From Calling to Classroom: A New Chapter Begins

It was a joyful and meaningful opening day for the new Sunday school teacher training school — one that felt less like a single event and more like the beginning of something much bigger.

The inaugural session began with a small ceremony to mark the launch of the program, but there was nothing small about its significance.

Leaders from the seminary in Tegucigalpa made the journey to Gracias for the occasion, including the dean, a department head, and the instructor for the first module. For them, this was a milestone moment. As Brandy shared, this marks the first time the seminary has ever brought a formal training program to Western Honduras.

But what stood out most wasn’t just the logistics — it was the story behind it all.

The dean shared that the seminary itself was founded about forty years ago after its founder recognized a need in rural villages. Many people had a deep desire to teach the Bible, but little to no formal training. Some could barely read, yet they carried a genuine passion to share God’s Word.

“They had the heart,” Brandy reflected, “but they didn’t have the tools.”

Now, decades later, that same need is being met in a new way — and in a new place.

Thirty-five students attended the first session, representing churches from across the region. A few were unable to be there due to personal circumstances, but there is hope they will join in the months ahead. Even so, the room was filled with energy, purpose, and a shared commitment to grow.

Brandy was able to sit in on part of the training and came away encouraged.

“The teacher leading this module is dynamic,” he said. “She had everyone engaged — learning through play, participating, and fully involved. You could tell the students were enjoying it.”

That joy matters. Because this isn’t just about information — it’s about transformation.

“It’s amazing how God gives us vision,” Brandy said. “We may have different callings, but we share the same purpose. Many ministries are doing different kinds of work, but ultimately, it all points back to spreading the Gospel. The vision of this seminary aligns perfectly with the vision of Sowers4Pastors. Their vision is our vision.”

And this is only the beginning.

As Brandy put it, “This is how big things start — with one small step.”

That step, however, comes with real commitment. Seminary staff are traveling long distances from Tegucigalpa, and students are coming from villages across the region — all connected through S4P sponsorship programs. They are leaving their homes, traveling to Gracias, staying overnight, and returning the next day, all for the opportunity to learn and grow.

That kind of dedication deserves both recognition and support.

So as this program gets underway, there is a clear and meaningful way to be part of it: through prayer.

Pray for perseverance — for both the students and the staff — as they commit to the months ahead. Pray for encouragement when the journey feels long. And pray that what is being learned doesn’t stop in the classroom, but flows outward into churches, communities, and future generations.

Because that’s the goal.

To teach those who will go on to teach others.

And that’s how something small becomes something lasting.

A Big Step Forward: Formal Training for Sunday School Teachers

Several months ago, Brandy hinted that Sowers4Pastors would soon have a surprise announcement. Well, the future has arrived — and the surprise is a big one.

This year, S4P will begin offering its own formal training program for Sunday school teachers.

You might be thinking, Don’t they already provide training? That’s true. Just a few weeks ago, S4P hosted a training day for teachers to review the new curriculum. Those sessions are valuable, but they only scratch the surface of what teachers need to feel fully equipped.

Brandy began to notice this while visiting Sunday school classes throughout the region.

“Once in a while, we visit the Sunday school classes in the area,” he explained. “There are some places where the teachers are doing a really good job. But in other areas, teachers are struggling with the techniques needed to use the resources we provide. That’s when I started looking for a solution.”

That search led Brandy to a Christian seminary in Tegucigalpa. His sister studied there, and many others he knows have had positive experiences with the school. After conversations with the seminary leadership, something remarkable happened. The seminary agreed to do something unprecedented for the region: they will send instructors to Gracias to provide formal, intensive training for Sunday school teachers.

The ministry originally hoped to launch the program last year, but the timing wasn’t right. It would have overlapped with the coffee harvest, when many families depend on seasonal work for their income. Asking people to leave their work during that time simply wasn’t realistic. Now, however, the dry season has arrived and most agricultural work has paused—making it the perfect time to begin.

More than 30 people have already committed to the 10-month program, and that number may grow. S4P is still waiting to hear back from three churches that are considering sending teachers.

“We already have the location where the classes will be held,” Brandy said with a laugh. “We have beds for people to sleep in. We have the teachers. We even have the food lined up. We have everything we need for the students to begin—now we just need the money.”

One of the most important aspects of the program is accessibility. The seminary has agreed that the only educational requirement for participation will be the ability to read and write. Many adults in the region have those skills but never had the opportunity to earn a high school diploma. This program opens the door for them to receive meaningful training despite that barrier.

Students will complete two modules on Christian education, one module on child psychology, and a laboratory focused on developing and teaching Bible lessons. Opportunities like this are extremely rare in the area. In fact, Brandy remembers speaking with pastors from some of the largest churches in major cities who admitted they have no formal training available for their Sunday school teachers.

The fact that this level of training will now be available to teachers in rural communities is nothing short of extraordinary.

The program will run for ten months. Once each month, students will travel to Gracias by bus on a Friday. After arriving, they will share lunch together before heading into their first classes of the weekend. The evening will include dinner followed by another class before rest. On Saturday morning, students will enjoy breakfast and attend additional classes before boarding their buses to return home around noon. The seminary instructors will also stay overnight in Gracias during each training weekend.

Sowers4Pastors will provide the students with food, housing, and all educational materials. The only cost participants will be responsible for is transportation. However, two partner churches have already asked for help covering bus expenses because they simply do not have the funds.

This new initiative is only the beginning. Brandy hopes that once S4P gains experience with the program, similar training opportunities can expand into other areas — including formal training for pastors.

If you’re wondering how this differs from the existing Sunday school teacher training, Brandy explained that the current program is designed for individuals who may struggle with reading and writing and who arrive with very limited education. This new training represents the next step for those who are ready to continue learning.

Opportunities like this do not come along every day. Please consider supporting this new program financially — and as always, your prayers are deeply appreciated.

- posted by Christi If you'd like to help with the new Sunday school teacher training programs, you can donate to our general fund - just add a note saying that your desire is to help with Sunday School teacher training. Here's the link: Donation page

A Big Day for Bible Teachers: Training, Cake, and a Shared Mission

Saturday, April 5th was a big day for the pastors and Sunday school teachers who lead Bible lessons in the 27 communities reached by the Sowers4Pastors sister church program. It marked the first training meeting of the year — and about 70 dedicated church leaders showed up ready to learn, grow, and be encouraged.

“The meeting started with preaching,” Alejandro shared. “We think God spoke to our lives — empowering us and empowering them.”

After a powerful time of worship and preaching, the atmosphere shifted into something equally joyful — a surprise birthday celebration! S4P presented a cake to honor everyone with a birthday between January and April.

“We did that because we’ve found that most people don’t know when others have birthdays,” Alejandro explained. “A lot of people have never had any kind of birthday celebration. Everyone was happy to pause, share some cake, and pray for the birthday guests.”

The plan? Keep the tradition going! At the next meeting, May through August birthdays will be celebrated with the same thoughtfulness.

Once the cake was shared, the training kicked into full gear. Attendees received teaching strategies, hands-on activities, and valuable resources to bring back to their own communities — now numbering 27, thanks to the recent expansion through Crosspoint Church’s sister church program.

“We are a team made up of three groups,” Alejandro said. “The people from the States, Sowers4Pastors, and the people in our local communities — we’re all working together to extend the Gospel in this country. We pray we’ll keep reaching out in the name of Jesus.”

As part of that mission, S4P also brought along a selection of study Bibles and books to sell at cost. These brand-new, high-quality resources are transported three hours by truck, allowing church leaders to purchase them for a fraction of the price they’d find in the cities. S4P doesn’t make a penny of profit — it’s a labor of love and a way to put important tools into the hands of those who are actively teaching the Word.

And because no great gathering is complete without a shared meal, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch before heading back to their communities. Leaders were also reminded that new Bible lesson books and resources had already been delivered to the schools they serve.

The impact of the training was almost immediate. “On Monday and Tuesday, we started receiving pictures from the pastors and teachers,” Alejandro said. “They had already gone into the schools and started sharing the Bible lessons with the kids. We saw immediate results. It’s a blessing to share with them — and a blessing for us to see that these trainings are helpful.”

Sowers4Pastors is incredibly grateful to every church in the States and each person who prays for this ministry. Your support is making a difference — not just for the 2,000+ children in these schools, but for entire households and communities.

 - posted by Christi