Charlie Smith
Visionary & Co-founder of Heart to Honduras
July 26, 1938 – October 20, 1997
The visionary and co-founder (with Miguel Pinell) of Heart to Honduras was Charlie Smith, a man known for his vision, love, Cajun cooking, heart for the disenfranchised, and perhaps most of all for his giving. In fact all of the above could be wrapped up in the word “giving.”
Charlie Smith prepared to give. Born in Louisiana, Charlie graduated from Louisiana Tech. He and his wife Karen, a nurse, joined the Peach Corps and spent two years in Malaysia. Later he pursued a PHD in Applied Anthropology at the University of Kentucky, then taught sociology and anthropology at Warner Southern College (now Warner University) in Florida.
Charlie gave a vision. Though little known, Charlie was one of America’s great visionaries. Charlie could look at a barren plot of land and see houses, schools, plants and waterfalls where others only saw sand. His great thrill in life was translating vision into reality.
Charlie’s first vision with worldwide implications was for a simulated third world village to train missionaries. This dream became H.E.A.R.T. (Hunger, Education And Resources Training) Institute. Hundreds of students and missionaries have prepared themselves on this acreage adjacent to Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida. Noted sociologist Tony Campolo says, “No college in the country has anything to compare with the brilliant vision of H.E.A.R.T.”
In 1988, working for Mercy Corps International in the little village of San Isidro, Honduras, his heart was restless to birth a ministry to the poor through the church. Social and humanitarian outreach was good but rice and beans failed to fill the spiritual vacuum in the hearts of the people.
Using theories learned at the University of Kentucky, his experiences in Malaysia, and techniques learned at H.E.A.R.T., Charlie put together a powerful holistic ministry integrating the Bible and beans, For leadership, Charlie remembered a former student from Nicaragua, small in stature but big of heart, named Miguel Pinell.
Responding to Charlie’s invitation, Miguel came to Honduras. In December 1988, Miguel went to visit the pastors of a dozen rural village churches in a mountainous area of Honduras, first on foot, and later on his “four by four” a little burro. Miguel learned that these pastors were interested in banding together in an association to minister to their people. In January 1989, these pastors met for the first time and Heart to Honduras was born. These past 20+ years have been glorious witness to what God can do when vision joins commitment!
Charlie gave trust. Miguel once said, “I couldn’t believe Charlie was trusting me, a young Nicaraguan man, with leadership of the ministry in Honduras.” But Charlie said, “Miguel, this is your ministry and I trust you with it.”
Charlie gave love. Though not proficient in the Spanish language, he spoke the language of love. There was a time when thirty hungry little children gathered about him, and Charlie opened a can of Vienna sausage, cut thirty little pieces and gave them to the children.
Charlie gave his possessions. A few days before he died, Charlie said to Board member Jim Usher, “Jimmy, I am going to be buried in my shorts.” Jim ask why, Charlie replied, ” Because some poor Honduran needs my bluejeans.” Charlie was a giver of his earthly belongings.
Charlie gave his life. Widowed and dying from an incurable lung disease, Charlie boarded a plane for Honduras. He said, “The poor believers in Honduras are my people. I want to die and be buried among them.” Seven weeks later he was buried on Ambassador Mountain in the village of Canchias, where his vision was brought to fruition. There was (and is) still work to be done, but the lives of the Hondurans in this region were changed because Charlie had given his vision, his trust, his possessions, his very life’s work, to make a difference in this little corner of God’s world.
Charlie’s Challenge Video: Before Heart to Honduras’ founder Charlie Smith passing in 1997 he issued a challenge to a church in Winter Haven, Florida, really to all current and future supporters of the ministry! Charlie had a charming way of getting right to the point and moving people to action! As the years pass his message is as poignant as ever.
