voice. The call was clear, “Go!” So, in a leap of faith, Pastor Bazile got behind the wheel of his car for the first time and drove to Leogane, a region many feared due to its association with Voodoo, snakes, and evil. Despite the uncertainty, despite the doubts of his family and friends who thought he was making a mistake, Pastor Bazile made the decision to follow God’s calling. 

What began as an act of obedience transformed into something extraordinary. In Leogane, he started a ministry with just a few children, planting the seeds of hope and faith where darkness once prevailed. It was there that he met Scott Long, an American missionary from Mission E4, and together they formed an unbreakable bond of friendship and partnership. This connection marked the birth of Haiti Empowered, an organization that would go on to change countless lives in Haiti. Twenty years later, Pastor Bazile remains a cornerstone of this powerful movement. 

Through his relentless dedication and God-driven vision, Pastor Bazile has made an undeniable impact in the community of Cassange and beyond. His leadership has brought couples together in faith, encouraging marriages and families to place God at the center of their lives—something rare and transformative in Haitian culture. The fruits of his labor are evident: Four churches have been planted in the region, with more than 700 people attending services every week. They offer marriage and family counseling, distribute food to those in need, and host regular weekly Bible studies and Sunday school classes. 

What began with a small preschool serving just a few dozen children has blossomed into a thriving network of 9 schools, reaching 14 villages, including a high school and a trade school. Pastor Bazile’s influence has not only shaped individual lives but has brought an entire region into the light of God’s grace. 

Incredibly, Pastor Bazile’s story is not just one of spiritual transformation—it is also one of divine protection. Since his arrival in Cassange, not a single snake has been seen in the area, an extraordinary phenomenon that many believe is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and protection over His work.  

As we reflect on Pastor Bazile’s journey, we are reminded of the power of obedience. His willingness to leave behind the comfort of his old life and answer God’s call has resulted in an entire community being transformed. His story challenges us all: What is God calling you to today? Will you answer with the same faith and courage that Pastor Bazile did? 

God is at work in our world in big and small ways, and just like Pastor Bazile, you might be the person He is calling to step into the unknown, to make a difference, and to shine His light in places that desperately need it. What is your "Go!" moment? Are you ready to answer?