Goodbye Yesterday!

Today’s blog topic is courtesy of Alejandro, the praise song “Goodbye Yesterday” by Elevation Rhythm & Gracie Binion, and Philippians 3:13–14. If that sounds like a lot to unpack, don’t worry — we’ve got it organized. Yes, there are bullet points. (Emotionally speaking. No actual dots were harmed in the making of this post.) But first, let’s begin with Scripture:

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV    

Just as the song mentions, something we, as Christians, need to learn is to say “goodbye to yesterday.” It’s all too easy to feel like prisoners – not because we don’t have dreams or goals, but because we can become trapped in the past. We might replay every bad decision we’ve ever made like they are our own versions of America’s Funniest Home Video, minus the funny parts. Or we can even get so trapped in thinking about the good seasons of the past that we fail to live in the present.

Now for the three main points Alejandro wishes to share with everyone:

Bullet Point #1 (Minus the actual bullet point)

Our past doesn’t mean that’s our future. Every single one of us has made some dubious decisions. We’ve all done things that don’t make us feel proud. But Alejandro would like to remind us that Paul, the author of Philippians, also had a past. And, really, chances are that Paul’s past as a killer who actively worked against the church feels a little seedier than anything you may be reliving in your head. 

Alejandro said, “The devil is going to try to use our pasts to keep us there. Your past doesn’t mean that you don’t have a purpose in the Lord. Paul found his purpose when he found the Lord.” 

Bullet Point #2 (Pretend there’s a bullet point.)

Saying goodbye to yesterday is a spiritual decision. Not everything was bad, but not everything is useful now. When we leave our pasts in the past, we can walk forward.

Alejandro urges you to pray for God to give you a new vision. He said, “We cannot get our purpose in the Lord when we live in the past. The kingdom is always moving forward. Verse 14 reminds us to press forward, toward the goal. The goal needs to be Christ. Not perfection. Not fame. Not likes on social media. The goal needs to be God.”

Bullet Point #3 (The final bullet point that’s not really here)

God has not brought you to this day to have you live as a prisoner of your past. Say “goodbye” to yesterday so you can say “yes” to God’s purpose for your present. 

- posted by Christi

Starting 2026 with Prayer, Purpose, and Plenty to Do

Depending on where you live, you may have welcomed 2026 with a plate of “lucky” foods—black-eyed peas, spinach, and cornbread. While that tradition certainly doesn’t hurt (especially the cornbread), we know the very best way to begin a new year is by bathing it in prayer. So, let’s kick off the first Sowers4Pastors blog post of 2026 by sharing a fresh round of prayer requests.

Brandy would like to remind everyone that the beginning of the year is an especially busy season for Sowers4Pastors. Shipping containers are being unpacked and sorted as preparations begin for backpack distribution. With the Honduran school year starting in February, there is a great deal to accomplish in a very short window of time.

The backpack distribution team from Lighthouse Church will arrive in just 11 days, followed closely by two additional teams arriving back-to-back. This means focused preparation, long days, and a lot of coordination. Please pray for the S4P staff to remain grounded in the ministry’s vision and for both staff and visiting teams to have the endurance and unity needed to complete all that lies ahead.

The third round of coffee harvesting is also beginning today. The second harvest exceeded expectations, and coffee is still drying, with enough remaining for both a third and even a fourth harvest. Coffee pickers are arriving this morning, and the harvest needs to be completed by next week. Please pray for an adequate number of workers and for a smooth, timely harvest.

Sowers4Pastors is also in need of new staff members. They are currently seeking both American and Honduran team members to fill open positions. Please pray that the right people will step forward — individuals who are not only qualified, but also called to serve in this ministry.

Another important prayer request involves Secia, who has been experiencing health challenges for nearly a year. Despite numerous visits, doctors were unable to identify the issue. While vacationing with family in Tegucigalpa over Christmas, Alejandro and Secia were finally able to receive an accurate diagnosis. Secia is scheduled to have surgery this morning. Although the procedure itself is considered routine, we know how personal and weighty these moments can be. Please pray for a successful surgery, a smooth recovery, and peace for her family. While S4P will miss her presence during the upcoming team visits, everyone is grateful that she is finally receiving the care she needs.

Like many organizations at the start of a new year, Sowers4Pastors has spent time reflecting on goals and opportunities for growth. Just two days ago, staff members met to establish a renewed set of expectations and ministry goals. They are excited about what lies ahead in 2026, and Brandy has hinted that a special ministry announcement will be coming later this year.

Thank you for continuing to cover Sowers4Pastors in prayer as the new year begins. Your faithfulness makes a difference — today, this month, and all year long.

 - posted by Christi

Room at the Manger

 It’s safe to assume your holiday season is busy—and probably carrying at least a little stress along for the ride. There’s food to buy and prepare, halls to deck, and presents to purchase and wrap. Today, Alejandro invites you to pause for just a moment and turn your attention to the manger, reflecting on a familiar passage of Scripture and the meaning it holds for all of us.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
— Luke 2:6–7 (NKJV)

Alejandro asks us to focus on the manger itself.

When we make our Christmas shopping lists, we think carefully about what the recipient needs or will enjoy. We wrap those gifts in beautiful paper, topped with bows and ribbons. Yet the greatest gift of all—Jesus—did not arrive in a shiny box. He wasn’t born in a palace or surrounded by luxury. God chose a simple place. In that way, the manger becomes a powerful symbol of humility.

Jesus was born in a place where anyone could enter—shepherds, the poor, the overlooked. From the very beginning, His life made it clear that He came to be accessible to everyone, not only the powerful or important.

Alejandro reminds us that this humble beginning was the first glimpse of the character of the King who came to serve. God used a small village, modest surroundings, and an ordinary family to bring about extraordinary purpose—creating greatness where it might have seemed there was nothing at all.

There are at least three powerful truths found in the symbol of the manger:
• Jesus loves the simple.
• He transforms the humble.
• He seeks open hearts, not perfect ones.

If Jesus chose a manger, He can reign in your life as well.

Alejandro wants everyone reading this to remember that humility opens doors. Humility isn’t about thinking less of your worth; it’s about thinking less about yourself and more about God. It means serving without waiting for applause. It means obedience, even when the cost is high. It means offering your life as an available manger — ready to be filled with the presence of the Lord.

From everyone at Sowers4Pastors, we wish you the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years. May the glory of the Lord fill you. May His courage strengthen you. And may you remember that Jesus takes what is humble and transforms it into something rich with purpose and meaning.

If He chose to be born in a manger, He can also be born — and reign — in your life.

  - posted by Christi

Mary Faith, Español, and a Whole Lot of Suitcases

 ¿Cómo se dice, “Mary Faith is at language school,” en español? Oh, never mind — we’ll keep it in English before someone has to diagram a sentence. But yes, it’s true: Mary Faith is once again immersed in language school, bravely tackling the very grammar concepts most of us avoided by pretending our high school textbooks were decorative. This morning’s adventure? Choosing the correct pronouns for direct and indirect objects. Ay, caramba.

If that seems familiar, it’s because Mary Faith has been to this language school before. She’s committed to speaking clearly to the people she’s moved to Honduras to serve — not just nodding politely and hoping context clues will save her.

“I’m enjoying the school,” she said. “It’s a key part of helping me communicate better in Spanish. Plus, it has been a challenge to attend church and not understand what is being said.”

Next week, the students will head to a local school to sing songs and play games with the kids — a lively blend of ministry, vocabulary practice, and trying to remember the Spanish word for “tag.” The school also schedules regular outings, including trips to the vegetable market where the produce is fresh, and the opportunities to practice Spanish are even fresher.

But language school hasn’t been her only adventure. Mary Faith spent August in Phoenix, visiting family and helping her two younger sons pack up their rental house and move into campus housing. In September, she and Kirstin embarked on their cross-country odyssey — a backpack-collecting pilgrimage with mileage that would make a long-haul trucker proud. Because the route looped through North Carolina twice, Mary Faith got to see her oldest son and his wife two times… and that’s when she received joyful news: she’s going to be a grandmother this spring.

Two weeks after returning to Honduras, she packed up again for language school, where she’ll remain until December 19th. You may be thinking, “Surely she’ll have time to settle back into life in Gracias after that.” Oh, sweet optimism. She flies home to Phoenix on December 22nd to spend Christmas with her family. If suitcases earned frequent flyer miles, hers would have elite status by now.

And then — the surprise of the season. Last week, Mary Faith received her Honduran residency card.

“It was a total surprise,” she said. “I’d been told it could take a year or a year and a half. I sent in my paperwork in June and got an email a couple of weeks ago saying I could go to Tegucigalpa and show my passport. They said it would take five more days to get the card, but I walked out with it that same day.”

The residency card means she no longer has to leave Honduras every ninety days. While she has treasured those frequent visits with family, she certainly won’t miss the extra travel expenses (or the packing… and unpacking… and repacking).

While she’s in the States over the holidays, Mary Faith would love to connect with churches, small groups, or individuals interested in partnering with her ministry. And if you won’t be nearby? Not a problem. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology — and a reliable Wi-Fi signal — she’s happy to set up a Zoom call to share more about her work, her needs, and what God is doing through her in Honduras.

If you’d like to learn how you can support Mary Faith as she continues serving full-time on the mission field, feel free to reach out. She’d love to hear from you.

- Posted by Christi

When Opportunity Calls . . . Pack Fast!

One of the perks of Allen and Trish’s current stage of life is the ability to travel without months of planning. They’ve officially reached the “throw some things in a bag and go” era — a magical time when spontaneity no longer requires a committee meeting. Recently, that flexibility served both them and the ministry in a big way. When longtime supporter Pastor Chris Ozment from Alabama called and asked if they could attend a county-wide conference of Baptist churches in just two weeks, Allen and Trish grabbed their bags.

But first, of course, came the behind-the-scenes scramble.

The purpose of the trip was to help Sowers4Pastors connect with churches in Pastor Chris' area. He and his wife have been packing backpacks for Sowers4Pastors for years, involving their local churches in that project. Last spring, Allen and Trish visited Alabama to meet with some of the pastors and gauge how much interest there might be in having them come to share the larger ministry with the local congregations — a visit that aligned perfectly with the launch of S4P’s new public sponsorship program. This program differs from the sister-church model in a big way: it’s open to individual sponsors anywhere - not just people in one specific US church.

Originally, the plan was to return to Alabama in the fall, but Pastor Chris experienced a health crisis, so it looked like the trip would be postponed indefinitely. Even so, S4P kept moving forward. The location for the new program was identified. Local connections were made with a pastor and school. Everything was lining up beautifully…

…and then the “throw some things in a bag” phone call came.

Naturally, there was one more plot twist — courtesy of a Honduran holiday shuffle.

In recent years, the Honduran government has rearranged certain holidays to create a full week off in the fall. Think of it as celebrating the 4th of July, Veterans Day, and Labor Day all in one festive stretch. So when Pastor Chris called, many S4P staff were scattered across the country enjoying family time. But…

Allen and Trish knew this was their window to begin arranging sponsors for the soon-to-launch public program. As soon as everyone returned, they quickly gathered the team and registered all the children in the new program. Because it was the end of the Honduran school year, the kids didn’t receive backpacks at that time — but they will in January.

Denise Cofer worked quickly to create profiles for each child, while Trish prepared the website so those shiny new profiles would have an online home. And then Allen and Trish officially threw some things in a bag and took off.

First stop: Florida, where they printed each child’s profile, and briefly visited with family.

Next stop: Alabama, where they spoke at the conference and then spent five full weeks visiting congregations — Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday nights included.

Thirty children now have sponsors, a strong beginning for the new public sponsorship program. Along the way, Allen and Trish met wonderful people, sampled Alabama church potlucks (they gave them five enthusiastic stars), and were glad for the opportunity to serve the ministry in a way only they can do right now.

The new sponsorship program will officially open to everyone in early 2026. Kirstin is creating the official policy page for the website, and Trish is wrangling with the tech work. As always, S4P will stretch every sponsorship dollar as far as it can possibly reach — supporting not only an individual child, but also that child's pastor, their community, other children still waiting for a sponsor, and even pastors who are being empowered to potentially run sponsorship programs in their communities in the future!

Thank you to Pastor Chris for the invitation — and to the churches in his county for giving the new public sponsorship program a heartwarming kickoff. - posted by Christi

Sowers4Pastors: December Prayer Requests (Because “Busy” Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It)

Brandy opened our chat with a line that deserves its own knowing nod: “As everyone knows, we manage to keep ourselves busy and December is not an exception.” Understatement of the year. With everything happening at once, it’s the perfect moment to share some focused prayer requests for Sowers4Pastors and the communities they serve.

Elections

On November 30th, Honduras began its general elections for president, congress, and local officials. As of this post (December 4th), the votes are still being counted — and it’s tight. More than one candidate has already claimed victory, and the third is gearing up to do the same. It’s an anxious moment for the country, and many people are understandably frightened about the outcome.

Unlike the U.S., Honduras does not have an electoral college; the popular vote alone determines the result. Please pray for peace, clarity, and a smooth transition as every vote is processed.

On a lighter note: the military does not vote in Honduras, which meant this was Brandy’s first time casting a ballot. Nathan, who loves following current events, tagged along to observe. He’s firmly convinced — and Brandy agrees — that if people want change, voting matters.

Backpacks

The S4P team is knee-deep in processing a full container of sponsored backpacks. Borrowing (loosely) from a certain jolly gift-giver’s motto: they’re making lists and checking them twice, making sure no backpack is missing an essential item. No naughty list here — just a whole lot of quality control.

There’s also a second dispensa (request for duty-free shipping into Honduras) in process to bring home the container of non-sponsor backpacks. Please pray the election delays don’t slow that approval.

Coffee Farm

The first big S4P coffee harvest of the season began yesterday — wonderful news, paired with a challenge. Finding enough pickers is difficult every year, but this season comes with a twist: farms across the region ripened all at once. Normally, the S4P farm ripens earlier due to its lower elevation, but nature had other plans.

Despite the labor shortage, spirits are high. As Brandy said, “We are happy that we have a lot of coffee. That’s good. The harvesters are happy to benefit from the extra work.”

Some families even bring their children along, and seven kids helped pick yesterday. Brandy overheard a delighted young boy celebrating his collection of two quarts of coffee berries. When she asked what he planned to buy with his earnings, he grinned and said he was going to buy a cake. Honestly? Respect.

Moving the Office

The S4P office is officially moving into the town of Gracias, and the process is already underway. While it may seem unconventional, the reasons are solid. Space was getting tight — “bursting at the seams” might be more accurate — and the growing ministry needed room to breathe.

The new space is in a house near the bus station in Gracias, which will make a world of difference for the many pastors who arrive by bus. Brandy visited yesterday and learned that people have already stopped by looking for Bibles. God wastes no time.

Please pray for a smooth transition and for staff to settle quickly and comfortably into the new space.

Teams

As soon as the coffee harvest winds down, backpack distribution ramps up — and S4P isn’t easing into it. They’ll welcome teams from the three largest sponsorship programs three weeks in a row.

• Week 1: Lighthouse Church team (serving 800–900 kids)
  
  

• Week 2: Life Community Church  team (around 400 kids)
  
  

• Week 3: Edgewater Alliance Church team (another 400 kids)
  
  

That’s a lot of backpacks and a lot of ministry packed into three weeks. Everyone is excited, and as Brandy put it, “We want to be ready for them.”

Staff

Please keep all S4P staff members in your prayers. Brandy’s request is simple and deeply heartfelt:

“Pray that we keep the fire in our hearts — to love the people and to serve the people. Prayers for endurance, which God never fails to give.”

 - posted by Christi

Faithful to the Finish: Celebrating the 2025 Pastor Training Graduates

After three years of dedication and study, there’s a new group of graduates from pastor training school! Among them is Gabriel Perdomo, who graciously shared his experience with us.

Many of us remember those words from college orientation: “Look to your right. Now look to your left. Statistically, one of you won’t be here by graduation.” That’s a sobering thought for any student — but even more so for those who attend pastor training school. These students sacrifice time with their families, income from work, and often travel long distances just to attend. Out of the thirty or so students who began this journey together, nine faithfully continued to the end. That makes this accomplishment all the more meaningful.

Gabriel described the graduation ceremony with quiet pride. Because many students must travel several hours to reach the school, not all families can attend. Even so, the intimate celebration was filled with joy. One of the graduates, a gifted singer and guitarist, led worship alongside a teacher from the musical training school. A sermon followed, delivered by one of the directors, and then came the long-awaited moment — each graduate stepping forward to receive a hard-earned diploma. Afterward, the group shared a meal and took photos together, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

For one graduate, the day was especially sweet. Just a few months ago, he texted the group to say he couldn’t attend that month’s session because he didn’t have enough money for the expenses, including bus fare. But his classmates refused to let him miss out. They quickly took up a collection so he could continue his studies. That act of love and solidarity made his graduation day even more meaningful for everyone.

Pastor training school has given Gabriel tools that will serve him for years to come. As a youth pastor, he now feels more confident creating sermons grounded in Scripture. “I know I’m giving messages that are based on the Bible,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Gabriel plans to continue his work with youth and is open to returning to help future students at the training school. He and his fellow graduates intend to stay connected, supporting one another as they each go on to serve their communities.

Thank you to all who support pastor training school through your prayers and donations. This is your celebration, too!

- posted by Christi