Kim Hall: Ministry Leader and Chauffer to Gymnastic Mimes

One of the best things about writing for Sowers4Pastors is getting to talk to the people involved in the ministry. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to Kim Hall, the founder of Manna 4 Lempira, at Allen’s request. Having heard and written so much about her work in the sponsorship program, it was nice to finally (sort of) meet her. Kim graciously offered to squeeze me in between her work day and taking her girls to gymnastics. She warned me that they would be in the car and it might be loud, but she might as well have been in a vehicle with a bunch of mimes! I was able to hear all about some ministry updates, which I would like to pass on to you.

We talked about what a difference Manna 4 Lempira and Sowers4Pastors is making in the churches they’re serving. (I regret to inform you that I listen faster than I transcribe, but I’ll try not to butcher Kim’s quotes too much.)

Kim with sponsored child

Only Slightly Butchered Quotes

Kim talked about how the sponsorship program has benefitted churches by, “putting resources into the pastors’ hands. The pastors are then able to go out and reach the people. Some of the programs have grown by up to threefold. When we started the program at Betania, there were 61 kids. Now, it’s up to almost 200. Mercedes was at 150 and is now at 323. And it’s not like the kids are getting stuff and not attending. They are coming every week! We’re doing something new this year! Every child is getting his own Sunday school materials. Teachers are getting training in how to use them. They’re getting their own study materials. It’s just an extra tool to put in the hands of teachers and pastors.”

More Numbers

Kim and Jonathan Hall with sponsored child

She continued by saying, “Back in October, we added a new church partner in El Tablon. When we did that, we still had quite a few kids waiting in other programs. We’re now approaching the halfway point for sponsorships at El Tablon, with 104 children sponsored out of around the 250 registered. At Betania and Mercedes, every single child is now sponsored! We’re hitting right around 600 total kids sponsored. In the beginning, we didn’t know how we were going to find sponsors for 150 children!

“We’re getting ready to send out about 100 pounds of sponsor letters to Honduras. We’re also mailing out about 1000 letters the children wrote to their sponsors in December. We’re currently working on getting them all translated. For the first time, there are so many letters, we’re having to put them on the shipping container. They should be there and passed out in February.”

Multiply

Kim also touched on a topic she posted to the Manna 4 Lempira Facebook page on New Year’s Eve. She feels God gave her a word for the year 2016. That word was, “multiply”. While reflecting about the ministry’s growth, Kim said, “The original team we took to Honduras was four people. We now have a ministry that spans four continents! On that first trip, we went to see one child. That’s why we took the name, “Manna”. It’s not only talking about the food God miraculously provided for the Israelites. It’s also a reference to when Jesus fed the 5000 by taking a little and multiplying it. That’s what Allen does. He takes the available resources and puts them where they will do the most good. That’s what we do.”

While I could have listened to Kim all day, I knew she had a car full of mimes to get to gymnastics, so I let it go at that.

Kim and Jonathan, and their not-usually-mute kids

- posted by Christi