Honduras
The Land and the
People
Honduras is located in the very center of Central America. Mestizo descendants make up 90 percent of the population. About two-thirds of the people are impoverished farm workers.
Religion
Roman Catholicism is the prevailing religion, and the Virgin of Suyapa is the matron saint. However the constitution guarantees freedom of all creeds.
Past and Current
Work
Baptist Mid-Missions’ work in Honduras had its origins in the family of Edward Howell, an islander and a Methodist circuit preacher, on the island of Utila. Some of his children received their education in the U.S.A. When they returned to Utila, their father joined with them to organize a Baptist testimony. Robert Howell and his wife Dorothy joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 1954. Robert's brother's family joined the following year, with the work in Utila being organized in 1955.
In 1957, work began in Puerto Cortes, a coastal town on the mainland. The works established by these missionaries have flourished, and approximately 30 small churches were started in 25 years.
Currently there is a church plant in San Pedro Sula, which was started in February 2002, and one in La Ceiba. Another couple serves in Progresso and Melgar. Hurricane Mitch, which ravaged Honduras in 1998, has had a profound impact on the work in San Pedro Sula. BMM's relief effort resulted in the building of 60 homes and a parsonage. The goverment donated three properties for church buildings because of the relief effort.
Goals
Workers Needed
Pray that the Lord will send another five couples to work in this great harvest field. There is an urgent need for a missionary to work on the Islands. A single missionary is needed to help with office work and translations. Workers are also needed to open up a camp ministry and a printing/translation ministry as well as to train Honduran musicians.