From Crafts to Connections: Edgewater Alliance Brings VBS Joy to Honduras

If you don’t recognize the name Tiffany Richardson, rest assured — she probably recognizes yours if you sponsor a child through Sowers4Pastors' EAC program. Tiffany is a behind-the-scenes powerhouse, managing much of the correspondence between sponsors and their kids. But she doesn’t stop there — she also leads about two Edgewater Alliance Church teams to Honduras each year.

Last week, Tiffany was on the ground in Gracias with her latest team, bringing vibrant Vacation Bible School (VBS) programming to five different schools. That may sound like a logistical marathon — and it was! — but the team pulled it off with smiles, laughter, and a whole lot of heart.

Delivering two full days of VBS to five schools in just four days meant serious planning. The team arrived in Honduras with lesson plans, games, crafts, and enough supplies to keep over 230 kids engaged. They adapted material from the VBS programs used at Edgewater Alliance, selecting the lessons and activities that best translated across languages and cultures. Tiffany said one of the most meaningful parts was being able to tell the children in Honduras, “These are the same lessons your sponsor families learned back in the U.S.”

Here’s how they made it happen: the team visited two schools on Monday and Tuesday, then hit the remaining three on Wednesday and Thursday. They sang songs, shared stories, played games, and got creative with crafts — all in spite of the rainy season. Gracias has been drenched with daily downpours lately, but incredibly, the team was only lightly sprinkled on one occasion. That may sound minor, but in rural Honduras, a heavy rain can shut down travel completely. This was an answered prayer — and a huge relief.

  

 

Tiffany is no stranger to this work. She’s been sponsoring children since 2017 and started traveling to Honduras in 2018. Over the years, she’s watched children grow up, graduate, and step into adulthood with confidence and purpose. One young man she first sponsored seven years ago has now finished school — and this past week, she met his niece at a VBS program. Another team member met the girl she sponsors, who is now in college training to become a police officer. Her sister is studying to become a doctor. For context: when Sowers4Pastors began serving this area, local education stopped at 6th grade.

This summer’s team included 10 members, with 4 teens or younger. One turned 17 while in Honduras and was treated to a surprise traditional Honduran birthday celebration. There was even a mother-son duo on the team. They didn’t sponsor a child when they arrived, but by the time they left, they were proudly sponsoring a little girl they met during a school visit.

Tiffany shared with a laugh, “It’s not unusual for team members to arrive not sponsoring a child. But probably 98% are sponsors by the time they leave.”

Thanks to a little timing overlap, Tiffany was also able to connect with members of the incoming medical team — including the well-known and well-loved Dr. Monica. On one day when her group went ziplining, Tiffany stayed back to help organize and ended up lending a hand with medical supply prep. She joked afterward, “I told my folks I’d switched teams for the day!”

A Note to Sponsors (and Future Sponsors)

Tiffany’s story is more than a trip report. It’s a reminder of how missions work isn't about grand gestures — it's about consistency, connection, and compassion. Whether it's sharing a lesson, handing out oatmeal, or giving a smile, every act plants a seed. Over time, those seeds grow into stories like a college-bound girl or a reunited sponsor and niece.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your letters, prayers, or gifts are making a difference — let Tiffany assure you: They are.

Please continue to pray for the children, families, and dedicated team members who pour so much love into this ministry. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be part of the next 98%.

 - posted by Christi

When Teams Collide: A Joyful Overlap of Service

 If you’re a “sports ball” kind of person, you may already be familiar with the term sports equinox — that rare day in the fall when the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL all have games scheduled at once. For those who aren’t fluent in ESPN, Google’s got your back.

Well, Sowers4Pastors is currently experiencing its own kind of team equinox. One Vacation Bible School team is still on the ground, and in just two days, Dr. Monica will arrive to prep for a weeklong medical mission. It's a beautiful (and busy!) overlap of two very different yet equally vital ministries.

Brandy shared that preparing for a medical team is no small feat. It takes a mountain of paperwork and plenty of advance planning to gain the necessary permissions to bring in medical equipment and supplies. Thankfully, all the approvals are in place, and the team has the green light to proceed with everything they need.

Here’s how the transition will go: The VBS team departs on Saturday, and while they’re saying their goodbyes, other members of the medical team will be landing in Honduras and heading into action. Talk about a seamless handoff.

This medical team will serve in four carefully chosen communities, each selected for its ability to host the largest number of children and community members. Among the places they’ll visit are:

• Naranjitos, a community served by Crosspoint Church, home to a large school
  
  

• Guacutao, where EAC has a sister church program
  
  

• A brand-new location affiliated with Lighthouse Church
  
  

These places are strategically close to other areas where kids can be picked up and transported in trucks.

What these locations have in common is limited access to healthcare. For most residents, visiting a doctor means traveling all the way to Gracias. As Brandy put it, “We chose communities where people really need this kind of help — where even basic healthcare isn’t close enough to access easily.”

The joy of this week isn’t just in the logistics — it’s in the heart behind it.

“We are called to serve others. This is just one way to do it,” Brandy said. “We’re excited because this team has a heart for service. They wouldn’t be coming if they didn’t. They want to do something that matters and share the love of Christ in this way.”

The medical team will include five professionals, but with translators and ministry staff added in, the group will be large, energetic, and ready to make a difference. S4P is already aware of several cases requiring urgent medical attention — and thanks to this team, help is on the way.

“It’s a blessing to help people out of difficult situations,” Brandy said. “We’re praying that everything we do this week is for Christ. We want to serve others the way He commands us to.”

As the VBS team finishes strong and the medical team gears up for a full schedule, please keep both groups in your prayers. Pray for endurance, safe travel, joyful hearts, and opportunities for both ministry and meaningful connection.

Oh — and Brandy recommends packing a rain jacket. Because in Honduras, even during a team equinox, the weather has a mind of its own. - posted by Christi

One Bag, One Month, One Big Miracle: The Ripple Effect of Generosity

 A team from New Life Christian Ministries is currently on the ground in Honduras—and as Brandy often says, one of the biggest blessings of sending teams throughout the year is the chance to hear stories that might otherwise go untold.

At the beginning of the year, a previous New Life team wanted to do something extra special when they came to distribute backpacks. The church decided to bless their sister church community by handing out food bags — no strings attached.

Now, under normal circumstances, grocery bags are typically delivered only to the families of sponsored children, either when a sponsor is present or has sent funds specifically for that purpose. But this time, every family in the sister church received a food bag. That act of generosity was powerful on its own — but this week, a current team member heard just how far that blessing reached.

In one local family, a single mother had been struggling to feed her children. We don’t know all the details — perhaps the mother is a widow, or perhaps the father had left — but what’s certain is that she was in a desperate situation. So desperate, in fact, that she was preparing to leave her children with their grandmother while she traveled to the city in search of work.

The food bags contained simple staples: cooking oil, oatmeal, bread — nothing flashy or excessive, just the kinds of everyday ingredients that make survival a little easier. Normally, a single bag would last about a week.

But this mom shared her testimony: her single bag of groceries lasted an entire month. Not with extreme rationing. Not with skipped meals. Her children ate regularly — and she stayed.

It’s hard not to think of the Hanukkah story — where one day’s supply of oil burned for eight. Here, one week’s worth of food stretched across four. During that time, she found a job close to home. Her family stabilized. And instead of leaving her children behind, she stayed with them — confident that God was taking care of them.

“When you take care of people in need, God won’t forget that,” Brandy said.

That’s the power of sowing kindness. One gift. One gesture. One bag. It’s never just groceries, it's hope. It’s proof that God sees and provides.

The New Life team is scheduled to head home on Friday, and another team will arrive on Saturday. It’s been raining every day in Gracias, and Brandy laughingly recommends that the incoming group pack rain jackets. The good news? The rain’s been heavy enough to wash away all the slick, dangerous mud from the roads. That’s an answered prayer in itself!

Please continue to pray for safe travels, for softened hearts, and for God to continue multiplying every seed sown in love.

 - posted by Christi

VBS Season Is Here: Joy, Jesus, and Jumping Back In!

 “After five weeks without teams, here we go again!” Brandy said with a smile. “We’ve got four weeks of Vacation Bible School coming up—and that’s exciting for so many reasons!”

As the team gears up, Brandy recently reflected on why this ministry means so much to him. In a conversation with Kirstin, he shared that one of his favorite things about the work of Sowers4Pastors is its variety. While the ministry does a lot of different things, every single effort supports one overarching mission: empowering pastors to share the Gospel.

“I love VBS because it brings our friends—our brothers and sisters in Christ—from the States,” Brandy said. “We love them. We miss them. And we get excited to see them every year.”

This is more than just a reunion. It’s a time of shared work, mutual encouragement, and spiritual growth—for everyone involved.

“It’s an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with the churches in the States,” Brandy explained. “We share experiences. We serve side-by-side. We encourage one another. That’s such an important part of Christian life — building healthy, joyful relationships in Christ.”

One of Brandy’s favorite aspects of the VBS weeks is visiting the communities served by these partner churches.

“We serve together as a team,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what culture we’re from or what language we speak — we’re united by one purpose.”

And that purpose is rooted in Scripture. Brandy quoted Colossians 3:23:

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

That’s the VBS heart in action: serving joyfully and intentionally, for the Lord.

“We’re sharing the Gospel while having a really good time,” Brandy said. “The kids are learning, laughing, and playing. And through all of it — they’re growing in their understanding of who God is.”

Brandy also appreciates how VBS gives the team opportunities to meet with local families and teachers.

“We can get to know them and understand their reality — everything they go through,” he said. “When we know the people we’re serving, we serve better.”

He wrapped up his thoughts with a powerful reminder of the heart behind it all:

“We are training our faith by doing this. We are living the Gospel. We are preaching. We are serving. We are learning to love the people and teaching God’s children. We’re so excited to start VBS with the teams!”

The first group arrives this weekend, and we’re asking for your prayers as the work begins. Brandy noted that it’s been raining every day — please pray for clear skies, safe travel, and fruitful ministry.

Let the joy (and the Jesus-filled fun) begin!

 - posted by Christi

Motorcycles, Mountains, and the Mission: Empowering Pastors Through Mobility

 What do motorcycles have to do with fulfilling the Great Commission?

 Surprisingly—quite a lot!

Very soon, Sowers4Pastors will hand over the keys to sixteen motorcycles — each one a powerful tool in the hands of local pastors committed to reaching remote communities with the gospel.

This isn’t the first time we’ve shared about the motorcycle ministry, and it won’t be the last. The impact is simply too great to keep quiet. This week, Brandy spent time digging into Scripture to reflect on the biblical foundation of this part of the ministry. Naturally, he started with the Great Commission:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

 — Mark 16:15–16 (NKJV)

But that’s not the only scriptural support for this work. Brandy also pointed to verses about sowing and reaping — like Galatians 6:7-8 and Jesus’s parable of the sower in Matthew 13 — as a meaningful connection to the ministry’s mission.

“These verses about sowing and harvesting apply to a lot of things,” Brandy explained. “If you sow corn, you harvest corn. If you sow into ministry, your harvest is treasure in heaven. When people invest in this work, the harvest isn’t for worldly gain — it’s for God’s kingdom.”

That investment makes it possible to fulfill the Great Commission and the mission of Sowers4Pastors: empowering pastors. In this case, it’s quite literal. A motorcycle gives a pastor the ability to reach remote mountain communities, places where travel is difficult, where few others are willing to go.

“This kind of work isn’t comfortable or convenient,” Brandy said. “But with help from donors, we can equip these pastors to go where they’re needed most.”

Sowers4Pastors is already making calls to coordinate the upcoming motorcycle distribution. This time, a team from the Honda dealership will join the event to provide a practical training session. Pastors will learn about their bike’s warranty and get a crash course in basic maintenance and care. As always, there will also be a time of worship and fellowship, plus plenty of coffee and conversation.

“When we do this, God is with us,” Brandy shared. “We believe that each motorcycle is not just a gift — it’s an answer to someone’s prayer.”

We invite you to pray for the pastors who will receive motorcycles. Pray for their protection, their strength, and their ministries. And please continue to pray for the work of Sowers4Pastors.

“When we ask God, we receive,” Brandy said. “Invest in the Kingdom. The harvest is eternal.”

*   *   *   *   * 

Would you like to invest in the Kingdom by helping provide motorcycles for pastors? 

Here's the link where you can donate:   

https://sowers4pastors.reachapp.co/donations/new 

Thank you so much for your partnership in ministry!!!

 - posted by Christi

From Behind the Lens to the Heart of Honduras: Meet Intern Hannah

There’s a new intern in town! Hannah, a photographer from Glen Burnie, Maryland, has arrived in Gracias for a nearly three-month internship with Sowers4Pastors — and she’s already off to a wonderful start.

Hannah first visited Honduras last year with a team from Lighthouse Church. That trip, she admits, changed everything.

“It was life-changing,” she said. “I honestly didn’t expect anything major to come from it. But once I got here, it became a turning point in my life.”

As a child, Hannah felt drawn to missions, but over time, that calling faded into the background. The trip with Lighthouse reawakened something deeply meaningful—and unmistakable.

Back home in Maryland, Hannah works as a photographer, mostly capturing weddings and graduations. While the work is rewarding in its own way, it didn’t spark quite the same joy as photographing children during Vacation Bible School in Honduras.

“It just felt different,” she said. “I was proud of that work. When I heard that Sowers4Pastors would be losing their photographer because Esdras was leaving, it felt like an answered prayer — before I had even prayed.”

Hannah now feels strongly that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. Though the distance from home can be difficult, she isn’t ruling out the possibility of returning long-term. For now, her plan is to head back to Maryland in August, work for a while, and then return to Gracias when she can.

She’s currently staying in the house Mary Faith is renting and adjusting to life in Honduras — including a slower pace and not being able to go out on her own whenever she wants. But she’s not bored. In fact, she’s even enjoying the day-to-day tasks like cooking and doing laundry. She and Mary Faith plan to explore more of the area together soon.

One of the biggest highlights? Reconnecting with the friends she made during last year’s trip. Hannah says Alejandro, Secia, and their two children have also welcomed her like family.

“It already feels like home,” she shared. “I’m so blessed to have these people in my life.”

Of course, the stunning views around Gracias haven’t gone unnoticed, either.

So far, Hannah’s days have been filled with school visits — delivering letters and rice — and doing office work, and she’s enjoyed every bit of it. She’s also practicing her Spanish. Back home, she attends both Lighthouse Church and a Spanish-speaking church, so she’s able to understand more than she can speak. She and her friends are able to communicate with each other and use their phones to help with translation when needed.

Please keep Hannah in your prayers as she continues this journey. And stay tuned—we’ll be sharing some of her beautiful photography soon!

 - posted by Christi

Letters with Purpose

 If you grew up watching Sesame Street, you probably remember how each episode was proudly “brought to you by” a letter and a number. Something like: “Today’s program is brought to you by the letter S and the number 4.”

Well, today’s blog post from Sowers4Pastors is also brought to you by letters — but not the alphabet kind. We're talking about real, handwritten (or typed!) letters sent to sponsored children. And if you ask Alejandro, that kind of letter carries more power than you might think.

This isn’t the first time Alejandro has emphasized the importance of writing to your sponsored child — and it won’t be the last. Why? Because he’s seen the difference it makes, firsthand.

“It’s so beautiful to see the faces of the children when we arrive at the schools and churches with letters,” he shared. “We see their eyes light up. But we also see their disappointment when they don’t receive anything.”

That’s why Alejandro encourages every sponsor to take just 5 to 10 minutes to write a letter — a letter with purpose.

He points to Proverbs 18:21 as a reminder of just how much power our words hold:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (NKJV)

“God gave us the power of life and death in our tongues,” Alejandro said. “I encourage you to speak blessings to the kids. I encourage you to bless your child’s life with your words.”

And make no mistake — those words don’t just reach a child once and fade away. They’re treasured.

“When the children receive letters,” he said, “they read them with their classmates and their families. They send three letters a year to their sponsors, and when we translate those letters, we can see the joy pouring out. They remember every detail you’ve shared. They ask questions. They hold onto your letters. Your words stay with them.”

Letters are more than a formality — they’re a lifeline of encouragement, a source of connection that extends beyond the child to their friends and family. According to Alejandro, this process creates what he calls “a beautiful bond” between sponsor and child.

“If you write letters, you will impact the heart of your sponsored child. They will never forget you. They will always remember that someone in the United States loves them, prays for them, and cares about them.”

So here’s the challenge: Write letters. And write them with purpose.

If you’re unsure where to start, Alejandro offers a simple guide: share blessings and words of encouragement. Cheer them on in school. Remind them to keep seeking God’s blessings. Celebrate their hard work. Send a photo of your family — or even your pets!

“You have the opportunity to change a life with your words,” he says.

And to all the sponsors who are already faithfully writing:

“Thank you. Please keep going. Your letters are a huge blessing to the children, their classmates, and their families. It’s a blessing to us, too — especially when we see their faces light up as they open an envelope with your words inside.”

So today’s post is brought to you by… you. And the extraordinary impact of a simple letter.


 - posted by Christi