The average Honduran pastor in Pastors’ Training School makes around $7.00 per day (and since much of their work is seasonal, not year-around, they make about $800 per year). It’s not enough to keep some of us in Starbucks! Even by the typical Honduran standard of living, (which does not include a mocha-frappa-whatchamacallit-cino and a muffin the size of your head) that’s not enough income to pay for continuing education. That’s where we come in. We can partner with Sowers 4 Pastors to pay for the cost of training these hardworking men of God.
Allen is quick to point out he has a degree in business administration/systems, not a religious studies degree. That’s why, for the past ten years, Sowers 4 Pastors has handled the majority of the fundraising and business-y matters, such as being sure the school is staffed with a qualified teacher. Over the years, there have been multiple teachers--usually seminary trained Honduran pastors or visiting pastors from the US. Currently, fellow gringo, Clay Powell, is doing a great job of handling the education aspects in his first year with Pastor’s Training School. Hmm… That sounds a lot like the body of Christ in action!
Not Your Typical Seminary
While the study is intense, this isn’t quite like an American seminary. For starters, most of the pastors have an elementary school education. A few are illiterate and require volunteers to sit with them to read lessons and transcribe their notes, so they will be able to review them with someone at home.
The pastors do not all share the same denomination. This session nine denominations are represented, which makes for lively discussions. What they are learning is that the Bible is the final authority. They may have been taught nine different things about a particular topic, but we’re interested in what God has to say about it.
An Analogy Too Good to Pass Up
Most of the pastors are field workers in the agricultural sense--working grueling hours for the aforementioned $7 a day. They are also field workers in the “Sunday school answer” sort of way! As Luke 10:2 says:
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
These men are willing to spend time harvesting God’s fields of Western Honduras. You can help.
Better Than a Mocha-Frappa-Whatchamacallit-Cino
$250 covers the cost of training one pastor 3 days per month for a 9-month school year. Here’s where the money goes:
- Lodging (for the time at school)
- Rent for use of facilities
- Food (for the time at school)
- Curriculum
- Support staff, such as cooks and housekeepers
- Transportation to the training center
- Study Bible
- Bible Dictionary
If you ask me, that’s more exciting than a million muffins the size of your head!
- posted by Christi
If you're interested in more info on the Pastors' Training School, and would like more info on how to donate, follow this link. Thanks so much for your help!
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