A Celebration of Life - Pastor Regine Jean-Baptiste In Loving Memory of Regine Jean-Baptiste
April 27, 1981 - January 26, 2026
Regine Jean-Baptiste was called home to be with the Lord on January 26,
2026, in Chicago, Illinois. Born on April 27, 1981, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti,
Regine was the youngest of four children born to Vildeus and Marie Etude
Jean-Baptiste. Her life was shaped by faith, family, and a deep sense of
purpose that guided her from an early age.
After immigrating to the United States at 4 years old, Regine and her family
settled in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where she attended elementary and
middle school. She was part of the first freshmen class of High Technology
High School, where she graduated from its rigorous academic program that
reflected her love of learning and drive for excellence. Regine went on to
earn her Bachelor’s degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology
ahead of schedule, despite studying abroad in Sweden at the Jönköping
International Business School for a semester. Later, following a clear call to
ministry and service, Regine went on to receive her Master’s degree from
Duke University School of Divinity.
Regine’s professional and ministerial life reflected the breadth of her gifts
and the depth of her compassion. Her career spanned technology, ministry,
entrepreneurship, education, operations, writing and publishing, and
philanthropy. She held positions with Tyco Electric, General Electric,
Eastman Kodak, served as pastor at White Plains United Methodist Church
in Durham, NC, and contributed her leadership and insight to Innovyz, Saint
Xavier University, Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Urban Ministry, Inc. (UMI),
and Our Daily Bread. At UMI, Regine became the first woman publisher in
its more than 50-year history. She also founded several for-profit and
nonprofit initiatives, including Lighthouse LANDS, Impact Course
Developers, DisciplesArise, Scripture Gems, Arise to Grow, and Truth in a
Box. She has also authored over 15 plus books to help people discover,
develop, and demonstrate faith.
At the heart of everything Regine did was her love for God, and her desire
to help others encounter God’s presence and love for themselves. Whether
in ministry, in the workplace, or in everyday relationships, Regine not only
preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, but she was a representation of the
love of God, patience of God, grace and mercy of God, the compassion of
God, and the humor of God. She lived out her faith with sincerity, humility,
and purpose. She believed deeply in the power of people, in
transformation, and in creating opportunities for others to grow and thrive.
Regine leaves behind a family who loved her dearly and who will continue
to honor her life and legacy. She is survived by her mother, Marie Etude
Jean-Baptiste; her sisters, Claudia and Gilberthe; her brother, Patrick; her
sister-in-law, Neysa; her niece, Marielda Medina; and her nephews,
Santiago and Rafael Jean-Baptiste, along with many other relatives and
close friends whose lives were enriched by knowing her. She was preceded
in death by her father, Vildeus Jean-Baptiste.
If you would still like to make a donation in support of the Regine Jean-
Baptiste’s Celebration of Life, you can continue to donate using the
following link https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-regines-life-and-legacy.
