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:”
Wednesday Morning Sessions
This morning's schedule started with breakfast at 7am, followed by Missionary Alan Jackson teaching the first two sessions on personal evangelism. As stated previously, his ability to teach his lessons in Spanish really creates a variety in the teaching, and also allows our translator, Missionary Jason Tate, to rest. During the breaks, Pastor Kirchner began to get photos of each of the Pastors so we can remember who we were able to connect with while we were here. Pastor Smith taught the next session on personal devotional time with God; perhaps one of the best lessons of the conference. After the next break, Pastor Smith opened the floor to questions again, and the Pastors began to share different burdens and difficulties they were facing. To hear them speak was like listening to a Pastor pour out his heart for the United States... different locations, different languages, and different culture, but burdens seem so universal. Pastor Smith's answers were kind and patient, but carried two main themes: 1. You are not alone in this, and 2. You are God's man and you can get it done through His strength. After these intense sessions, everyone was ready for a break and some nourishment. The ladies in the kitchen outdid themselves once again; not a single meal has been served late or been anything less than delicious! The afternoon brought Pastor Kirchner's first experience teaching through a translator, but God was gracious and the lesson flowed smoothly. His first session on discipleship reiterated and expounded on what Pastor Smith had taught on Tuesday with regards to why we disciple. During the break, a truck pulled in with half of the books for the Pastors! Praise the Lord they finally cleared port! It is not clear at this point if there is enough for all the Pastors, but it is enough to get started training with them tomorrow. At the close of the session, Pastor Smith gave a brief challenge and some final thoughts about discipleship, and the men were dismissed to their hotel to clean up and get ready for dinner and the evening service to follow.
Photos from Wednesday Morning Sessions
A look down the hotel...
The buses picking up...
Our training team...
A view from the bus
The Honduran Egg...
Pastors enjoying food...
Men headed up for the...
The property has been...
The first session...
When team members are...
The stacks of tracts...
Children were asking...
Bro. Jackson continuing...
The ministry supplied a...
Ladies preparing the...
Pastors enjoying a...
Due to the number of...
Men practicing for the...
Pastor Smith teaching...
Bro. Lane creating a...
The Gospel tracts...
Pastor Smith sharing...
Some of the...
Pastor Smith answering...
Pastors from other...
Some of the young men...
James, a tall young...
Pastor coming up to...
In the background you...
Bro. Dan teaching his...
During the break, half...
The men jumped at the...
The materials were...
Distributing the...
Pastor Smith offering...
Bro. Lane moves on to...
In a place where dust...
Wednesday Evening Services
This evening was different from the previous nights, as the Pastors would be joining the church family for the Wednesday eveing service. The spaghetti dinner was greatly enjoyed by the men who had been learning all day. The evening service was very special, as the young men from a seminary came and sang as a choir. To add to the special music, Bro. Lane played an instrumental special with a young Pastor who played the guitar. Missionary Alan Jackson preached in Spanish, giving our training team the opportunity to sit back and enjoy watching the church function. Following the service, Mrs. Becky Jackson took time to witness to one of the visitors, and had the privilege of leading her to Christ! After some fellowship and saying goodbyes, Bro. Tate took our team to dinner and then back to the hotel for rest.
Photos from Wednesday Evening Services
Some of the seminary...
The young people were...
Church family filling...
The training team...
All the chairs on the...
View of the new...
Bro. Jackson welcoming...
Church family singing...
Bro. Lane helping to...
There are two offerings...
The students from the...
You might recognize...
Due to the limited ...
Song books are in three...
Once the children went...
The alters were full...
The training team...
The Lanes...
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