June 20, 2025 • 29 mins
"What happens when God marks you for ministry before you can even walk? Meet Bastia, whose extraordinary spiritual journey begins with a divine appointment when a stranger arrives at his parents' home in Haiti with a message: "God wants that little boy."
Though born into a family steeped in voodoo practices, this moment sparked a transformation that would eventually lead his entire family to faith.
Bastia's testimony weaves through Haiti's complex spiritual landscape, where voodoo remains deeply entrenched even among churchgoers. "Almost all of the Catholic are involved in voodoo," he explains, describing it as "a religion where people worship the devil and do any kind of bad things." This spiritual stronghold, which many Haitians credit for their independence, stands in stark contrast to Psalm 33:12: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."
Though active in church music ministry from a young age, Bastia admits he was more performer than worshipper until a profound moment of conviction. While leading an a cappella group he'd formed, he heard a voice warn: "Bastia, you may send so many people to heaven and you, you won't go." That divine intervention led to his genuine surrender to Christ and complete transformation.
The cultural contrast between Haiti and America forms another fascinating thread in Bastia's story. His move to Wisconsin after marrying an American missionary left him speechless with culture shock. From seeing police dogs to experiencing his first buffet ("I almost killed myself!"), his humor and insight bring to life the jarring transition from a place without electricity or running water to American abundance. Yet rather than growing comfortable, this exposure to plenty only strengthened his resolve to return to Haiti after Bible college, bringing hope to communities still struggling with extreme poverty and now, increasing gang violence.
Listen as Bastia shares how God's call on his life has come full circle, from that first prayer over an infant to his current ministry in Haiti's central plateau. His journey reminds us that God's plans transcend circumstances, cultures, and even our own understanding of our purpose.
The School of Grace at Calvary Chapel Caneille: https://www.caneille.org/
Interested in more information about the mission at CC Caneille? Please contact Calvary Chapel Waupaca at https://calvarychapelwaupaca.org/
Does any of today's podcast resonate with you? Let us know here:
https://playsonword.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/podcast-reviews
To Support Plays On Word Radio and Plays On Word Theater, please visit
Plays On Word website
Plays On Word YouTube
Plays On Word Facebook
Plays On Word Instagram
Email us: team@playsonword.org
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lord you know.
Hey guys, you are now listeningto.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Play For.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
Word Radio.
It's the best.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
After a week I started just to ask questions
about everything.
Yeah, you know, I saw peoplewalking with dogs on the street.
I mean, I saw dogs being like apolice.
Yeah, we used our dogs just toget our security in Haiti.
But I did not, you know, to see, to see.
(00:30):
On the dog they say, please, Icouldn't, I couldn't understand.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
That's a culture shock.
You're the only name.
You're the only name.
You're the only name.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Hello and welcome to Plays on Word Radio, where we
discuss, analyze, work and playon the Word of God.
Thank you for joining us onthis excursion.
Today let's join Pastor Teddy,also known as Fred David Kenny
Jr, the founder of Plays on WordTheater, as he does a deep dive
into the Word of God All right.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Okay, so we are here with.
Let me make sure I say yourname, right, bastia, right?
Yes, I don't know your lastname, I just know you as Bastia.
You're like, let me see, you'relike those like you think of
different celebrities andwhatnot.
You think of Prince, you thinkof Cher, or you know people that
have just one name that's how Ithink of you but you think of
(01:45):
share.
Or you know people that havejust one name that's how I think
of you but you have a last name, though oh, actually, bastia is
my last name.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Oh okay, people call me bastia.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
So bastia, okay, wow, they call you by your last name
.
I love it.
People call me by my last nametoo.
They call they also call me bymy first name and my middle name
, so it can be confusing.
But welcome to Plays on WordRadio.
You have not seen one of ourplays yet, but hopefully we will
come visit you in Haiti and doa play for you.
(02:17):
We are trying to also go seeBrian.
You remember our dear brother,brother Brian.
We had a chance to meet up withhim at the pastor's conference.
So, yeah, you know it's goingto be mad cool when we come down
and visit you.
Where in Haiti are you located,actually?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I'm so looking forward for that.
The situation is very criticalright now, and I'm sure you are
aware of that, but you know,let's wait.
I can't wait to see thingsbeing settled in Haiti, yes, and
so I can have you come andenjoy.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, brian told us that it was a very difficult
situation there and he's inPort-au-Prince.
Yes, very difficult situationthere.
And he's in Port-au-Prince andhe said 90% or 95% of the city
has been taken by gangs and it'sone of the only safe places is
right around where they meet forchurch.
So yeah, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Port-au-prince is almost taken by the gangs.
That's the truth.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
He's right.
Wow.
Now where are you in relationto that?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Let me first say thank you, fred, for getting me
on Place Radio.
So this is my first time beingon your show or on your radio
and I'm so thankful just to beable to meet you and be able
just to share about you knowwhat God is really doing.
So my name is Igna Bastia andpeople call me Bastia, and just
(04:01):
because in my town in Haiti Iused to help so many churches
and people just called me byBastia, so this is how I'm
called, by my name.
Okay, yes, actually we arelocated in the central plateau
in Haiti, in the higher plateau.
The central plateau is dividedin two lower plateau and higher
(04:22):
plateau.
So on the lower plateau thereare 12 communes and so has on
the higher plateau, there arealso 12 communes.
But we live in the higherplateau.
But we are in a very remote areaand I'm about 35, 45 minutes
drive on a walk forward and in aplace called Kanee, where there
(04:45):
is no electricity.
There was no water there.
Actually, praise God, we havewater on the compound just to
help, you know, the kids youknow and the people working for
the ministry, but other thanthat, it is a place there is no
pizza, no Walmart and there isno job.
Nothing, nothing.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Nothing, wow, nothing , nothing, wow, yeah, yeah,
brian was telling us is like theunemployment rate is
unbelievably high as far as justno jobs, no jobs anywhere.
So all right.
So there's, there's a questionthat I ask a lot of people.
I actually ask everybody howdoes Bastia meet?
(05:23):
How do you?
How does he meet Jesus?
How does he come to faith inthe Lord Jesus Christ?
How did you come to know him?
Thank you for asking.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
And actually in Haiti and many people still today are
going to church and they arenot saved and they just love
having the relationship.
Going to church, you know, andbeing caught by entertainment,
and they see people being onfire, you know, whenever there's
(05:56):
a crusade, things like that butreally they have not made a
commitment to Jesus Christ toreceive Jesus in their life.
So I grew up in a family whowas first of all involved in
voodoo my mom and my dad.
They were involved in voodooand when I was born and they
(06:17):
were still involved in voodooand God sent a special man just
to pray for me, because God said, in this family, I want that
little boy which is me talking.
And so when that guy came intomy parents' house and he
(06:40):
explained to them that how Godtalked to him in a dream, just
to come and pray for me, andthey said, no problem, we can
put this little bird, you know,outside for you.
I did not walk yet and heprayed for me.
So he did ask the family ifthey would receive the Lord like
my mom and my dad, and theywere so caught up on voodoo and
(07:02):
they said no.
So caught up on voodoo, andthey said no and I don't think
they even thought about.
You know how serious that waswhen God asked to pray for me,
when God says that he wanted me.
So since after that, you know,this guy came back to my parent
house very often to pray for meand after that my dad accepted
(07:24):
the Lord and after my dad, mymom accepted the Lord, so the
whole family became Christian.
So, yes, they prayed for me.
I was very little and my fatherbecame LA pastor and I was
involved in the church andplaying music etc.
(07:45):
But really I really did notreceive Jesus in my life,
because this is really notsomething people really share
with you.
That is a personal thing.
That's something you reallyneed to do between you and Jesus
Christ.
So I became very famous in thetown that I moved to, which is
(08:08):
Hinch to.
I meant to go to school, andwhat happened when I got there?
I got involved with I mean, Ihelped in many churches playing
music, but I had a home church.
So what happened?
I created a capillary group tosing for Jesus, getting about 18
(08:32):
guys singing, and I wrote asong too at that time, and so
one day I wrote a worship song,which is something that I have
not experienced yet.
What is worship?
So the music that I wrote weremore kind of entertainment.
(08:54):
Yes, we mentioned the name ofJesus, yes, we talk about his
baptism, etc.
But really it was not somethingthat would draw someone to, I
mean as a worship song.
It was not something that woulddraw someone to I mean as a
worship song.
It was not like that.
So and one day I wrote a songwhich was a worship song, and I
stood with all of the guys infront of everybody, thinking
(09:18):
that I was somebody at that time, just a young man, having 18
guys behind me, and we startedto sing that worship song and
the harmony was so beautiful andI saw people down there raising
their hands to worship the Lordand a voice came to me.
A voice came to me saying Bacia, while I was singing, that
(09:46):
voice came to me and said that,basia, you may send so many
people to heaven and you, youwon't go.
Wow, and I felt.
I felt like it was likesomething heavy on my shoulder
and I just put down.
And that day, without knowinghow I should ask, I mean, we see
(10:09):
, jesus Christ.
I found out later.
This is what happened to methat day I said, lord, I give
you my life.
You know, I just want to be ason for you.
I want to do whatever you wantme to do, not what I want to do.
But later on, when I got toApatain, calvary Chapel Apatain,
you know, under a good Bibleteacher man at that time and he
(10:35):
was really explaining, you know,how someone would accept Jesus
it's something personal andwoman 10-9 or 9-10, one of them
I said you need to confess, youneed to do that.
And I figured out that was thetime that I received Jesus in my
life and, honestly, since thenmy whole life changed completely
(10:57):
and I am a no-man until today.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Amen, wow, that's an amazing story.
Help me and the audience, helpus understand.
When you say voodoo, many ofthe listeners might have a
preconceived idea of what itmeans, but can you just what
does that encompass whensomebody's caught up in voodoo?
(11:24):
I've heard about there being alot of it in Haiti, but could
you give me just a description?
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yes, when we talk about voodoo, it's a religion.
Let's put it this way.
It's a religion where people,they worship the devil and they
do any kind of bad things.
So like they would call on badspirit and they would use some
(11:53):
powder, a magical powder andthat can kill people and they
would use the bad spirit.
The same way, when you are aChristian, you can intercede for
someone.
You can ask the Holy Spirit togo and do something positive in
someone's life For them.
In the voodoo, they can reallydo some type of ceremony and ask
(12:16):
the bad spirit to go to someoneto harm them or do something
bad.
So, really, voodoo that is whatit is.
It's a religion that is thereto do one thing to people, and
so it's really something that,like, haiti believed that when
(12:38):
they got the independence it wasthrough a pig, so they did a
ceremony and that's how Haitigot free.
But really, all that is goingon to Haiti right now, today,
and we are not in it yet.
So I do believe that it's theresult of how people believe
that they got the independence,because in Psalm 33, 12, it says
(13:03):
that blessed is the nationwhose God is the Lord.
So that is voodoo and it'sreally a bad thing.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Is it widespread in Haiti still oh?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
yes, it is widespread , and even in its I mean even
the people who accept JesusChrist as the Lord and Savior.
It takes them time before theycan completely become a new
believer, and I mean they wouldsay yes to accept Jesus Christ,
(13:42):
but you know, what they used todo is so hard just to live.
And even the Catholic, you know, in Haiti, and almost, I would
say all of almost all of theCatholic, are involved in voodoo
and they're welcome in theCatholic church because they
think that that's okay.
You know, it's not a problem.
Almost, I would say, many, manypeople are involved in voodoo
(14:07):
in Haiti.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Oh, man, wow, that is .
That's amazing and it's.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
you're basically dealing with powers and
principalities and darkness inthe heavenly places, exactly
Things that you cannot see, butyou can see the result of them
in a negative way.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Yeah, and that is not a good.
I don't understand why peopleare so attracted to it, but
people are attracted to thingsthat are anti-God.
Whatever it is.
It's like, you know, it's justthe world system is anti-God,
it's anti-Christ, the wholesystem.
Yes, that's so true.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
But you know the good thing, you know for us as
Christians we don't have to beafraid, because what is in us is
greater than what is in them.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yes, amen in us is greater than what is in them.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Yes, amen.
So we don't have to worry aboutyou know things like that when
we see them, because we knowthat having Jesus in our life,
that's all we need.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Yes, amen.
So now you.
That's amazing.
You were playing music in thechurch and leading people in
worship, but you weren't really.
You were playing, you were moreentertaining at the time until
the Lord really got ahold of youand said, hey, we need to fix a
couple things here, exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Actually, I would say that I had a calling in my life
, since, I would say, evenbefore I was born, God knew all
about me, and so at the earlyage he directed some people to
me.
They did not put the oil overmy head, but I feel that God
anointed me.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
That's amazing, that he sent a man to your parents'
house to pray over you.
Yes, exactly.
So anybody who thinks thatprayer is not important.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Prayer works and, honestly, if we did not have
people praying for the wholeworld, the whole world, I don't
know what would happen at thistime.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Yeah, the people that are interceding.
It's so important and I thinkthat's the one regret we will
have when we're in glory.
That's something that we'regoing to regret.
Wow, we should have prayed more.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
When we're in glory.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
I think we're going to be like wow, I cannot believe
I didn't take the opportunityto pray as much.
So how do you end up inWisconsin from Haiti?
That's a long commute.
You got to help us understandthis.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
That's so true.
Actually, when I moved to Hingemy first wife at that time my
wife was an American, so bornand raised in Wisconsin, in the
Kona area, so she went toCalvary Chapel, appleton, on the
(17:06):
path to Dwight Dover, and soshe was planning to go to be a
missionary in Haiti.
Okay, in 2000,.
I believe in 2000 at the time.
So that same year she went tobe in a permanent, more
permanent, in Haiti as amissionary.
That was that same year therewas a need at the church she was
(17:29):
going to for someone to createan, a cappella group.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
And so Just all voices.
A cappella, just a straight acappella.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
No instrument, no instrument With different
harmonies.
So that's the time I got intothat church too.
We kind of got there at thesame time and when I got there,
I was helping her learningCreole and she was helping me
(18:01):
also on my English.
Well, as we were talking, wefigured it out.
You know, we looked alike andwe had the same heart and, you
know, at that time she was somature and so she saw in me
(18:21):
something that myself I couldnot see, and that's happened.
Sometimes there are things youcannot see, but other people can
see when the Holy Spirit isleading them.
So we started talking and wehad aged different and so that
(18:41):
was a concern.
But I mean, if I would tell youthe whole story, that's it's
cut at the time, let's say thatyou know, after talking we
figured it out and we can make agood team and so for Jesus.
And so we decided to get marriedand we got married in Haiti and
(19:03):
moved back to Wisconsin.
So my plan at that time I didnot plan just to be a pastor, I
just wanted to come here and togo and study to be a mechanic.
That was really my heart.
Okay, when I got here, you know, things changed.
Things changed.
This is how I got to Wisconsin.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
I'm trying to understand how much of a shock
it must have been for you from aweather perspective, because
Haiti is hot as it gets andWisconsin is freezing.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Actually, it is not only the difference in the
weather, but it is on everything.
Haiti is a very, very poorcountry.
I mean, where I came from,there was no light.
There was no light I mean I'mtalking about electricity and
there was no good there was.
I mean I'm talking about youknow electricity, right, and
(20:01):
there was, you know you could.
There was no good water forpeople to drink.
And, uh, there, there is nomarket there.
Like you know, you would sayyou go to the market like
walmart, you know things likethat.
And so they they they were nota paving wood and really
everything was new for me when Icame to America and when I got
(20:28):
here actually, I got here on May29 in 2001.
So, when I saw I was on theplane for the first time in my
life, saw I was on the plane forthe first time in my life, and
as I was landing in Miami at thetime and I saw the difference
(20:51):
right away, and as I was lookingdown the structure, how the
houses are built, and when I gotto that airport, oh, oh, my God
, it was I could not stand itand I did not say a word, I did
not speak.
You were in shock, because itwas a shock for me.
(21:11):
I did not know where to start.
There were so many things.
I look at the people I look atyou know the airport was so big.
You know I see ice thing.
I look at the people I look at.
You know the airport was so big, you know I see ice machine.
I see, oh, so many airplanes.
So many things to think about,and I did not even know how to
start.
(21:33):
It was a big shock for me, andso it took me time before I
could digest and I could get it,and so my wife was a very good
teacher, taking it very slowlyto teach me about everything
Because, you know, after a weekI started just to ask questions
(21:55):
about everything.
You know, I saw people walkingwith dogs on the street,
everything.
I saw people walking with dogson the street.
I mean, I saw dogs being like apolice.
We used our dogs just to getour security in Haiti.
To see on the dogs they saypolice.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
This is amazing.
That's a culture shock.
I'm living it through as you'retelling it.
I'm like this could be a movie.
Wow, it could be a movie.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
To be honest with you , it's been a very big shock for
me.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Wow, and it was just seeing going from, I guess, the
poverty situation, where it'svery poor, and the construction,
the way things are built, andthen when you, you fly to miami,
miami's, you know, miami, Imean it's, and yes, but when
it's come, you know, because Icame from a poor area actually,
(22:54):
you know, living here was hardfor me at first.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Okay, that's why in my mind I said, well, I have to
go back and see what I can do.
Okay, what I can do.
And so right away I thoughtabout you know people that I
know who could not eat.
You know you open your fridgemy wife at that time when you
get a gallon of juice my firsttime seeing a gallon of juice,
get gallon of juice, my firsttime seeing gallon of juice,
(23:22):
gallon of milk and you know thewhole fridge is full with stuff.
And well, it was hard for mejust to see that I was eating
every day and I had enough toeat and have leftover.
And thinking about so manypeople that I know who could not
eat, it was hard for me.
(23:43):
So I was really thinking aboutyou know, what could I do?
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Wow, that's things we take for granted.
I mean, I don't even thinkabout it.
I have a half gallon of orangejuice in the fridge right now
and I'm just you know, things wefor granted For you to be
surprised at that.
Yes, you saw that and you werelike, oh my wow, look at this,
that's so true.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
The thing is, when you are in a country, you are
very limited.
If you would take a citron, youwould squeeze it just to have a
little juice, but the juicethat you have may not be enough,
for I mean, you know you cannotdrink it yourself, you need to
share it and you are done eating.
You're still hungry because wedon't have enough.
And you can imagine, you are ina country.
(24:32):
You find so much you can eat.
You can take one cup of milk,you can drink a second one, you
can drink a third one.
Come on, I mean, you know whatwas the hard thing.
You know, when I went to aplace where you have refill on
thing, I mean, just go and drink, you can just.
(24:54):
You know, if you don't mind,I'll share one of my biggest
stories, when I was inCalifornia still, and in
California I got exposed tobuffet.
You can go, take your plate andeat, come back, I almost killed
myself.
What, oh man?
(25:15):
I'm telling you the truth.
I almost killed myself.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
This could be a movie .
Man, this should be a movie.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Yes, I ate so much and after I was done I could not
lay down, I could not sit.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Oh no, that's funny man.
Wow, oh, that's amazing.
Yeah, the buffets.
Yeah, you can just get all youcan eat.
You can just get all you caneat.
All you can eat All you can eat.
Oh, man, wow, this is funny,man, wow, oh my goodness.
So you were here for a whileand then you decided you said
(25:53):
I'm going back because I want tosee what I can do.
So what did that look like whenyou went back?
I want to see what I can do, sowhat did that look like when
you went back?
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Well, first of all, as I said, when I moved to
Appleton, I was under theteaching of Pastor Dwight,
calvary Chapel in Appleton,wisconsin, and Pastor Dwight is
a great teacher and CalvaryChapel in general is known as a
good Bible teaching movement.
You see what I mean.
So, in almost all of thechurches, if you go, you know, I
(26:26):
guarantee you, you, you will,you will be fed, you know, in
the Word, because that's what wefocus on.
We focus on worship, you know,fellowship and the teaching of
the Word.
So, being under Pastor Dwight,you know, it was my first time,
you know, sitting under a pastorwho was teaching the Word of
God straight, book by book,verse by verse, chapter by
(26:51):
chapter, and so my whole, mymind changed on being, instead
of being, a mechanic, and I said, well, I need to go to the
Bible college so I can bringback what I'm learning, because
I saw that if I really learnedthe Word of God and I become a
(27:17):
teacher, I could save so manylives in Haiti.
So, you know, I was not attached, you know, to all the things in
America.
I mean, you know, all I couldthink about is go to a Bible
college and go back to Haiti isgo to the Bible college and go
back to Haiti so I could start afreshman work and start
(27:41):
teaching the Word of God, startinvesting in the community, etc.
And after I went to the Biblecollege in 2003, 2005, I
graduated, and guess what?
I graduated in June 2005.
And July 2005, july 19, 2005, Ilanded at the airport in
(28:04):
Port-au-Prince with the missionfor God to use me so life could
be changed in Carnegie.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Amen, amen, amen.
That's our brother, bastia, and, god willing, we will be doing
a play down in Haiti when thingsor when the Lord sends us.
We are in the planning stages,trying to get down there.
That's our dear brother.
He will be one of the placesthat we're going to visit.
Brian, we're going to visitBastia and our dear sister, pam
(28:35):
and Patrick have someconnections down there too as
well, so we're going to do aHaiti tour.
Pray for us, y'all Pray.
That isn't happening.
I'm working on my French againso that I can.
They'll be able to understandwhat I'm saying.
I don't know Creole yet.
Anyway, that's all the time wehave.
We're going to continue thisnext week, god willing, if the
(28:57):
Lord tarries.
But until then, the Lord blessyou and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shineupon you and be gracious to you
.
The Lord lift up hiscountenance upon you and give
you peace.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
This program was made possible by the Plays on Word
family of supporters.
To find out more, check out ourwebsite at playzonewordorg.
Lord you know.
Hey guys, you are now listeningto.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Play For.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
Word Radio.
It's the best.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
After a week I started just to ask questions
about everything.
Yeah, you know, I saw peoplewalking with dogs on the street.
I mean, I saw dogs being like apolice.
Yeah, we used our dogs just toget our security in Haiti.
But I did not, you know, to see, to see.
(00:30):
On the dog they say, please, Icouldn't, I couldn't understand.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
That's a culture shock.
You're the only name.
You're the only name.
You're the only name.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Hello and welcome to Plays on Word Radio, where we
discuss, analyze, work and playon the Word of God.
Thank you for joining us onthis excursion.
Today let's join Pastor Teddy,also known as Fred David Kenny
Jr, the founder of Plays on WordTheater, as he does a deep dive
into the Word of God All right.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Okay, so we are here with.
Let me make sure I say yourname, right, bastia, right?
Yes, I don't know your lastname, I just know you as Bastia.
You're like, let me see, you'relike those like you think of
different celebrities andwhatnot.
You think of Prince, you thinkof Cher, or you know people that
have just one name that's how Ithink of you but you think of
(01:45):
share.
Or you know people that havejust one name that's how I think
of you but you have a last name, though oh, actually, bastia is
my last name.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Oh okay, people call me bastia.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
So bastia, okay, wow, they call you by your last name
.
I love it.
People call me by my last nametoo.
They call they also call me bymy first name and my middle name
, so it can be confusing.
But welcome to Plays on WordRadio.
You have not seen one of ourplays yet, but hopefully we will
come visit you in Haiti and doa play for you.
(02:17):
We are trying to also go seeBrian.
You remember our dear brother,brother Brian.
We had a chance to meet up withhim at the pastor's conference.
So, yeah, you know it's goingto be mad cool when we come down
and visit you.
Where in Haiti are you located,actually?
Speaker 1 (02:37):
I'm so looking forward for that.
The situation is very criticalright now, and I'm sure you are
aware of that, but you know,let's wait.
I can't wait to see thingsbeing settled in Haiti, yes, and
so I can have you come andenjoy.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Yeah, brian told us that it was a very difficult
situation there and he's inPort-au-Prince.
Yes, very difficult situationthere.
And he's in Port-au-Prince andhe said 90% or 95% of the city
has been taken by gangs and it'sone of the only safe places is
right around where they meet forchurch.
So yeah, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Port-au-prince is almost taken by the gangs.
That's the truth.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
He's right.
Wow.
Now where are you in relationto that?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Let me first say thank you, fred, for getting me
on Place Radio.
So this is my first time beingon your show or on your radio
and I'm so thankful just to beable to meet you and be able
just to share about you knowwhat God is really doing.
So my name is Igna Bastia andpeople call me Bastia, and just
(04:01):
because in my town in Haiti Iused to help so many churches
and people just called me byBastia, so this is how I'm
called, by my name.
Okay, yes, actually we arelocated in the central plateau
in Haiti, in the higher plateau.
The central plateau is dividedin two lower plateau and higher
(04:22):
plateau.
So on the lower plateau thereare 12 communes and so has on
the higher plateau, there arealso 12 communes.
But we live in the higherplateau.
But we are in a very remote areaand I'm about 35, 45 minutes
drive on a walk forward and in aplace called Kanee, where there
(04:45):
is no electricity.
There was no water there.
Actually, praise God, we havewater on the compound just to
help, you know, the kids youknow and the people working for
the ministry, but other thanthat, it is a place there is no
pizza, no Walmart and there isno job.
Nothing, nothing.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Nothing, wow, nothing , nothing, wow, yeah, yeah,
brian was telling us is like theunemployment rate is
unbelievably high as far as justno jobs, no jobs anywhere.
So all right.
So there's, there's a questionthat I ask a lot of people.
I actually ask everybody howdoes Bastia meet?
(05:23):
How do you?
How does he meet Jesus?
How does he come to faith inthe Lord Jesus Christ?
How did you come to know him?
Thank you for asking.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
And actually in Haiti and many people still today are
going to church and they arenot saved and they just love
having the relationship.
Going to church, you know, andbeing caught by entertainment,
and they see people being onfire, you know, whenever there's
(05:56):
a crusade, things like that butreally they have not made a
commitment to Jesus Christ toreceive Jesus in their life.
So I grew up in a family whowas first of all involved in
voodoo my mom and my dad.
They were involved in voodooand when I was born and they
(06:17):
were still involved in voodooand God sent a special man just
to pray for me, because God said, in this family, I want that
little boy which is me talking.
And so when that guy came intomy parents' house and he
(06:40):
explained to them that how Godtalked to him in a dream, just
to come and pray for me, andthey said, no problem, we can
put this little bird, you know,outside for you.
I did not walk yet and heprayed for me.
So he did ask the family ifthey would receive the Lord like
my mom and my dad, and theywere so caught up on voodoo and
(07:02):
they said no.
So caught up on voodoo, andthey said no and I don't think
they even thought about.
You know how serious that waswhen God asked to pray for me,
when God says that he wanted me.
So since after that, you know,this guy came back to my parent
house very often to pray for meand after that my dad accepted
(07:24):
the Lord and after my dad, mymom accepted the Lord, so the
whole family became Christian.
So, yes, they prayed for me.
I was very little and my fatherbecame LA pastor and I was
involved in the church andplaying music etc.
(07:45):
But really I really did notreceive Jesus in my life,
because this is really notsomething people really share
with you.
That is a personal thing.
That's something you reallyneed to do between you and Jesus
Christ.
So I became very famous in thetown that I moved to, which is
(08:08):
Hinch to.
I meant to go to school, andwhat happened when I got there?
I got involved with I mean, Ihelped in many churches playing
music, but I had a home church.
So what happened?
I created a capillary group tosing for Jesus, getting about 18
(08:32):
guys singing, and I wrote asong too at that time, and so
one day I wrote a worship song,which is something that I have
not experienced yet.
What is worship?
So the music that I wrote weremore kind of entertainment.
(08:54):
Yes, we mentioned the name ofJesus, yes, we talk about his
baptism, etc.
But really it was not somethingthat would draw someone to, I
mean as a worship song.
It was not something that woulddraw someone to I mean as a
worship song.
It was not like that.
So and one day I wrote a songwhich was a worship song, and I
stood with all of the guys infront of everybody, thinking
(09:18):
that I was somebody at that time, just a young man, having 18
guys behind me, and we startedto sing that worship song and
the harmony was so beautiful andI saw people down there raising
their hands to worship the Lordand a voice came to me.
A voice came to me saying Bacia, while I was singing, that
(09:46):
voice came to me and said that,basia, you may send so many
people to heaven and you, youwon't go.
Wow, and I felt.
I felt like it was likesomething heavy on my shoulder
and I just put down.
And that day, without knowinghow I should ask, I mean, we see
(10:09):
, jesus Christ.
I found out later.
This is what happened to methat day I said, lord, I give
you my life.
You know, I just want to be ason for you.
I want to do whatever you wantme to do, not what I want to do.
But later on, when I got toApatain, calvary Chapel Apatain,
you know, under a good Bibleteacher man at that time and he
(10:35):
was really explaining, you know,how someone would accept Jesus
it's something personal andwoman 10-9 or 9-10, one of them
I said you need to confess, youneed to do that.
And I figured out that was thetime that I received Jesus in my
life and, honestly, since thenmy whole life changed completely
(10:57):
and I am a no-man until today.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
Amen, wow, that's an amazing story.
Help me and the audience, helpus understand.
When you say voodoo, many ofthe listeners might have a
preconceived idea of what itmeans, but can you just what
does that encompass whensomebody's caught up in voodoo?
(11:24):
I've heard about there being alot of it in Haiti, but could
you give me just a description?
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Yes, when we talk about voodoo, it's a religion.
Let's put it this way.
It's a religion where people,they worship the devil and they
do any kind of bad things.
So like they would call on badspirit and they would use some
(11:53):
powder, a magical powder andthat can kill people and they
would use the bad spirit.
The same way, when you are aChristian, you can intercede for
someone.
You can ask the Holy Spirit togo and do something positive in
someone's life For them.
In the voodoo, they can reallydo some type of ceremony and ask
(12:16):
the bad spirit to go to someoneto harm them or do something
bad.
So, really, voodoo that is whatit is.
It's a religion that is thereto do one thing to people, and
so it's really something that,like, haiti believed that when
(12:38):
they got the independence it wasthrough a pig, so they did a
ceremony and that's how Haitigot free.
But really, all that is goingon to Haiti right now, today,
and we are not in it yet.
So I do believe that it's theresult of how people believe
that they got the independence,because in Psalm 33, 12, it says
(13:03):
that blessed is the nationwhose God is the Lord.
So that is voodoo and it'sreally a bad thing.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Is it widespread in Haiti still oh?
Speaker 1 (13:18):
yes, it is widespread , and even in its I mean even
the people who accept JesusChrist as the Lord and Savior.
It takes them time before theycan completely become a new
believer, and I mean they wouldsay yes to accept Jesus Christ,
(13:42):
but you know, what they used todo is so hard just to live.
And even the Catholic, you know, in Haiti, and almost, I would
say all of almost all of theCatholic, are involved in voodoo
and they're welcome in theCatholic church because they
think that that's okay.
You know, it's not a problem.
Almost, I would say, many, manypeople are involved in voodoo
(14:07):
in Haiti.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Oh, man, wow, that is .
That's amazing and it's.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
you're basically dealing with powers and
principalities and darkness inthe heavenly places, exactly
Things that you cannot see, butyou can see the result of them
in a negative way.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Yeah, and that is not a good.
I don't understand why peopleare so attracted to it, but
people are attracted to thingsthat are anti-God.
Whatever it is.
It's like, you know, it's justthe world system is anti-God,
it's anti-Christ, the wholesystem.
Yes, that's so true.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
But you know the good thing, you know for us as
Christians we don't have to beafraid, because what is in us is
greater than what is in them.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Yes, amen in us is greater than what is in them.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Yes, amen.
So we don't have to worry aboutyou know things like that when
we see them, because we knowthat having Jesus in our life,
that's all we need.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
Yes, amen.
So now you.
That's amazing.
You were playing music in thechurch and leading people in
worship, but you weren't really.
You were playing, you were moreentertaining at the time until
the Lord really got ahold of youand said, hey, we need to fix a
couple things here, exactly.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
Actually, I would say that I had a calling in my life
, since, I would say, evenbefore I was born, God knew all
about me, and so at the earlyage he directed some people to
me.
They did not put the oil overmy head, but I feel that God
anointed me.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
That's amazing, that he sent a man to your parents'
house to pray over you.
Yes, exactly.
So anybody who thinks thatprayer is not important.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Prayer works and, honestly, if we did not have
people praying for the wholeworld, the whole world, I don't
know what would happen at thistime.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Yeah, the people that are interceding.
It's so important and I thinkthat's the one regret we will
have when we're in glory.
That's something that we'regoing to regret.
Wow, we should have prayed more.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
When we're in glory.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
I think we're going to be like wow, I cannot believe
I didn't take the opportunityto pray as much.
So how do you end up inWisconsin from Haiti?
That's a long commute.
You got to help us understandthis.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
That's so true.
Actually, when I moved to Hingemy first wife at that time my
wife was an American, so bornand raised in Wisconsin, in the
Kona area, so she went toCalvary Chapel, appleton, on the
(17:06):
path to Dwight Dover, and soshe was planning to go to be a
missionary in Haiti.
Okay, in 2000,.
I believe in 2000 at the time.
So that same year she went tobe in a permanent, more
permanent, in Haiti as amissionary.
That was that same year therewas a need at the church she was
(17:29):
going to for someone to createan, a cappella group.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
And so Just all voices.
A cappella, just a straight acappella.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
No instrument, no instrument With different
harmonies.
So that's the time I got intothat church too.
We kind of got there at thesame time and when I got there,
I was helping her learningCreole and she was helping me
(18:01):
also on my English.
Well, as we were talking, wefigured it out.
You know, we looked alike andwe had the same heart and, you
know, at that time she was somature and so she saw in me
(18:21):
something that myself I couldnot see, and that's happened.
Sometimes there are things youcannot see, but other people can
see when the Holy Spirit isleading them.
So we started talking and wehad aged different and so that
(18:41):
was a concern.
But I mean, if I would tell youthe whole story, that's it's
cut at the time, let's say thatyou know, after talking we
figured it out and we can make agood team and so for Jesus.
And so we decided to get marriedand we got married in Haiti and
(19:03):
moved back to Wisconsin.
So my plan at that time I didnot plan just to be a pastor, I
just wanted to come here and togo and study to be a mechanic.
That was really my heart.
Okay, when I got here, you know, things changed.
Things changed.
This is how I got to Wisconsin.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
I'm trying to understand how much of a shock
it must have been for you from aweather perspective, because
Haiti is hot as it gets andWisconsin is freezing.
Speaker 1 (19:40):
Actually, it is not only the difference in the
weather, but it is on everything.
Haiti is a very, very poorcountry.
I mean, where I came from,there was no light.
There was no light I mean I'mtalking about electricity and
there was no good there was.
I mean I'm talking about youknow electricity, right, and
(20:01):
there was, you know you could.
There was no good water forpeople to drink.
And, uh, there, there is nomarket there.
Like you know, you would sayyou go to the market like
walmart, you know things likethat.
And so they they they were nota paving wood and really
everything was new for me when Icame to America and when I got
(20:28):
here actually, I got here on May29 in 2001.
So, when I saw I was on theplane for the first time in my
life, saw I was on the plane forthe first time in my life, and
as I was landing in Miami at thetime and I saw the difference
(20:51):
right away, and as I was lookingdown the structure, how the
houses are built, and when I gotto that airport, oh, oh, my God
, it was I could not stand itand I did not say a word, I did
not speak.
You were in shock, because itwas a shock for me.
(21:11):
I did not know where to start.
There were so many things.
I look at the people I look atyou know the airport was so big.
You know I see ice thing.
I look at the people I look at.
You know the airport was so big, you know I see ice machine.
I see, oh, so many airplanes.
So many things to think about,and I did not even know how to
start.
(21:33):
It was a big shock for me, andso it took me time before I
could digest and I could get it,and so my wife was a very good
teacher, taking it very slowlyto teach me about everything
Because, you know, after a weekI started just to ask questions
(21:55):
about everything.
You know, I saw people walkingwith dogs on the street,
everything.
I saw people walking with dogson the street.
I mean, I saw dogs being like apolice.
We used our dogs just to getour security in Haiti.
To see on the dogs they saypolice.
Speaker 3 (22:20):
This is amazing.
That's a culture shock.
I'm living it through as you'retelling it.
I'm like this could be a movie.
Wow, it could be a movie.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
To be honest with you , it's been a very big shock for
me.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Wow, and it was just seeing going from, I guess, the
poverty situation, where it'svery poor, and the construction,
the way things are built, andthen when you, you fly to miami,
miami's, you know, miami, Imean it's, and yes, but when
it's come, you know, because Icame from a poor area actually,
(22:54):
you know, living here was hardfor me at first.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
Okay, that's why in my mind I said, well, I have to
go back and see what I can do.
Okay, what I can do.
And so right away I thoughtabout you know people that I
know who could not eat.
You know you open your fridgemy wife at that time when you
get a gallon of juice my firsttime seeing a gallon of juice,
get gallon of juice, my firsttime seeing gallon of juice,
(23:22):
gallon of milk and you know thewhole fridge is full with stuff.
And well, it was hard for mejust to see that I was eating
every day and I had enough toeat and have leftover.
And thinking about so manypeople that I know who could not
eat, it was hard for me.
(23:43):
So I was really thinking aboutyou know, what could I do?
Speaker 3 (23:48):
Wow, that's things we take for granted.
I mean, I don't even thinkabout it.
I have a half gallon of orangejuice in the fridge right now
and I'm just you know, things wefor granted For you to be
surprised at that.
Yes, you saw that and you werelike, oh my wow, look at this,
that's so true.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
The thing is, when you are in a country, you are
very limited.
If you would take a citron, youwould squeeze it just to have a
little juice, but the juicethat you have may not be enough,
for I mean, you know you cannotdrink it yourself, you need to
share it and you are done eating.
You're still hungry because wedon't have enough.
And you can imagine, you are ina country.
(24:32):
You find so much you can eat.
You can take one cup of milk,you can drink a second one, you
can drink a third one.
Come on, I mean, you know whatwas the hard thing.
You know, when I went to aplace where you have refill on
thing, I mean, just go and drink, you can just.
(24:54):
You know, if you don't mind,I'll share one of my biggest
stories, when I was inCalifornia still, and in
California I got exposed tobuffet.
You can go, take your plate andeat, come back, I almost killed
myself.
What, oh man?
(25:15):
I'm telling you the truth.
I almost killed myself.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
This could be a movie .
Man, this should be a movie.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Yes, I ate so much and after I was done I could not
lay down, I could not sit.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Oh no, that's funny man.
Wow, oh, that's amazing.
Yeah, the buffets.
Yeah, you can just get all youcan eat.
You can just get all you caneat.
All you can eat All you can eat.
Oh, man, wow, this is funny,man, wow, oh my goodness.
So you were here for a whileand then you decided you said
(25:53):
I'm going back because I want tosee what I can do.
So what did that look like whenyou went back?
I want to see what I can do, sowhat did that look like when
you went back?
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Well, first of all, as I said, when I moved to
Appleton, I was under theteaching of Pastor Dwight,
calvary Chapel in Appleton,wisconsin, and Pastor Dwight is
a great teacher and CalvaryChapel in general is known as a
good Bible teaching movement.
You see what I mean.
So, in almost all of thechurches, if you go, you know, I
(26:26):
guarantee you, you, you will,you will be fed, you know, in
the Word, because that's what wefocus on.
We focus on worship, you know,fellowship and the teaching of
the Word.
So, being under Pastor Dwight,you know, it was my first time,
you know, sitting under a pastorwho was teaching the Word of
God straight, book by book,verse by verse, chapter by
(26:51):
chapter, and so my whole, mymind changed on being, instead
of being, a mechanic, and I said, well, I need to go to the
Bible college so I can bringback what I'm learning, because
I saw that if I really learnedthe Word of God and I become a
(27:17):
teacher, I could save so manylives in Haiti.
So, you know, I was not attached, you know, to all the things in
America.
I mean, you know, all I couldthink about is go to a Bible
college and go back to Haiti isgo to the Bible college and go
back to Haiti so I could start afreshman work and start
(27:41):
teaching the Word of God, startinvesting in the community, etc.
And after I went to the Biblecollege in 2003, 2005, I
graduated, and guess what?
I graduated in June 2005.
And July 2005, july 19, 2005, Ilanded at the airport in
(28:04):
Port-au-Prince with the missionfor God to use me so life could
be changed in Carnegie.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Amen, amen, amen.
That's our brother, bastia, and, god willing, we will be doing
a play down in Haiti when thingsor when the Lord sends us.
We are in the planning stages,trying to get down there.
That's our dear brother.
He will be one of the placesthat we're going to visit.
Brian, we're going to visitBastia and our dear sister, pam
(28:35):
and Patrick have someconnections down there too as
well, so we're going to do aHaiti tour.
Pray for us, y'all Pray.
That isn't happening.
I'm working on my French againso that I can.
They'll be able to understandwhat I'm saying.
I don't know Creole yet.
Anyway, that's all the time wehave.
We're going to continue thisnext week, god willing, if the
(28:57):
Lord tarries.
But until then, the Lord blessyou and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shineupon you and be gracious to you
.
The Lord lift up hiscountenance upon you and give
you peace.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
This program was made possible by the Plays on Word
family of supporters.
To find out more, check out ourwebsite at playzonewordorg.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.