Sowers4Pastors: December Prayer Requests (Because “Busy” Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It)

Brandy opened our chat with a line that deserves its own knowing nod: “As everyone knows, we manage to keep ourselves busy and December is not an exception.” Understatement of the year. With everything happening at once, it’s the perfect moment to share some focused prayer requests for Sowers4Pastors and the communities they serve.

Elections

On November 30th, Honduras began its general elections for president, congress, and local officials. As of this post (December 4th), the votes are still being counted — and it’s tight. More than one candidate has already claimed victory, and the third is gearing up to do the same. It’s an anxious moment for the country, and many people are understandably frightened about the outcome.

Unlike the U.S., Honduras does not have an electoral college; the popular vote alone determines the result. Please pray for peace, clarity, and a smooth transition as every vote is processed.

On a lighter note: the military does not vote in Honduras, which meant this was Brandy’s first time casting a ballot. Nathan, who loves following current events, tagged along to observe. He’s firmly convinced — and Brandy agrees — that if people want change, voting matters.

Backpacks

The S4P team is knee-deep in processing a full container of sponsored backpacks. Borrowing (loosely) from a certain jolly gift-giver’s motto: they’re making lists and checking them twice, making sure no backpack is missing an essential item. No naughty list here — just a whole lot of quality control.

There’s also a second dispensa (request for duty-free shipping into Honduras) in process to bring home the container of non-sponsor backpacks. Please pray the election delays don’t slow that approval.

Coffee Farm

The first big S4P coffee harvest of the season began yesterday — wonderful news, paired with a challenge. Finding enough pickers is difficult every year, but this season comes with a twist: farms across the region ripened all at once. Normally, the S4P farm ripens earlier due to its lower elevation, but nature had other plans.

Despite the labor shortage, spirits are high. As Brandy said, “We are happy that we have a lot of coffee. That’s good. The harvesters are happy to benefit from the extra work.”

Some families even bring their children along, and seven kids helped pick yesterday. Brandy overheard a delighted young boy celebrating his collection of two quarts of coffee berries. When she asked what he planned to buy with his earnings, he grinned and said he was going to buy a cake. Honestly? Respect.

Moving the Office

The S4P office is officially moving into the town of Gracias, and the process is already underway. While it may seem unconventional, the reasons are solid. Space was getting tight — “bursting at the seams” might be more accurate — and the growing ministry needed room to breathe.

The new space is in a house near the bus station in Gracias, which will make a world of difference for the many pastors who arrive by bus. Brandy visited yesterday and learned that people have already stopped by looking for Bibles. God wastes no time.

Please pray for a smooth transition and for staff to settle quickly and comfortably into the new space.

Teams

As soon as the coffee harvest winds down, backpack distribution ramps up — and S4P isn’t easing into it. They’ll welcome teams from the three largest sponsorship programs three weeks in a row.

• Week 1: Lighthouse Church team (serving 800–900 kids)
  
  

• Week 2: Life Community Church  team (around 400 kids)
  
  

• Week 3: Edgewater Alliance Church team (another 400 kids)
  
  

That’s a lot of backpacks and a lot of ministry packed into three weeks. Everyone is excited, and as Brandy put it, “We want to be ready for them.”

Staff

Please keep all S4P staff members in your prayers. Brandy’s request is simple and deeply heartfelt:

“Pray that we keep the fire in our hearts — to love the people and to serve the people. Prayers for endurance, which God never fails to give.”

 - 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

Updates from the Field: Camp, Containers, and Continued Prayer

 While Allen and Trish don’t join the blog calls as frequently these days — thanks to an expanding team of full-time staff on the ground — it’s always a joy to catch up with them. This week’s update is packed with news, praise reports, and heartfelt prayer requests. Let’s dive in!

MK Camp Adventures

If you’ve followed Sowers4Pastors for a while, you may remember that Allen was a co-founder of the Missionary Kids (MK) camp, and Rachel once served as the director of this very same camp which she attended as a child. This week, she returned to camp in a brand-new role: mom to a camper! Nathan is attending his first MK Camp, and by all accounts, he’s having the time of his life.

While Rachel volunteers at camp, Brandy is holding things down at home — embracing full-time care duties for Michael, Levi, and Charlotte. Word on the street is that Levi has already had a "gravity-related incident" (possibly involving a bed and a bold leap), but thankfully he’s doing just fine.

Please lift this sweet family in prayer as they juggle a busy, joyful, and occasionally bumpy week.

Dispensas & Delays

If you're a longtime reader, you know the word “dispensa” refers to the government paperwork that allows for duty-free shipping into Honduras. Recently, S4P has faced some frustrating delays that are completely out of their hands.

One container of food has been stuck in a warehouse for months — initially approved, then suddenly held up again. Another container, filled with backpacks, is waiting on its own round of approvals.

Please pray for resolution, open doors, and swift action so these much-needed supplies can make it to Gracias without further delay.

Backpacks & The Road Ahead

Speaking of backpacks: the next collection trip is right around the corner! Kirstin and Mary Faith are leading this year’s September trip and are already deep in planning mode.

Pray for them, for the donors and packers back in the States, and for smooth logistics all around.

Funding the Mission

Let’s talk finances. Like many ministries, Sowers4Pastors is feeling the stretch. Inflation, changing economies, and expanding outreach mean that every dollar matters.

Kirstin and Mary Faith are still working without full financial support, and the ministry carries the responsibility of fully funding its Honduran missionaries. On top of that, there are essential projects that don’t always get the spotlight—like pastor training, motorcycles, and building efforts. These may not come with adorable child bios, but they’re critical to ministry success.

One bright spot: the ministry is about to help its 500th pastor get a motorcycle! That’s 500 pastors who have been empowered to reach more communities thanks to nearly 20 years of faithful giving. Praise God!

Still, S4P is facing a financial pinch on the project side. And with growing ministry demands, transportation needs are increasing too. The team is researching durable vehicles that can withstand the rugged terrain.

Please pray for financial provision, stewardship wisdom, and the right resources at the right time.

The Long-Anticipated Move

Yes, they’re still not in the new house. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel! The hope is that Rachel and Brandy’s family will move into their new home on the ministry property within the next few weeks.

In the meantime, the ministry has decided to continue renting their current house in town and repurpose it as office space. It’s a great move — especially since it’s more convenient for pastors picking up supplies like Bibles, Sunday School materials, and food for the kids.

Prayers appreciated as the family transitions and the office setup begins.

Hands to Help

The ministry continues to struggle to find workers—especially for the coffee farm and for truck maintenance. Many men have left the area, making it harder to find workers for any kind of project. 

Please pray for the right workers and partners to step in.

Looking Ahead: Elections & Paperwork

Honduras will hold its presidential election in November, and the S4P team is praying for an honest, effective administration to be put in place.

Kirstin and Rachel are also navigating the final steps toward dual citizenship. They’ve already filed the paperwork and passed the exams (go, ladies!), but they’re still waiting on the government process to wrap up. Ideally, they’d like this finalized before the election, in case things slow down afterward.

Similarly, Sowers4Pastors is pursuing official Honduran non-profit status. Though the ministry has long worked under a U.S.-based nonprofit umbrella, the growth of the work in Honduras makes local status essential.

Pray that these processes will be completed in a timely manner — ideally, before the elections cause any bureaucratic delays.

Safety in a Growing City

Gracias is growing — and with growth comes the potential for increased security concerns.

Please continue to pray for the safety of the ministry team, the communities they serve, and the property they steward.

Final Thoughts

There’s so much happening, and every bit of it is held up by your prayers, generosity, and encouragement. Whether you're packing a backpack, supporting a pastor, funding a project, or lifting the team in prayer — you are part of what God is doing in Honduras through the local pastors, with the help of Sowers4Pastors.

Thank you for being in it with us.

 - posted by Christi