Previously on the Sowers4Pastors Blog: Faith, Backpacks, and Bible Lessons

 (Please read the following paragraph in your best television announcer voice.)

Previously, on the Sowers4Pastors blog…

Vision Trip guests being mobbed 
by sponsored children, LOL

Mary Faith and Kirstin were catching their breath after a whirlwind backpack collection trip. Mary Faith was preparing to return to language school. Kirstin was getting ready to jump back into the office work. The container in Maryland was about to be loaded. And Allen and Trish were gearing up for their own trip to the U.S.

Now that you’re all caught up on the “previous episode,” let’s see where the story picks up!

The Sequel: Progress All Around

Mary Faith is now back at language school, “hablo-ing Español” up a storm. After a short at-home vacation, Kirstin has returned to the office — although word on the street is that she was still called upon for her expertise during her “official” time off. (Brandy laughingly assures us that doesn’t count, of course.)

Meanwhile, the container did get loaded (thanks so much, to everyone who helped with that), and the ministry is working on securing the necessary documents to bring items like toothpaste into Honduras. And yes, Allen and Trish successfully made it to Alabama, where they’re visiting churches and sharing about Sowers4Pastors’ new sponsorship program.

On the Ground in Honduras

While all of that was happening, the work in Honduras didn’t skip a beat. Last week, a team from Crosspoint Church (in Mississippi) served on the ground, and this week a vision team (from a church in Pennsylvania) arrived for their visit. Brandy and the team spent Tuesday visiting the sponsorship programs connected with Life Community Church (in Ohio) and New Life Christian Ministries (in Pennsylvania). They met with students, teachers, and pastors.

Brandy shared, “We had a good time talking to people at the schools. The teachers expressed how grateful they are. Some of the teachers aren’t Christians, but they appreciate the ministry and how we work with their school. We thought they would point to things like the backpacks or shoes kids receive, but the first thing they mentioned was how much they value Pastor Marvin’s weekly Bible lessons for the children.”

Many of these teachers work on six-month or one-year contracts, while others have been there for years. Those who’ve been around longer say they’ve seen real change in their students’ behavior.

Of course, Brandy noted, “Kids are still kids — they aren’t always going to behave perfectly.” But they love the interactive Bible lessons with coloring pages and activities, and they’re carrying those lessons home with them.

Stories that Stick

The team also visited with three local pastors and heard powerful stories about the ways the sponsorship programs are impacting entire communities.

One pastor shared how a family in his area couldn’t afford school supplies, so their children weren’t enrolled in school. The family happened to be present when S4P returned to the community to double-check that no children had been missed during the first distribution. That’s when their kids were enrolled in the program — and just a few weeks later, they started school.

The pastor recalled how the parents came to him in tears, thanking him for helping their children. He told them, “It’s not us. It’s not the gringos. It’s God sending your family what you need.”

Faith in Action

Stories like these aren’t rare, but they never lose their impact. Hearing firsthand from the people who live there — the teachers, pastors, and parents who witness transformation every day — is a beautiful reminder of how God is using these programs to reach the people of these villages.

Each Bible lesson, each backpack, each smile shared between teacher and student — they’re all threads in the same story. And it’s one that keeps unfolding, week by week, both on the ground in Honduras and right here on the blog.

Prayers for Safety

There has been a lot of rain lately, resulting in roads that are more treacherous than usual. Plus, there is a hurricane in the area that might impact Honduras. Please pray for safe travels and for continued safety for the people who live in the area.

- posted by Christi

"PR" time: Prayer Requests and Praise Reports

It’s time for a PR blog post! And no, this isn’t a public relations update — around here, PR stands for Prayer Requests and Praise Reports. There’s plenty of both to go around this week at Sowers4Pastors.

Trish & Allen

Trish and Allen will be heading to the States on Friday for a six-week visit, meeting with churches to introduce the brand-new S4P sponsorship program. Please pray for them to have a healthy, safe, and productive trip, full of meaningful conversations and open hearts.

Kirstin & Mary Faith

This one’s a two-for-one: a praise report and a prayer request.

After a month of collecting backpacks, logging miles in Penske trucks, and hauling countless boxes, Kirstin and Mary Faith are finally back in Honduras! They’re catching their breath this week before jumping back into action: Mary Faith with new Spanish classes and Kirstin back in the office.

Pray for rest, strength, and smooth transitions as they shift gears.

Kirstin's birthday was right after her return from the US trip.
There was a LOT of energy displayed at this birthday gathering! LOL

Containers (a.k.a. “Get Outta Here!")

Here’s a big praise: the food container that recently arrived has already been released from Customs! As Brandy said with a laugh, “This time the inspectors said, ‘Get outta here, container!’” We're so grateful that God answered prayers for an easy process.

Meanwhile, the container for shipping all of the boxes of backpacks has arrived at its loading site in Maryland. This week it will be loaded and shipped! Please pray for another smooth trip through Honduran Customs!

Once the container arrives in Gracias, the SP team will begin processing backpacks: checking, sorting, and prepping each one to make sure it’s ready for its “forever home.”

New Kids on the Block

Here's a sneak peek at some of the 
children in the new program!

On Tuesday, the staff went out to register children for the new sponsorship program, adding 110 new kids! Their profiles are being processed now, so Trish and Allen can introduce them to potential sponsors during their U.S. visit.

That’s both a praise report and a prayer request, and a beautiful reminder of why the work continues.

Coffee Harvest(s)

The harvest is coming! The harvest is coming!

 (Please read that with all the excitement of Paul Revere galloping across the countryside.)

Brandy reports that this should be a big harvest year. The first small harvest triggers the rest of the coffee berries to ripen, so while the first picking requires only a few workers, the next rounds will need many skilled hands. Please pray for enough qualified and willing pickers — and for strength and endurance as the harvest will overlap with the arrival of the Maryland backpack container.

Double the work, double the prayers!

A Little Teaser

Without spoiling next week’s surprise, we’re thrilled to announce that a new staff member is joining the S4P team!

Alexandra, a Honduran native, will soon be moving from Tegucigalpa to Gracias to begin her new role. She’ll get her own blog post soon (trust us, she deserves it!), but for now, please pray for her transition to be smooth and joyful.

As Brandy reminded us, S4P has been praying for God to send people with a heart to serve — and this is one very tangible answer to that prayer.

In Closing

From new faces and full hearts to coffee cherries and customs clearances, God’s fingerprints are everywhere in the details. Thank you for standing alongside Sowers4Pastors!  Your prayers and encouragement keep this ministry moving forward, one praise report at a time.

 - posted by Christi

Not All Heroes Wear Capes: Celebrating Teacher's Day

In Honduras, Teacher’s Day is officially celebrated on September 17th. In cities like Tegucigalpa, schools mark the occasion with meals and festivities. But in the rural communities around Gracias, the day has often passed quietly — just another school day with little recognition for the men and women shaping the next generation.

Sowers4Pastors is changing that.

Last Saturday, the ministry hosted its second annual Teacher’s Day celebration, inviting every teacher from the 26 schools it partners with. Sixty-five teachers arrived — some saying it was the first Teacher’s Day celebration they had ever attended.

“It was really beautiful,” Alejandro shared. “They were very excited about it.”

The day began the Honduran way — with coffee and sweet bread. (As Alejandro likes to say, “Water is life… because I need water to make coffee.”) Teachers were welcomed with prayer, laughter from icebreaker games, worship songs, and a message from Alejandro titled Teachers Who Change Lives.

In his sermon, Alejandro reminded them that their influence goes far beyond math drills or spelling lessons.

“They are teaching about life — about morals. They are teaching kids how to be good people. They are changing destinies. These teachers are sometimes acting as parents, doctors, friends, and psychologists in the lives of their students. I encouraged them to remember that and to do their best each day.”

The impact is undeniable. Every year, children in the sponsorship program share simple details for their profiles — favorite colors, shoe sizes, future dreams. Again and again, many write that they want to become teachers. Why? Because the teachers they already know are inspiring them.

“These teachers have future doctors, lawyers, politicians, parents, and teachers sitting in their classrooms,” Alejandro said. “They can make a difference.”

Before leaving, each teacher received prayer, encouragement, and a small gift: a metal water bottle emblazoned with the words, Not All Heroes Wear Capes. Some Teach. They were also briefed on the upcoming backpack distribution schedule.

They left with more than just snazzy new water bottles. They left with fresh encouragement, a sense of community, and the reminder that their calling matters.

And for the second year, Teacher’s Day didn’t slip by unnoticed — it was celebrated in style.

 - posted by Christi 

From Nervous Beginnings to Bold Preaching: Gabriel’s Pastor Training Story

It’s been a little while since we’ve given an update on Pastor Training School, but that doesn’t mean things have been quiet. In fact, exciting things are happening — just ask 28-year-old Gabriel Perdomo, who is about to become one of the youngest graduates of the program.

Most of the students at the Pastor Training School are in their forties and fifties, but Gabriel’s path to the school began earlier. His father, a local pastor and former student of the program, encouraged him to enroll. Gabriel trusted his dad’s advice and has found his time there to be, in his words, “a great experience.” He even got married during his first year, and his wife is just as thankful for the opportunities the school has opened for him.

Growing up as a pastor’s son, Gabriel has listened to more sermons than he can count. But just a week and a half ago, he delivered his very first one. “I was so nervous,” he admitted, “but God helped me. And my dad was very happy. He always tells me he is very proud of me.”

The training Gabriel has received has equipped him to study the Bible deeply, structure a sermon clearly, and present it in a way that people can understand. He works with the youth at his father’s church, and some of them were in the congregation to hear his very first sermon. For Gabriel, it was a milestone moment — not just in his education, but in his ministry.

Unlike some students who travel many hours to attend class, Gabriel lives only five minutes away from the institute. That proximity has made it easier for him to invest deeply in his studies — and in October, as a graduate, he’ll carry that training with him into a lifetime of ministry.

Gabriel’s story is a reminder of why Pastor Training School exists: to equip men and women of all ages to serve their communities, their churches, and the Kingdom of God with confidence and clarity. Whether it’s a nervous first sermon or decades of experience, every graduate carries forward the same mission — to faithfully share God’s Word and shepherd His people.

Please keep Gabriel and all of the students and instructors in your prayers. 

 - posted by Christi

ps - Some of you may recognize Gabriel, as he is a member of the Sowers4Pastors staff!

Brandy and Rachel Mark Themselves "safe" from Moving!

One good thing about social media is that, after any sort of cataclysmic event, people can hop online and mark themselves as “safe.” While moving doesn’t quite rank with hurricanes or earthquakes, consider this blog post Rachel and Brandy’s official announcement: they are marking themselves safe from moving into a new house with four kids in tow. That’s not to say it’s been easy, but they’re hanging in there!

We all know how long Rachel and Brandy have been looking forward to this move. Well—scratch that. They weren’t exactly looking forward to the move itself (who does?), but they were certainly eager to finally be in the new house. Boxes had been stacked for months while construction dragged on. Eventually, surrounded by cardboard towers and energetic kids, they looked at each other and declared, “Ready or not, here we come!”

Is the House Finished?

Mostly. There are still loose ends — such as the small detail of no kitchen cabinets. The cabinets that were supposed to be completed last December are still unfinished, so the family decided to go ahead and settle in, even if it means a cabinet-free kitchen for now.

How Was the Move?

Rachel summed it up: “The actual moving hasn’t been bad. The packing and unpacking have been difficult. Moving with kids? I don’t wish it on anybody! It’s not ideal.”

  

In the States, a move usually means renting a moving truck. In Honduras, it means a pickup truck at a time. Thankfully, the ministry has several pickups, which actually made things a bit easier. Instead of a one-and-done moving day, they’ve been able to move gradually, truckload by truckload. Only a few stray items — like Christmas decorations and a lone desk — remain at the old house. Now the real challenge is settling in and unpacking.

Why the Move Was Needed

The old house in Gracias had long since been outgrown. Two more kids have joined the family since they first moved in, and with Nathan homeschooling, the family of six simply needed more space. The new house is a better fit for their bustling household.

Biggest Adjustment: Bugs

Hands down, the biggest adjustment so far has been… bugs.

Rachel explained, “We’ve been working on their fear of bugs. Here, you coexist with them. The kids are learning which bugs to stay away from — and that it is possible to squish bugs.”

Some bugs are better received than others. Michael recently collected about 30 tiny beetles in a Tupperware container, only to release them back into the wild at the end of the day. In contrast, a surprise visit from a flying cockroach prompted a scream that made it sound like someone was mortally wounded. (Rest assured — everyone survived!)

Life Hacks & Solar Dryers

Progress is being made, one step at a time. The washing machine was moved over this week, and Brandy put his high school welding classes to good use by welding a clothesline. Rachel jokes that this isn’t the first time he’s made the family a “solar dryer” — but it’s one of the handiest skills he keeps pulling out of his toolbox.

Please Pray

Please keep praying for Rachel, Brandy, and their kids as they continue settling into their new home. Between unpacking and all the usual ministry activities, there’s plenty to keep them busy (not to mention the bug-fearing children).

Mark them “safe” from moving — but definitely still in need of prayer for energy, patience, and a good sense of humor!

 - posted by Christi

PS: Here's a photo of Charlotte (Lottie), helping with the move in the very best way she can. I didn't want her to be the only one left out of this post!

Prayer Requests and Praises: What's Happening Behind the Scenes

 At Sowers4Pastors, it’s always a good time for prayer — but consider this post your “all-in-one guide” to what’s happening behind the scenes and how you can specifically lift up the ministry right now.

Celebrations First! 

The Day of the Child celebrations were a huge success! Every one of the 2,600+ children across 27 locations was celebrated with food, fun, and reminders of God’s love. With the biggest wave of team season wrapped up, staff members are now turning their attention to the less flashy (but absolutely vital) tasks: catching up on paperwork, keeping records up to date, and a bit of ministry “housekeeping.”

The Warehouse Shuffle

Remember the prayer request from a couple of months ago about a shipping container full of food? Great news: it’s expected to arrive within the week! Staff are working to prep the warehouse — think of it as a super-sized pantry that needs to be perfectly organized. Items already inside are moved to the front so they’re used first, and the new supplies are stacked toward the back. Once backpacks and boxes start rolling in, everything must be sorted so that each child receives the correct items. To put it simply: it’s a big honkin’ deal!

The Office Shuffle

Maybe you also remember a mention in a previous post, that once Rachel and Brandy moved to their new house, the Sowers4Pastors office would be moving into that rented house in Gracias. Well, that move is almost completed, so the office staff and all the office equipment should be moving in the next couple of weeks! The new office location will make it much easier for pastors and others to visit the book store, collect food, and visit the staff for any reasons they might have!

Gifts for Pastors

Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the annual pastor appreciation gifts. This year, there are 388 requests for gifts for pastors and their families. Please pray for smooth logistics as these gifts are gathered and distributed — and for each pastor to feel deeply encouraged by this expression of support.

Updates from the Home Front

Rachel and Brandy are still settling into their new home. A few stragglers from the old house remain to be moved, the kitchen cabinets are about 80% finished, and soon, Brandy hopes to build a fence around the yard. There are still boxes waiting to be unpacked — so please keep praying for endurance and order in the midst of a busy season.

Coffee on the Horizon 

The coffee harvest is coming soon! The farm crew has been hard at work fertilizing and applying fungicide, and Brandy reports this could be an especially good year. Please pray not only for the crop itself, but also for the right number of workers to come when harvest time arrives.

Backpacks on the Move 

Stateside, Kirstin and Mary Faith are in the thick of this year’s backpack collection trip. They’re logging long hours on the road in a big box truck, visiting churches, connecting with supporters, and gathering backpacks. It’s an exhausting journey, but such an important one. Pray for safety as they travel, strength for the long days, and smooth paperwork processing. (Two shipping containers of backpacks are planned, but one crucial government document is still pending. Please pray for its timely approval.)

Wrapping It All Up

So there you have it — praises for what God has already done, and prayer requests for what’s still unfolding. From pizza parties to paperwork, from farm fields to overflowing warehouses, the work of Sowers4Pastors touches countless lives every single day. Thank you for standing with the ministry in prayer. Your prayers are not just words lifted up — they are fuel for the work being done in Honduras and beyond.

 - posted by Christi

Pizza, Piñatas, and Plenty of Joy: A Weeklong Day of the Child Celebration

 It’s possible that Sowers4Pastors is the only organization capable of stretching the Day of the Child into an entire week of festivities — but thankfully, they aren’t doing it alone. As mentioned in an earlier blog post, a team from Tegucigalpa has joined S4P to make the celebrations even more memorable.

Sixteen people, including Pastor Jackie Montoya, arrived in Gracias on Monday and immediately hit the ground running. Together with S4P staff, they divided into four smaller groups, each visiting two communities per day.

And they didn’t show up empty-handed. The Tegucigalpa team came loaded with candy, cookies, piñatas, and even funds their church had collected to purchase pizzas for the kids.

Pizza for the First Time

You may remember that the pizza idea was Pastor Jackie’s brainchild. For many of the children, this would be their very first slice. Would they like it? Alejandro admitted he wasn’t entirely sure how the kids would react, since pizza isn’t a common food for them.

He needn’t have worried. “The kids didn’t eat the pizzas. They attacked it!” Alejandro said with a laugh. “They loved it! The first day was amazing. The kids were happy and laughing. They were waiting for our arrival with joy.”

Culture Shock and Connection

For some of the Tegucigalpa volunteers, this was their second year serving alongside S4P. For others, it was their very first time visiting the kinds of rural communities S4P works in. Imagine a group of people from a big city in the U.S. volunteering in some of the most remote, under-resourced areas — the contrast is stark, and for the new volunteers, a little surprising.

Yet Alejandro noted that there’s a deep connection between his and Secia’s church plant in Gracias and their former church in Tegucigalpa, where this team serves. At the heart of it all is one shared mission: serving people in the love of Christ.

Pastor Jackie reflected on her experience, “Last year, I saw some of the medical issues the kids were facing, and I can say that I’m so grateful to the Lord that Sowers4Pastors is here. Without them, maybe these children wouldn’t be healed. Sowers4Pastors is making a difference, and it isn’t only through backpacks and new school shoes.”

More to Come: A Medical Brigade

And the week’s celebrations don’t end with pizza and piñatas. On Thursday and Friday, a medical brigade of 32 people will be serving the communities around Gracias, providing free medical care. The brigade includes fifteen doctors, five dentists, and eleven nurses.

Pastor Raúl, who is working with the team, shared what has meant the most to him. “My favorite part has been sharing the Word of God with the children. The children are living lives with few resources, but they are learning that they are loved by God.”

And that is the most beautiful reason of all to celebrate.

  - posted by Christi

PS: check out the Sowers4Pastors Facebook page for lots more photos of the festivities!