From Corporate Ladder to Kingdom Calling: Steve Hari's Transformational Journey in Haiti

Steve Hari's journey from a 35-year career at State Farm Insurance to founding Welcome Home Haiti is a powerful testament to radical obedience and the transformative power of God’s call. What began as a single mission trip to Haiti in 1999, intended as a one-time experience, blossomed into a lifelong mission that has impacted hundreds of lives and built over 300 homes.

The Unexpected Call to a New Mission

For a decade, Steve and his family made regular trips to Haiti, witnessing firsthand the dire living conditions of the people they served. "Our master bathroom was larger than many of these houses," Steve recalls, describing the mud and stick huts with dirt floors. This stark reality ignited a deep conviction within him and his wife, Shelley, to make a tangible difference. Their initial vision was modest: to build one house a year for a Haitian family, even downsizing their mortgage to fund it. However, God had a far grander plan.

As friends and family began contributing, the need for a formal structure became evident, leading to the formation of Welcome Home Haiti, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. What started as a goal of one house a year has, over 15 years, grown exponentially. Today, Welcome Home Haiti builds four houses a month, totaling 48 homes annually, and employs over 120 Haitians in various roles.

Leveraging Business Acumen for Kingdom Impact

Steve’s corporate background, particularly his experience as a project manager at State Farm, proved to be invaluable preparation for his new calling. He explains, "God was, I believe, preparing me for this next chapter, how to build and execute kind of a project plan." He likens the process to eating an elephant: one bite at a time. Project planning, he emphasizes, involves breaking down overwhelming tasks into manageable chunks, considering scope, time, and resources. This systematic approach enabled him to navigate the complexities of establishing and growing an organization in a foreign country, one step at a time.

Faith in Action: Leading with Purpose in a Cross-Cultural Context

Living and working in Haiti presented unique challenges, particularly in understanding a culture deeply influenced by Voodoo and a "fear culture" where spiritual beliefs permeate every aspect of life. Steve acknowledges the difficulty of bridging this cultural gap, especially coming from a scientific, explanation-driven Western mindset. Yet, his faith remains the unwavering compass.  "There’s really only one thing that matters, and that is, you know, is this. Do I feel this is God’s will for my life? Is he glorified in what we’re doing and are we serving people?"

His faith also guided the most significant decision of his life: moving to Haiti. At 53, while in a State Farm meeting, Steve felt a clear, almost audible call from God: "What are you waiting for?This prompted him and Shelley to retire at 55 and fully commit to their mission in Haiti. "That took a lot of faith," he admits, reflecting on the magnitude of that step.

Empowering and Equipping Haitian Leaders

From the outset, a core tenet of Welcome Home Haiti has been to empower and equip local Haitian leaders. Steve's goal was to "mentor and train up nation leaders to one day run the operation on the ground." This involves a deliberate strategy of delegation and teaching. He recalls teaching them to build roofs, a task that initially took three days but now sees them completing three roofs in a single day, independently.

This commitment to local empowerment extends beyond construction. Welcome Home Haiti actively invests in training its employees, recognizing that Haiti’s 80% unemployment rate is not due to a lack of desire or skill, but rather a lack of "tools and opportunity and training." Steve shares examples of this: training security personnel to become officially registered with the Haitian police, and sending handy employees to an electrical training class where they excelled. These skills not only benefit Welcome Home Haiti but also provide individuals with opportunities for side businesses and community service, fostering economic independence and dignity.

A Call to Obedience and Trust

Steve’s advice to other Christian business leaders and entrepreneurs is profound in its simplicity: "Don’t do anything until you feel prompted that it’s from God." He warns against pursuing personal ideas that lead to frustration, emphasizing the importance of waiting on God’s direction. The second crucial piece of advice is obedience.  "When you feel God asking you to do something, you need to do it." He highlights that God reveals His plan one step, one "door," at a time, requiring continuous trust and obedience rather than a complete roadmap.

Steve Hari’s story is a powerful reminder that God often uses "regular people like us" to accomplish His will, preferring to work through those who are simply willing and obedient. His journey from the corporate world to leading a transformative mission in Haiti exemplifies how a life surrendered to God’s purpose can yield impact far beyond what one could ever imagine.