In 2013-2014, Faith Baptist Church joined in a multi-country mass Scripture distribution project in Honduras with Bearing Precious Seed in Milford, Ohio, Bible Literature and Missionary Foundation in Shelbyville, Tennessee, Work of Faith Publication, La Esparanza, Work of Faith Scripture Printing and numerous other churches across the U.S. to ship five 40 feet containers of over 787,000 Scriptures to the Tates and Jacksons in Honduras. The distribution project incorporated large citywide campaigns, conferences, and the use of soccer stadiums as well as local church pastor meetings. The single largest distribution of Scripture in Honduras history involved dozens of unique titles of tracts, gospels of John and Romans, discipleship materials and of course, the New Testaments and whole Bibles in Spanish. Unprecedented access was granted to government offices, military, police, education and public assemblies, resulting in hundreds of decisions for Christ and a strengthening of the brethren.
In 2015, Pastor Smith joined these missionaries on a survey trip to determine the needs of their greater than ever expanding efforts among the Honduras people. After returning to the U.S., Pastor Smith presented a proposed joint project approved by the partnering missionaries to the family of Faith at the Missions Conference in October 2015. The goal was to expand the influence and impact of the Honduras missions effort in training national pastors to further expand the ministry efforts among the Honduras people in the cities, rural areas, and difficult access mountain communities. Having personally seen the great need for training, tools, and technical support a plan was presented for direct involvement. Working through Global Outreach Missions to fulfill the vision of evangelism, education, equipping, enabling and exhorting the plan was presented.
FIRST - a permanent training facility located in Danli which could be used by the Bible Institute, Christian school and local church programs, and also host annual Regional and National Pastors Training Conference.
SECOND - an annual week long Pastors Training Conference to reinforce the biblical truths, techniques and teaching to enhance the local church ministries.
THIRD - provide the needed tools for proper pastoral study and ministry procedures.
FOURTH - to create fellowship among like-minded ministries, not as an entity, but an opportunity based on biblical conviction, not compromise.
FIFTH - to exhort the brethren to continue in the faith, and to determine to evangelize the lost, strengthen the churches and expand outreach opportunities through personal and community efforts of the church membership.
FINALLY - to create a directory of ministries, churches, schools, institutes, orphanages, youth and special needs, vehicles, facilities, conferences, and campaigns.
Through the Faith Promise Missions Conference, $40,000 of the needed $50,000 for the construction of the permanent facility was raised. Then commitments were made to raise the $10,000 necessary for hosting a Pastors Training Conference, (meals, lodging and supplies) followed by the $20,000 needed for the pastors' boxes (resource materials) which included a beautiful leather bound study Bible, Wilmington, Strong’s, Naves, Vines, study books, commentaries, highlighters, pens, sermon notes, preaching CDs/leadership conference materials C.B.C., Spanish music CDs, numerous helpful titles from Striving Together Publications, tracts, presentation materials and much more. (value $295.00 each)
Together with the missionaries already laboring in Honduras among national pastors and co-laboring missionaries, Pastor Smith, Associate Pastor Dan Kirchner, Assistant Pastor Brandon Lane and Tom Tilton (the teaching staff) prepared over 28 hours of lessons, plus translation. Special materials were produced: tracts, banners, fliers, posters, New Testaments, children's tracts, V.B.S. material, music and CDs, discipleship books, Bible Institute materials and computer programs and applications.
Through the invitations of the missionaries, guest pastors have registered from four countries and several different fellowship groups. The conference began April 4th and continued through April 8th. It began with Monday evening services at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Danli and concluded with a pastor’s prayer breakfast Saturday morning before the send off.
Thank you for praying for these exciting days and the opportunity to further strengthen the brethren for the work that remains. We are grateful to the faithful family at F.B.C. who have generously and graciously given over seventy thousand dollars for this project, the various publishing ministries who greatly reduced costs and for Striving Together Publications donating so many wonderful tools to this cause, to the faithful Hondurans who have built the new facility in record time with limited resources, and to their missionary leaders.
We are in need of another few thousand dollars to complete this project, and if the Lord calls you to the cause please be assured your help is needed! Most of all “pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you:…” II Thess. 3:1
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”
Early Morning Check In
After safely arriving in Houston we managed to get everything to the hotel and then have a relaxing dinner before getting some much-needed rest in preparation for the next day. The 2-hour time difference meant that our 5am wake-up call felt like 3am, and we were off to the lobby with two very loaded down luggage carts to be ready for the 6am shuttle that would take us back to the airport. Once at the airport we met a lady named Rosa (the nicest customer service agent United Airlines has), who took care of checking in all of our luggage and a couple of gate-check bags as well. Once the bags were checked in and we cleared security it was time for a little breakfast and coffee. The flight from Houston to Tegucigalpa was only about 2 1/2 hours, and we were able to enjoy an exit row which allowed for some nice leg room. Once we landed in Tegucigalpa the big concern was going through customs. Of course all of the materials we were bringing in were donated items and not for sale, but that doesn't mean they can't make you pay customs if they want to. But everything proceeded smoothly and the Lord blessed as a kind customs agent checked one bag that was full of clothing and then just waved all the team through. God is good all the time!
Photos from Early Morning Check In
The team enjoying an...
Loading the plane
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Safely on the ground in...
Missionary Jason Tate
Once the team passed through customs we were greeted by the familiar face of Missionary Jason Tate. Bro. Tate had a Deacon from his church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, and his sons to help with luggage. Once the bus was loaded we headed to McDonalds to meet up with Mrs. Debbie Lane who had flown in for the conference and will prove to be a big help as a translator. The McDonalds had free wifi so the team took this brief opportunity to send a few photos and post a quick update, then it was back on the bus for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Danli, where Bro. Tate’s work is located. With about an hour left to go, the bus began to lose power and we had to pull over in a rural area... with the last gas station 4 miles behind us, and even less options in front of us. It seemed the bus had begun to leak oil and was now running dangerously low. While Bro. Tate caught a ride back to get some oil, Spanish-speaking Bro. Tilton and Mrs. Lane took the opportunity to pass out tracts and witness to anyone who passed by. Finally the bus was able to get back on the road and make the rest of the trip to the church.
Photos from Missionary Jason Tate
The New Pastor's Training Facility in Danli
We arrived in Danli at the beautiful new training facility that Pastor Smith and Bro. Tate have been working so hard to coordinate and build. The lower floor has classrooms for the two nurseries on one side, a nice kitchen as well as men’s and women’s restrooms, and two classrooms for children's ministry on the other side. The second floor is open as an auditorium, allowing for much larger meetings and assemblies. The main church area shares in the quality look, and continues to be filled with people week after week. After the tour of the property, it was time once again for the team to get to work by offloading all the luggage and laying out all the materials on tables so the pastors will have easy access to them. Once everything was sorted we headed to dinner. Bro. Tate promised our team the food would not make us sick, and so far he has been right! Joining us at dinner was Mrs. Meladee Smith (also known as Grandma by the Tate children), who is here to help her daughter Cassie during the conference. After dinner the tired team loaded up and headed for the hotel to clean up, prepare for tomorrow’s services, post updates, and get some rest.
Photos from The New Pastor's Training Facility in Danli
Dinner for the gringos
Dinner and fellowship...
Team exiting the...
The lock for the back...
Sink hole en route to...
Lunch in Tegus and...
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Hallway of Hotel La...
Pastor Kirchner's work...
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Monday
Registration - 5 PM
Dinner - 6 PM
Orientation/Service - 7 PM
Tuesday
Breakfast - 7 AM
Personal Evangelism - 8-9:50 AM
The Basics of Bible Study - Strong's Concordance - Daniel Kirchner - 10-10:50
The Basics of Bible Study - Personal Preparation - Pastor Smith - 11-11:50
Lunch - Noon
Hotel for rest - 1-3 PM
Biblical Separation - Personal Separation - Brandon Lane - 3-3:50 PM
Preparing Bible Messages - Sermon Types - Pastor Smith - 4-4:50 PM
Baptist History - Baptist Doctrines - Tom Tilton - 5-5:50 PM
Missions - 6-6:50 PM
Dinner - 7 PM
Hotel - 8 PM
Wednesday
Breakfast - 7 AM
Personal Evangelism - 8-9:50 AM
The Basics of Bible Study - Wilmington's Guide to the Bible - Daniel Kirchner - 10-10:50
The Basics of Bible Study - Personal Devotional Time - Pastor Smith - 11-11:50
Lunch - Noon
Discipleship Training - Continue (Spanish) - 1-3 PM
Hotel for rest and fellowship - 3-5 PM
Dinner - 5 PM
Service - 6:30-8:30 PM
Thursday
Breakfast - 7 AM
Personal Evangelism - 8-9:50 AM
The Basics of Bible Study - Elemental Theology - Brandon Lane - 10-10:50
The Basics of Bible Study - Content, Context & Chronology - Pastor Smith - 11-11:50
Lunch - Noon
Hotel for rest - 1-3 PM
Biblical Separation - Ecclesiastical Separation (part 1) - Daniel Kirchner - 3-3:50 PM
Preparing Bible Messages - Choosing & Developing a Message - Pastor Smith - 4-4:50 PM
Baptist History - Baptist Distinctives - Tom Tilton - 5-5:50 PM
Missions - 6-6:50 PM
Dinner - 7 PM
Hotel - 8 PM
Friday
Breakfast - 7 AM
Personal Evangelism - 8-9:50 AM
The Basics of Bible Study - Manners & Customs, Moody Commentary - Brandon Lane - 10-10:50
The Basics of Bible Study - Methods of Study - Pastor Smith - 11-11:50
Lunch - Noon
Hotel for rest - 1-3 PM
Biblical Separation - Ecclesiastical Separation (part 2) - Daniel Kirchner - 3-3:50 PM
Preparing Bible Messages - Organizing Your Sermons - Pastor Smith - 4-4:50 PM
Baptist History - Defining & Defending Baptists - Tom Tilton - 5-5:50 PM
Missions - 6-6:50 PM
Closing Service - 7-8 PM
Dinner - 8 PM
Hotel - 9 PM
Saturday
Breakfast - 7 AM
Travel Home - 8 AM