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:”
Sunday Overview
Today, the team's focus will be on the Sunday services for the Bethlehem Baptist Church of Danli. Bro. Tilton left the hotel early so he could join the church's bus route. Even in a third world country, he's is out on Sunday morning picking up boys and girls and taking them to church! Pastor Smith was up early praying and reviewing his notes, as he has been asked to preach the Sunday morning message. The time in Honduras is one hour ahead of home, so Pastor will begin preaching at roughly 9am Tacoma time.
Sunday Morning Services
On behalf of Pastor Smith and the Honduras Team, please allow us a moment to say thank you to everyone who is and has been praying for this trip. We do realize that this trip is not about us, but is about the national pastors that we seek to minister to, but we have felt the prayers of God's people and seen His grace at work. God really blessed in the morning services today, and the message from Pastor was well received, but we found out that we are here during the hottest month of the year so you will see in the photos and video many people fanning themselves! Following the morning service, Bro. Tate and Bro. Allen Jackson and their families took us to lunch and we had a good time of fellowship together. Also, as you may know, internet connectivity is limited here but we are doing our best to share what the Lord is doing in this place. Below you will find photos and videos from the morning service and lunch. Thank you again for all of the prayers, please take a look at the schedule we've posted so you can know how to pray more specifically.
Photos from Sunday Morning Services
Leaving the hotel with...
Arriving at the church...
Side of the current...
The piece of land that...
Posters from last...
Missionary Alan Jackson...
Pastor Smith with Bro....
Bro. Dan with his new...
Missionary Tate with...
The church has just...
Missionaries Alan &...
Bro. Jackson and Bro....
Mrs. Tate with her two...
Bro. Lane and his...
Bro. Tate's children...
Bro. Tate is standing...
The Tates' foster...
The first people to...
Today's special guest...
The church family uses...
The new building will...
Today was the very...
Instead of a single...
Colorful and clean,...
Much like at Faith, the...
Men shared prayer...
Bro. Sergio and his...
Children are a welcome...
Workers preparing for...
Church is a family...
Pastor Smith...
The auditorium begins...
Bro. Tilton's fluency...
The Scriptures are read...
The song service had a...
They receive two...
After the singing and...
A brand new classroom...
Mrs. Jackson teaching...
Pastor Smith was the...
Bro. Tate is an...
Pastor Smith preached a...
Bro. Jackson driving...
The message really...
The altars were opened,...
The people prayed,...
Church family...
The offerings are kept...
Some of the deacons...
Meladee Smith loving on...
Bro. Tate speaking with...
Missionaries and...
There is very limited...
Pastor Smith doesn't...
The Tates and Jacksons...
Kids getting ready for...
Bro. Tilton enjoying...
Pastor Smith talking...
Random cow crossing the...
Sunday Evening Services
After a great lunch and fellowship we headed for the hotel for some much-needed rest while Pastor Kirchner headed over to the Tates' house to use their internet connection to post updates on the church website. About an hour into the video uploads the power in town went out and all progress was lost... welcome to Honduras! It was over an hour before the power came back on, so we were only able to post a few pictures before leaving to pick up the rest of the missions team. Bro. Tate was very kind and took us for a quick coffee before heading to the church. The evening service was full, with ten more guests than the morning services! The whole team got involved in ministering, as Bro. Dan and Bro. Lane joined with Bro. Tate to provide the special music. Th impromptu trio sang a congregational favorite, Victory in Jesus. Even though it was in English, the congregation loved it, and many took out their phones to take pictures and video of the special. Afterward, the song leader challenged the congregation to sing it together in Spanish for their vistors. Bro. Alan Jackson preached the evening message, and Bro. Tom Tilton taught one of the children's classes. We praise the Lord that two men were saved following the service!
Photos from Sunday Evening Services
Bro. Tate taking mercy...
Street view from inside...
With this extremely hot...
The buses run every...
Bro. Lane decided five...
Following the trio's...
Various church leaders...
The church's song books...
Mrs. Tate busy checking...
Bro. Tilton getting...
Bro. Jason interpreted...
The children were...
Missionary Jackson...
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