Training national leaders isn't just a major part of OMS International's focus.  It's also a major part of EBS's focus.  With the help of Wesley Biblical Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, Emmaus's dream to "grow it's own" professors and administrators with masters degrees is becoming a reality.

March 1st, these four Emmaus professors head to Wesley Biblical Seminary in

In February of 2008, Paul Vilmer (left), Lucner Pierre (center) and Brightner Chavennes (right) began their three year Master's program with Wesley Biblical Seminary (WBS). 

This is an online program, only asking that these men attend classes on Wesley's Mississippi campus for 2 weeks a year.

These men continue to teach and translate at Emmaus every morning, and then work on their Master's work every afternoon and evening.

These young men have been chosen by the Seminary Committee and the Wesley biblical Seminary as candidates to receive assistance with the completion of their Masters Degrees.  They have been chosen based on their academic achievement, integrity, character, commitment and faith.

Emmaus is seeking to train up its own professors and administrators.  

 "In a land where there is more known about voodoo than about Christ, it is important for students to understand that 'THIS is what the Bible says.'  they need to be able to tell Haiti the truth about the gospel," says Director Dr. Bill Cooper.  "There are not well-educated Christian professors we can hire in Haiti.  We must raise up our own!"

Meet our

Wesley Scholars!

Brightner Chavannes was born into a Christian family as one of four children.  "When I was little," Brightner says, "church was my food."  He was always in Sunday School, choir, Vacation Bible School, Bible studies and other activities.  Brightner loved to talk and dream about being a preacher.

"But when I was a teenager, I began failing in my devotions and turning away from the Lord," Brightner shares.

In 1994 he decided to give everything to the Lord, who turned his life around.  Brightner became baptized and became a young leader in the church. 

After studying theology at the Christian University of Northern Limbe, Brightner came to Emmaus Biblical Seminary, where he teaches and translates. 

Lucner Pierre was also raised in a Christian home, where he accepted Christ as a young boy.  "The hands of the Lord were upon me," Lucner says, "and I had success in school and with friendships."

It was later during high school that Lucner began listening to the voice of his friends and he began to question God.  Lucner fell away from the church and thought about becoming a rich doctor. 

"But," Lucner says, "God had other plans for me.  After witnessing the Haitian situation of voodoo and other terrible things, I chose to turn back and obey the call of God on my life."

God gave Lucner the opportunity to study at Emmaus Biblical Seminary, where he graduated in 2007.  Lucner is now the Dean of Men at EBS, a translator and professor.

Paul Vilmer is the fourth child of ten in his family.  He grew up in a Catholic home, and got into a lot of bad practices while he was growing up.

"One day," Paul says, "I came to raelize that God had a plan for me.  I went to a Christian open-air service and heard the gospel and was eager to understand the Word of God."

Paul accepted the Lord and began to study Scripture. 

"I wanted others to hear what I was hearing," Paul says.  "I had been chosen by God.  He had chosen me to praise Him in Haiti."

Paul began studying at EBS in 2003 where he felt God call him into the ministry. 

Paul is currently the pastor of a church in Cap-Haitien, and a translator and professor at Emmaus.