Our Roots

God’s Love Is The Greatest Power

In The Universe

The ministry of KingdomKids Haiti  traces its roots back to a group that was birthed out of the Jesus Movement in the 1960’s, the Agape Force. This unorthodox group of young Christians used dramatic and creative ways to share the gospel with a generation that had been turned off by organized religion.

As the ministry grew they led countless numbers of young people and children into a personal relationship with Jesus. They helped stir revival in several towns on the West Coast preaching their motto, “God’s Love Is The Greatest Power In The Universe.”

In 1981 Rev. Tom Pokorni, a newly ordained graduate of a Texas Bible School, began working as Senior Editor of publications for Agape Force ministry, where he founded and edited a Christian magazine called Charge! 

Using drama and music effectively, they created the astounding play, Agapeland. Out of their deep quiet times with the Lord came three early Christian worship albums, The Unchoir and To The Chief Musician, Volumes I and II.

Small teams of Agape Force members began to travel across the country, many of them ministering to poor kids in the cities - thus the roots of KingdomKids Haiti. To reach them they wrote many simple but catchy songs, which grew into several of the first Christian albums for children, including The Music Machine and Bullfrogs & Butterflies, which became two of the first three Christian gold albums.

In the mid-1970’s, at the encouragement of the late David Wilkerson, author of Cross and the Switchblade, Agape Force moved near his Teen Challenge headquarters in eastern Texas. Other ministries congregated near the small town of Garden Valley, including Keith Green, David Wilkerson, Second Chapter of Acts, YWAM’s north American headquarters and Dallas Holm.

This creative, radical group of young Christians who were on fire for the Lord is what drew Tom Pokorni there to attend Bible School. Soon after his graduation and ordination in 1981, Tom became Senior Editor of Agape Force publications.

The Inner City Calls

In early 1982 the Lord began to unearth a deeper burden that lay at the core of Tom's heart. After months of Bible reading and meditation, Tom felt the Holy Spirit speak that his life's calling was "to the poor in the cities of the world." He knew that was why he had been created.

Seeking to minister to the poorest of the poor, Tom began investigating ministries in India and China. But the Spirit seemed to say that there were things he needed to learn in America, and ways in which God still wanted to use him in the States.

On the night of September 21, 1982, while in prayer about where to go, Tom had a vision. He saw a map of the United States. His mind began thinking of Mexican border towns that held many poor families. But suddenly Miami, Florida, lit up like a bright light! During the previous year an estimated 100,000 Haitians had come to South Florida in small, rickety boats with little more than the clothes on their back. They were the poorest people in America. 

Then, as he watched, lights began to shoot out from Miami throughout the entire Caribbean Basin. With that vision from the Lord, Tom Pokorni received the calling on his life. This was where God was calling him - to go first to Miami to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the broken-hearted and declare the favor of the Lord was upon them!

The Murder & Crime Capital of America

At the time Miami was the murder capital of the United States, and “Little Haiti” was the poorest part of the city. Drugs, prostitution and violence were rampant. Shootings were a daily occurrence.

But a white, college-educated, 35 year old man had a burden on his heart for the poor and a vision from God. So in 1982 Rev. Tom Pokorni moved to Miami’s inner city neighborhood known as “Little Haiti” and established the non-profit ministry called Agape Force Miami.

Tom moved into a 300 square foot apartment. He began teaching English classes for free, distributing food and clothing, teaching the Bible, and living among the people. Crime, prostitution and violence surrounded him daily. But he was on a mission from God, and so he ministered to both the body and soul of the Haitians and other poor in the neighborhood.  

His heart was especially filled with compassion for the poor, fatherless kids and soon he had scores of them attending Sunday morning services.

Reaching Haitian Kids In Miami

During the end of 1983 Community Christian Church was founded. Meeting at first in a 15’ by 18’ room, up to sixty people jammed in to praise God and hear Pokorni’s clear and simple Bible teaching. The next year God miraculously provided a 5000 square feet building and the church grew quickly.

But it was a church unlike any other. Though attendance was quickly over 200, the average age was only 14 years old. Kids and teens rose on their own each Sunday morning, often as their parents continued to sleep, and came to CCC with their Bibles in hand. For years the only musical instrument was an old set of drums, but the kids’ voices sang and praised God in a way that left many visitors speechless. Truly God’s anointing was “in the house.”

CCC was much more than Sunday morning. It was a way of life. Various children’s programs filled every day of the week. Pool tables and ping pong tables were available every day after school. Summers were filled with daily “Jesus Summer School” and a week's summer camp in Bradenton, Florida, where Tom's friend and mentor, Winkie Pratney, taught.

The growing membership of Haitian youth met Jesus, invited Him into their lives, and took Him with them into their schools, homes and everyday activities. And the kids began to grow up.

Building Character That Lasts

By the mid-1990’s many of the kids had become teens and young adults, and a ministry was needed to focus on them. Gang Alternative was started to counter the lure of street gangs with the much more exciting life with a living God

Gang Alternative was begun in 1995 with a vision of providing positive groups for Miami’s teens to join. The temptation of easy money and crime on the streets was countered with activities that the teens wanted and enjoyed. Singing groups from acapella to rap, dance groups from hip hop to stomp, and drama from puppets to full length productions kept the youth off the streets and loving their Christian lives.

Creativity

From its inception Gang Alternative used eight main methods to reach and transform potential gang members into vibrant followers of Jesus.

1. We met their Practical Needs, supplying school supplies, clothing, food - showing God’s love by actions.
2. We evangelized them, creating a spiritual foundation in each youth through a personal relationship with God.
3. We mentored them, teaching by example, with love.
4. We encouraged the Creative Arts so that they could express their deepest emotions through the arts.
5. We led them in Community Service, teaching them the value of helping others less fortunate than themselves
6. We counseled them with one-on-one guidance and direction
7. We led all ages in Bible Studies, teaching them how to live out the truths of the ages.
8. We involved them in Sports & Games, using teamwork, discipline and perseverance to build character

First Miami, Now The Caribbean

In 2002 Tom Pokorni turned the church and ministries in Miami over to his anointed, charismatic Associate Pastor, Rev. Eddy Gervais. Soon thereafter the vision that would lead to KingdomKids began to materialize. The goal was to take what was learned in Miami, and to spread it to poor children and youth in the cities of the world.

But the Lord clearly spoke to Pastor Tom again while he was attending a conference featuring Mozambique missionary Heidi Baker. She told of the amazing journey she and her husband, Roland, has been on. Then she said, “God gave us Mozambique. He did. He told us, ‘Mozambique is yours.’ That’s where we’re supposed to work. That’s our country.”

After a pause, she added, “Where has God told you to work?”

Immediately the Holy Spirit reminded Tom of the vision that had sent him to Miami in 1982. He again saw the map of the U.S.,  with Miami shining like a bright light. But then Tom remembered that he saw more in the vision. From Miami God showed him lights showering down from Miami’s light and falling throughout the Caribbean Basin.” Now, at the conference with Heidi Baker, God spoke clearly: “It’s time to take the Caribbean.”

Two months later the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haitii’s capital city of Port-au-Prince. Two weeks later Tom was on his way there.