Gersan and Betty Valcin
Gersan grew up in Limbe, Haiti and accepted the Lord at 9 years old. His family moved to Canada but at a church conference in New York in 1986 Gersan met his wife Betty. Betty is also a Haitian native who was born again as a teenager. Gersan and Betty married in 1989 in Canada.
Gersan graduated from Bethel Bible Institute and worked as a youth pastor in Quebec City for two years. Valcin’s then moved to Texas where Gersan attended Dallas Theological Seminary and obtained his ThM in 1995. In 1997, Valcin’s and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Deborah, answered God’s call to return to minister in Haiti.
The beginning of their ministry focused on evangelism, church planting and discipleship. By the end of this season of their life in 2003, Gersan and Betty had planted 72 churches all over the country of Haiti. This same year, they sensed a new call from the Lord and Gersan accepted the position as senior pastor at The Evangelical Community Church of Haiti located in Port-au-Prince. From 1999 – 2010, Betty also served as the National AWANA coordinator for Haiti.
Valcin’s saw the opportunity to buy property in the village called Ti Guinee, which is in northern Haiti only 5 miles from Gersan’s boyhood home. In 2007, Valcin’s formally established their camping ministry called Jacob’s Well. Their goal has been to share the power and truth of the Gospel, see people become born again and discipled in their faith. This has included strategically ministering to children so that a new generation is raised up to become strong believing leaders in the midst of the strongest Voodoo area in Northern Haiti.
Valcin’s have also planted a church at Jacobs Well called Jacob’s Evangelical Vision church. In conjunction with U.S. partners and short term missions teams, Jacob’s Well has also provided medical ministry, sports ministry, sanitary latrines, clean water, and rebuilding of village homes to the area and people in Ti Guinee.
In 2012 -2013 God opened the door for an entirely new area of ministry which included the establishment of a Christian radio station CIEL FM 98.7 and a Christian television station,TELESYEL-LA – Channel 10 both broadcasting from Jacob’s Well! These media ministries have allowed the Gospel to be shared with approximately ½ million people within 5 cities.
Valcin’s U.S. ministry headquarters is in Austin, Texas.