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Since its conception, Heart to Honduras has endeavored to work through local churches in rural Honduras. Ministry founder Charlie Smith firmly believed that it made no sense to address only a person’s physical needs without also addressing their spiritual needs. As believers in Jesus Christ we are taught to share Jesus in all that we do and say. Whenever possible we have partnered with a local body of believers to minister to the needs of communities through monthly pastoral support, church improvement projects, providing teaching materials, periodic pastoral meetings, seminars, and campaigns, sponsoring children’s and youth activities, and equipping the churches to meet the physical needs in their villages.
The Sister Church Program provides opportunities for Heart to Honduras and its supporters to enhance and strengthen this cooperative spirit with Central American churches as never before. North American churches establish sister church relationships with village churches in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica discovering in the process the mutual encouragement that Paul wrote of in Romans 1:10-12:
One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. For I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord. I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other. (NLT)
Simply put, the Sister Church Program matches North American congregations with Central American congregations in ongoing partnerships to expand the Kingdom of God. Those words may convey the purpose of the program, but they cannot express the depth and power of the program. The Sister Church Program enables two congregations from very different countries to develop a strong and lasting relationship. This relationship is formed and strengthened through mutual prayers, physical and financial support, and intentional times of sharing in work and worship. Developing a Sister Church relationship promotes moving past praying for “the people of Honduras” to praying for individuals you know and love deeply. The passing years provide many opportunities for each church to watch the other live, grow and develop – sharing victories and struggles, worries, and successes. The relationship changes not only the church in Central America, but also in North America. As the two churches walk through life together, they find that they are blessed, challenged and encouraged to become the church God wants them to be.
Each year Heart to Honduras hosts a Sister Church Ingathering either in Honduras or at our stateside offices in Xenia, Ohio. We encourage everyone who is involved in a Sister Church relationship or would like to know more about the Sister Church partnership to find out more and plan to attend.
If you have questions about the Ingathering or the Sister Church partnership in general, please contact Steve DeLisle:
Phone: (937) 408-0027
