A Big Step Forward: Formal Training for Sunday School Teachers

Several months ago, Brandy hinted that Sowers4Pastors would soon have a surprise announcement. Well, the future has arrived — and the surprise is a big one.

This year, S4P will begin offering its own formal training program for Sunday school teachers.

You might be thinking, Don’t they already provide training? That’s true. Just a few weeks ago, S4P hosted a training day for teachers to review the new curriculum. Those sessions are valuable, but they only scratch the surface of what teachers need to feel fully equipped.

Brandy began to notice this while visiting Sunday school classes throughout the region.

“Once in a while, we visit the Sunday school classes in the area,” he explained. “There are some places where the teachers are doing a really good job. But in other areas, teachers are struggling with the techniques needed to use the resources we provide. That’s when I started looking for a solution.”

That search led Brandy to a Christian seminary in Tegucigalpa. His sister studied there, and many others he knows have had positive experiences with the school. After conversations with the seminary leadership, something remarkable happened. The seminary agreed to do something unprecedented for the region: they will send instructors to Gracias to provide formal, intensive training for Sunday school teachers.

The ministry originally hoped to launch the program last year, but the timing wasn’t right. It would have overlapped with the coffee harvest, when many families depend on seasonal work for their income. Asking people to leave their work during that time simply wasn’t realistic. Now, however, the dry season has arrived and most agricultural work has paused—making it the perfect time to begin.

More than 30 people have already committed to the 10-month program, and that number may grow. S4P is still waiting to hear back from three churches that are considering sending teachers.

“We already have the location where the classes will be held,” Brandy said with a laugh. “We have beds for people to sleep in. We have the teachers. We even have the food lined up. We have everything we need for the students to begin—now we just need the money.”

One of the most important aspects of the program is accessibility. The seminary has agreed that the only educational requirement for participation will be the ability to read and write. Many adults in the region have those skills but never had the opportunity to earn a high school diploma. This program opens the door for them to receive meaningful training despite that barrier.

Students will complete two modules on Christian education, one module on child psychology, and a laboratory focused on developing and teaching Bible lessons. Opportunities like this are extremely rare in the area. In fact, Brandy remembers speaking with pastors from some of the largest churches in major cities who admitted they have no formal training available for their Sunday school teachers.

The fact that this level of training will now be available to teachers in rural communities is nothing short of extraordinary.

The program will run for ten months. Once each month, students will travel to Gracias by bus on a Friday. After arriving, they will share lunch together before heading into their first classes of the weekend. The evening will include dinner followed by another class before rest. On Saturday morning, students will enjoy breakfast and attend additional classes before boarding their buses to return home around noon. The seminary instructors will also stay overnight in Gracias during each training weekend.

Sowers4Pastors will provide the students with food, housing, and all educational materials. The only cost participants will be responsible for is transportation. However, two partner churches have already asked for help covering bus expenses because they simply do not have the funds.

This new initiative is only the beginning. Brandy hopes that once S4P gains experience with the program, similar training opportunities can expand into other areas — including formal training for pastors.

If you’re wondering how this differs from the existing Sunday school teacher training, Brandy explained that the current program is designed for individuals who may struggle with reading and writing and who arrive with very limited education. This new training represents the next step for those who are ready to continue learning.

Opportunities like this do not come along every day. Please consider supporting this new program financially — and as always, your prayers are deeply appreciated.

- posted by Christi If you'd like to help with the new Sunday school teacher training programs, you can donate to our general fund - just add a note saying that your desire is to help with Sunday School teacher training. Here's the link: Donation page

From Blight to Blessing: Singing of God’s Goodness on the Coffee Farm

This week’s blog post begins a little differently — with a moment of praise and worship. Go ahead, jump in if you know it:

“ ’Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God…”

That song — “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans — came to mind for Brandy as he reflected on the story of the coffee farm. And once you hear what God has done, you’ll understand exactly why.

Let’s rewind.

When Brandy first joined the ministry, he stepped into a role he hadn’t exactly trained for: overseeing a coffee farm. And not under ideal circumstances, either. The farm had been hit by a devastating blight.

“There was no hope for the farm to recover,” Brandy shared. “We brought in the experts, and they gave us two options: stop working with the farm… or start all over.”

Not exactly the kind of multiple-choice question you want.

The final decision landed on Brandy. So he did what he could do — and what he knew to do. He prayed. The staff prayed. Visiting teams prayed. One moment, in particular, stayed with him.

“I remember a pastor visiting the farm and giving a short devotional — maybe three minutes,” Brandy said. “He prayed for healing over the land. And after that prayer — after all of those prayers — I started to see things changing.”

The decision was made: give the farm another year.

That first harvest?

“Pathetic,” Brandy said, with a laugh that only comes from hindsight.

But then something shifted.

The next year’s harvest was good. The year after that was even better. And this year?

This year, the harvest has already surpassed last year’s total — and they’re not even finished.

The final picking of the season is underway, and it’s taking longer than usual — not because of problems, but because of abundance. What normally takes a week is stretching well beyond that, simply because there is so much coffee still to gather.

And the quality? Brandy has already submitted samples to two laboratories. The verdict: this year’s crop qualifies for a specialty coffee rating. From “no hope” to exceptional.

But for Brandy, the story of the farm has never been just about coffee. It’s about people.

Over the past three years, he’s gotten to know the workers — learning their names, their families, their stories.

“I was talking to one woman,” Brandy said. “Many families save what they earn during harvest season to use throughout the year. She told me that two of her sons graduated from high school because of this job.”

He paused, then added, “This year, others have told me how grateful they are that they don’t have to travel far from home to find work.”

Even the children are part of the story. It’s common for kids to work alongside their parents during harvest season, earning their own money. Recently, as Brandy paid a group of them, he asked if they would be going to school.

“They told me they were only working Saturday — because they start school on Monday.”

The money they earn often goes toward their own school supplies. And with that comes something more than provision — something deeper. Pride. Ownership. Dignity. A quiet understanding that God provides, sometimes through the work of their own hands.

“It’s great to remember this is one of the purposes of the farm,” Brandy said. “I think God is blessing us to be a blessing to others.”

And isn’t that the thread running through it all?

A farm that looked finished… now flourishing.
A harvest that once seemed impossible… now overflowing.
A community once limited by opportunity… now growing, working, and thriving.

So yes — go ahead and sing it again:

All my life You have been faithful.                                                     All my life You have been so, so good.

Because sometimes, the goodness of God looks like healing land. Sometimes it looks like full coffee branches. And sometimes… it looks like a child heading to school on Monday, proud of what they earned on Saturday.

Now that’s a harvest worth celebrating.

 - posted by Christi

Home, At Last (And Staying Put… For Now)

Mary Faith is home.

That may not sound like headline material unless you know that in 2025 there was a six-month stretch when she was only in her home in Gracias for two and a half weeks. Two and a half. Weeks.

So yes — this announcement comes with a bit of fanfare… and a very long, very satisfied exhale.

She’s back from language school, back from the backpack trip, back from visiting family in the States. The packed suitcase has been unpacked. The comings and goings have (temporarily) ceased. And Mary Faith is genuinely happy about that.

That’s not to say she didn’t love all the experiences. She absolutely did. But sometimes it’s nice when “all the things” are spread out a little more evenly across the calendar instead of stacked like carry-on luggage in an overhead bin.

One of the sweetest parts of her time away was Christmas in Arizona. Her brother and his family traveled from Missouri. Her sister and her family came from Indiana, and another sister came from New Mexico. Her oldest son and his wife traveled from North Carolina. In other words, it wasn’t just a gathering — it was a full-fledged family reunion.

And yes, this is the son and daughter-in-law who are expecting a baby boy in May - Mary Faith's first grandbaby! Cue the confetti!

For now, Mary Faith is settling into a steadier rhythm. She’s continuing language classes online twice a week through the school she previously attended in person. When recent teams were in town, she was able to join them for a day or two each week and even host some of their evening gatherings at her home. For the next few months, she’s sharing her space with Hannah, who is serving as an intern. And when teams are in Gracias, a female interpreter/videographer from Tegucigalpa named Scarleth also stays with her.

It’s a full house — and a full life.

During recent team visits, Mary Faith had a bit more flexibility because updated child profile information wasn’t yet available. But now? The updated photos and information have arrived.

It’s officially "Go Time."

For the next couple of months, she’ll be diligently entering new information and photos into the system so sponsors can stay connected and up to date. The timing is actually perfect. She hopes to complete the bulk of that work before heading to North Carolina in May to welcome that sweet grandson into the world.

Later in the year, Mary Faith will spend a couple of months in the States again. Let’s go ahead and call it the “Mary Faith Taking Care of Business Tour.” The itinerary includes thrilling tasks like renewing her passport and driver’s license — because missionary life is not always glamorous. While she’s stateside, she’ll also be traveling and fundraising. If you’d like her to speak to your group or church, she would love the opportunity!

As you pray for Mary Faith and her family, there are a couple of specific needs on the horizon. Last year, language school was a major fundraising focus — and thanks to faithful support, she was able to complete that season. This year, her focus is building consistent monthly support and purchasing a reliable vehicle.

S4P has graciously allowed her to use a ministry vehicle when teams are not in town. It has been a generous and practical solution. But Mary Faith knows it isn’t a long-term one. A dependable vehicle would allow her to serve more freely and sustainably in the years ahead.

For now, though, she’s home. Home to her house. Home to her calling. Home to the steady, faithful work in front of her.

After a season of suitcases, that feels like a gift.

Please continue to pray for provision, for rest, and for all the good things still to come. The unpacked suitcase may be tucked away for the moment — but the work God is doing certainly isn’t.

-posted by Christi.

Beautiful Feet, Dusty Roads, and Faithful Yeses

Sowers4Pastors has completed three beautiful—but undeniably exhausting—weeks of ministry. The kind of tired that settles into your bones, yes, but also the kind that comes from knowing you’ve been part of something far bigger than yourself. As the dust (and mud… and cold air) begins to settle, Brandy found himself reflecting on this passage from Romans:

        How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And         how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And         how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how            can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How                beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

                                                                Romans 10:14–15 (NIV)

Over the past few weeks, Sowers4Pastors has hosted three back-to-back teams for backpack distributions and other projects. It’s been tiring. Plans haven’t always gone perfectly. There have been detours and delays, most often courtesy of weather or vehicles that decided now was the perfect time to act up. Still, the work continued.

When a team from Lighthouse Church was on the ground, the defining feature of the week was dust. Long days were spent traveling to different communities, distributing backpacks, playing games with kids, and visiting the homes of sponsored children. During that week, Brandy’s pickup truck — loaded to the brim with backpacks — developed mechanical issues. The truck limped its way to the school, was repaired just enough, and made it home at the end of the day. Not ideal, but good enough to keep going.

The following week brought a team from Life Community Church — and with them, the rain. Lots of rain. Dust gave way to mud, and plenty of it. One of the S4P trucks spun out and now wears a few large dents as souvenirs. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the work didn’t slow down.

That team distributed backpacks and tackled a major electrical project at one of the schools. Two electricians on the team were stunned by what they found: much of the school had been without lights for years. When the lights were finally turned on throughout the building, kids gathered to watch. Neighbors looked on from their windows. People cheered. What felt ordinary to some was nothing short of extraordinary for that community.

Last week, Sowers4Pastors was hosting a team from Edgewater, FL, and just to keep things interesting, the weather turned cold — by Honduran standards, anyway. Brandy estimates temperatures hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes for a very chilly backpack distribution. The team also made home visits, where children and their families eagerly welcome sponsors into their homes. Even with nearly 2,000 children in the program, Brandy shared that he’s beginning to recognize familiar faces.

The roads may be dusty or muddy. Trucks may break down or spin out. Temperatures may drop unexpectedly. But the feet that carry the good news — those are always beautiful.

- posted by Christi.

Sharing What Matters: A First Taste of Missions

If you’re a parent, you know the quiet joy of introducing your child to something you love for the very first time. Maybe it’s the best slice of pizza you’ve ever had, or a cinematic masterpiece like The Princess Bride. Today’s story is about a father who is sharing something even more lasting with his son — and no, it doesn’t come with pepperoni (though it might come with dust, laughter, and a ladder).

Joel from Life Community Church in Hilliard, Ohio, was on his fourth short-term mission trip with Sowers4Pastors two weeks ago. For his twelve-year-old son, Owen, it was his first. Think of it as the missions equivalent of discovering the pizza — the kind that rewires your brain and makes you wonder how you ever lived without it.

The LCC team arrived in Honduras on January 24 and left on the 31st. Because the church sponsors two different schools, the team had been right in the middle of the joyful chaos of two backpack distribution days when Joel and I spoke. Joel shared, “Personally, that’s why I come. To meet the kids and to see the kids I sponsor, along with their families. It’s a way to express that someone far away loves them — and that God loves them.”

In addition to backpack distributions, the team took on an electrical project at one of the schools. Joel explained that the building was in significant disrepair. “There were no lights at all in the classroom,” he said. “Even though there are windows with bars, about 80% of the walls are concrete block, so the rooms are very dark.”

Despite what you might assume, the team is not made up of seasoned electricians. They do have one electrical engineer, whom Joel reverently — and accurately — referred to as “the brains of the project.” The rest of the team brings a healthy mix of home repair experience, problem-solving skills, and willingness to learn on the fly. Together, their goal was to install electrical boxes, conduit, and wiring so the classrooms would finally have proper lighting.

Owen helped however he could, especially when his dad would call down from the top of a ladder. When he wasn't assisting with tools, he was doing equally important work — building relationships. Like most twelve-year-old boys, Owen is highly skilled in the art of playing, and those skills are in high demand. “Even though I’m not fluent in Spanish,” he shared, “we can still play together.”

It turns out kids from Ohio and kids from Honduras like a lot of the same things. Games translate beautifully. Friendships follow quickly. With the occasional help of a translator app, full conversations even happen. Owen did notice one meaningful difference, though. “They’ll come up and give you a hug,” he said. “It feels different than in the U.S., where people just say ‘hi’ or give a high five.”

When asked if he’s formed any special connections, Owen talked about three boys from the neighborhood who often stayed after school. Sometimes they even pitched in, helping remove rotted tile from the school building. Friendship, it turns out, pairs nicely with teamwork.

For Joel, sharing this experience with his son has been deeply intentional. “We live in a small town in Ohio where everybody looks pretty much the same, and everybody pretty much has what they need,” he said. “I’m trying to plant seeds about the Kingdom work that can be done — whether that’s full-time ministry or short-term missions.”

Owen’s older sister has already been to Honduras twice, and Joel reflected on what that has meant for their family. “I’m thankful to the Sowers and their ministry. This has been a great thing for my family. It’s helped us teach that ministry happens both at home and abroad. We can — and should — do it at all levels.”

And in case you’re wondering what surprised Owen most about Honduras, it wasn’t the food or the language. It was the roofs. Clay tile roofs look very different when you’re used to composite shingles and metal. Transportation differences were also eye-opening. But if you ask Owen for his final verdict? He’d be perfectly content to just move into the hotel where the team is staying.

Not a bad review for a first taste of missions.

- posted by Christi.

When the Nitty Gritty Hits Close to Home

While it is always a treat to talk with Trish for a blog post call, today’s topic was anything but treat-worthy. So let’s skip the small talk and get right to the nitty gritty.

Some of you may know that Ben is currently living about three to four hours from Gracias. For those who like to picture things geographically, he’s in the city of Comayagua. Recently, Ben shared some difficult and alarming news with the Sowers family.

Ben shared that he was on his way home from work when he was mugged by someone wielding a machete. The young man many of us still think of as “Bucket Boy”— fondly remembered for his childhood talent of posing for photos while sitting in a five-gallon bucket — was left with serious injuries. The miraculous news is that God protected Ben from death, and his injuries are not life-threatening. He did sustain a deep slash to his neck, which a doctor confirmed missed a major artery by the tiniest margin.

At present, the most pressing medical concern is a fracture to Ben’s left elbow, which will require surgery — possibly as soon as today, Wednesday, January 21. At this point, the family doesn’t know exactly what the surgery will involve. Complicating matters further, they are unable to drop everything and make the long trip to Comayagua at this time.

While there are still many unknowns, here is what is known:

• Ben reports that his pain is manageable, thanks to medication, as long as he does not move his left arm.
  
  

• He is being treated in a public hospital, which theoretically means free medical care. Because the hospital is located in a larger city, it is likely reasonably well-equipped. That said, patients are often responsible for certain costs, including paying for a blood donation if no friend or family member is able to donate.
  
  

• While Trish is unsure what the surgery will ultimately require, she believes it will not involve pins or other hardware. In the past, when such supplies were needed for a child in the sponsorship program, Sowers4Pastors has often been asked to purchase and deliver them to the hospital — something that has not happened yet in this case.
  
  

• Ben is currently on antibiotics, which is very reassuring given the nature of his injuries.
  
  

• Honduran hospitals rely heavily on patients’ families and friends to provide everyday necessities we might normally take for granted—items like socks, pillows, or even sheets. Ben’s girlfriend has been faithfully caring for him, including bringing him a phone so he can communicate with Allen and Trish.
  
  

• The family has also been in contact with a pastor friend in Comayagua, with the hope that he will be able to act as a go-between for them, in meeting Ben's needs. As of yesterday, however, the pastor had not been granted access to visit Ben, because he's not family.

Meanwhile, life and ministry continue at a full sprint. Trish is scheduled to leave on Friday for an extended visit to the States. The ministry is currently hosting the first of three back-to-back teams. Secia — who would normally handle many of the organizational details for these visits — is still recovering from gall bladder surgery. Add in ongoing vehicle repairs, and it’s clear this is a particularly full and demanding season.

Please pray for all of these moving pieces — but most especially, pray for Ben. Pray for a successful surgery, complete healing, peace, and protection. And pray that God would be glorified through this entire ordeal, even in the midst of circumstances no one would have chosen. - posted by Christi

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