
As many of you know, a group from Florence, AL, "Laymen for Christ," will be coming to build a church in La Laguna, Honduras for Pastor Favio. He has been working this community for the past 2 years. It will be the first evangelical church within the 50 Chorti Indian communities in Honduras. Many have told Pastor Favio to give up and quit working in La Laguna. They said that they don't want to hear the gospel and stick with their age old traditions. Well, he hasn't given up and God is blessing his work. For the past 6 months, I have witnessed with my own eyes a handful of families come together and are believing for better things for themselves and their families.
In preparation for the group from Alabama, we have been working on the land: clearing away brush; removing boulders and rocks; leveling the ground; and widening the footpath to enable a 4x4 truck to get to the property. While we have been working on it, I can sense that there is excitement in the hearts of the people. They are working on THEIR church. This will be THEIR house of worship!!
Amongst building the church in La Laguna. Ladies from Alabama will be having Vacation Bible School for the kids in the afternoon. Also, my precious friend from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Dr. Jorge, will be having a mini medical check up on the people. Before leaving, they will be distributing food and clothing. God will be ministering to the people: body; soul; and spirit!!
After, the church is built and the Alabama team is dropped off at the airport we pick up "Christ to the Nations Church" from Mesa, AZ. You think La Laguna got a shot in the arm with the Alabama team, we are not done! The power packed church from Mesa is going to evangelize the whole entire La Laguna community and reach into other areas as well. Yes, there is a brand new church built but how will they know unless they are told. So, we are going to strap on our walking shoes and march throughout the community proclaiming the name of Jesus. Sharing and telling about the good news of Christ Jesus. After a whole week of loving and sharing the gospel, we will be wrapping the week up with a Crusade for the whole entire community by preaching the uncompromised Word of God and ministering the power of the Holy Spirit. The beautiful thing is, we will be giving them spiritual food, but also physical food as well. For any family that comes, we will be giving them a bag of food to bless them and their family!
Just as the smoke is cleared and dust is settled the next group will be.....(Drum Roll).......please, our wonderful church of 14 years plus, Abundant Life Church from Radcliff, KY. Our focus is going to shift from La Laguna to Copan Ruinas. We will be helping and aiding La Cosecha (the church we attend in Honduras). Abundant Life is extremely diverse in many ways. From youth outreach to building projects to ministry of helps teachings. We are going to hit La Cosecha from EVERY direction. From the women to the youth to the leaders and off to their Christian school for work related projects. Our primary goal is to lift the hearts and souls of La Cosecha. To say we love you and are here for you. To move them 5 steps forward in the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm! La Cosecha is ministering to the community of Copan Ruinas and we want to be their to help them shout from the mountain top that Jesus is Lord!
What can a summer of ministry be without ministering to approximately 30 pastors? In August I am pleased to announce that my pastor, Jimmy Squires of Abundant Life Church, and Pastor David Edwards with Christ to the Nations Church will be holding a Pastors and Leaders conference in August. It will be 4 days of power packed teachings to em-better the hearts and lives of the pastors and leaders. Just think about it, if each pastor has approximately 30 members in their church, that will be around 900 lives being touched through the power of multiplication! It is such an honor for Pastors Jimmy and David to come to bless the people.
So, as you can tell, I can't wait to see the end of August. I firmly believe in my spirit that this community will never be the same. It is going to take one giant leap forward in the things of God!
Shawn Paul