When Opportunity Calls . . . Pack Fast!

One of the perks of Allen and Trish’s current stage of life is the ability to travel without months of planning. They’ve officially reached the “throw some things in a bag and go” era — a magical time when spontaneity no longer requires a committee meeting. Recently, that flexibility served both them and the ministry in a big way. When longtime supporter Pastor Chris Ozment from Alabama called and asked if they could attend a county-wide conference of Baptist churches in just two weeks, Allen and Trish grabbed their bags.

But first, of course, came the behind-the-scenes scramble.

The purpose of the trip was to help Sowers4Pastors connect with churches in Pastor Chris' area. He and his wife have been packing backpacks for Sowers4Pastors for years, involving their local churches in that project. Last spring, Allen and Trish visited Alabama to meet with some of the pastors and gauge how much interest there might be in having them come to share the larger ministry with the local congregations — a visit that aligned perfectly with the launch of S4P’s new public sponsorship program. This program differs from the sister-church model in a big way: it’s open to individual sponsors anywhere - not just people in one specific US church.

Originally, the plan was to return to Alabama in the fall, but Pastor Chris experienced a health crisis, so it looked like the trip would be postponed indefinitely. Even so, S4P kept moving forward. The location for the new program was identified. Local connections were made with a pastor and school. Everything was lining up beautifully…

…and then the “throw some things in a bag” phone call came.

Naturally, there was one more plot twist — courtesy of a Honduran holiday shuffle.

In recent years, the Honduran government has rearranged certain holidays to create a full week off in the fall. Think of it as celebrating the 4th of July, Veterans Day, and Labor Day all in one festive stretch. So when Pastor Chris called, many S4P staff were scattered across the country enjoying family time. But…

Allen and Trish knew this was their window to begin arranging sponsors for the soon-to-launch public program. As soon as everyone returned, they quickly gathered the team and registered all the children in the new program. Because it was the end of the Honduran school year, the kids didn’t receive backpacks at that time — but they will in January.

Denise Cofer worked quickly to create profiles for each child, while Trish prepared the website so those shiny new profiles would have an online home. And then Allen and Trish officially threw some things in a bag and took off.

First stop: Florida, where they printed each child’s profile, and briefly visited with family.

Next stop: Alabama, where they spoke at the conference and then spent five full weeks visiting congregations — Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday nights included.

Thirty children now have sponsors, a strong beginning for the new public sponsorship program. Along the way, Allen and Trish met wonderful people, sampled Alabama church potlucks (they gave them five enthusiastic stars), and were glad for the opportunity to serve the ministry in a way only they can do right now.

The new sponsorship program will officially open to everyone in early 2026. Kirstin is creating the official policy page for the website, and Trish is wrangling with the tech work. As always, S4P will stretch every sponsorship dollar as far as it can possibly reach — supporting not only an individual child, but also that child's pastor, their community, other children still waiting for a sponsor, and even pastors who are being empowered to potentially run sponsorship programs in their communities in the future!

Thank you to Pastor Chris for the invitation — and to the churches in his county for giving the new public sponsorship program a heartwarming kickoff. - posted by Christi

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

Faithful to the Finish: Celebrating the 2025 Pastor Training Graduates

After three years of dedication and study, there’s a new group of graduates from pastor training school! Among them is Gabriel Perdomo, who graciously shared his experience with us.

Many of us remember those words from college orientation: “Look to your right. Now look to your left. Statistically, one of you won’t be here by graduation.” That’s a sobering thought for any student — but even more so for those who attend pastor training school. These students sacrifice time with their families, income from work, and often travel long distances just to attend. Out of the thirty or so students who began this journey together, nine faithfully continued to the end. That makes this accomplishment all the more meaningful.

Gabriel described the graduation ceremony with quiet pride. Because many students must travel several hours to reach the school, not all families can attend. Even so, the intimate celebration was filled with joy. One of the graduates, a gifted singer and guitarist, led worship alongside a teacher from the musical training school. A sermon followed, delivered by one of the directors, and then came the long-awaited moment — each graduate stepping forward to receive a hard-earned diploma. Afterward, the group shared a meal and took photos together, marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

For one graduate, the day was especially sweet. Just a few months ago, he texted the group to say he couldn’t attend that month’s session because he didn’t have enough money for the expenses, including bus fare. But his classmates refused to let him miss out. They quickly took up a collection so he could continue his studies. That act of love and solidarity made his graduation day even more meaningful for everyone.

Pastor training school has given Gabriel tools that will serve him for years to come. As a youth pastor, he now feels more confident creating sermons grounded in Scripture. “I know I’m giving messages that are based on the Bible,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Gabriel plans to continue his work with youth and is open to returning to help future students at the training school. He and his fellow graduates intend to stay connected, supporting one another as they each go on to serve their communities.

Thank you to all who support pastor training school through your prayers and donations. This is your celebration, too!

- posted by Christi

Building Faith and Benches: A Week of Discipleship in Honduras

A few weeks ago, a team from Crosspoint Church was on the ground in Honduras. As Brandy shared, this wasn’t a typical mission team. There was no backpack distribution, no VBS program, no medical clinic — and it wasn’t a vision trip, either. This team went to Honduras with one clear purpose: to provide a discipleship program for men in the area.

The Crosspoint team invited pastors and church members from their own sponsorship area to participate, as well as from the nearby EAC sponsorship area. Typically, Crosspoint sends a team once a year to host a VBS program during their backpack distribution trip. But last year, Sowers4Pastors and Crosspoint began discussing a new idea — a trip focused entirely on discipleship.

Brandy explained, “Their strategy was to come and teach basic skills in construction. They taught masonry, carpentry, and welding — as much as you can teach in four days. But the main focus wasn’t on carpentry itself. The construction projects were also a tool to open the door for deeper discipleship among the men who attended.”

In recent years, Brandy has noticed that in many churches, men are greatly outnumbered by women — sometimes five to one. “I don’t want to use the word ‘depressing,’” he said, “but it’s sad. We need strong Christian men. The week with the team went really well.”

Attending the program required sacrifice from the Honduran participants. For most, it meant giving up a full week of paid work. Even so, about 20–25 men participated — from one teenager to several in their thirties — all eager to learn and grow. Brandy, who studied welding for three years in school, helped teach that skill and also served as translator for the group.

Since it’s tough to build something major in four days while learning new skills, the men divided into three groups and focused on one meaningful project: building benches for children to use in their church. When the week ended, the benches stayed behind — a practical, lasting reminder of their shared effort.

“They were so proud of their work,” Brandy said. “It was amazing to see the faces of these men using an electric saw for the first time — and to watch their excitement as they saw the results of their efforts at the end of each day. It was really good.”

Each day included worship and a devotional led by Pastor Israel from Crosspoint, but the discipleship extended far beyond those sessions. The six-member team chose to stay in the community itself, rather than returning to a hotel in Gracias each night. They ate together, played games, and spent countless hours in conversation.

Brandy reflected, “It was a wonderful time.”

 - posted by Christi

Previously on the Sowers4Pastors Blog: Faith, Backpacks, and Bible Lessons

 (Please read the following paragraph in your best television announcer voice.)

Previously, on the Sowers4Pastors blog…

Vision Trip guests being mobbed 
by sponsored children, LOL

Mary Faith and Kirstin were catching their breath after a whirlwind backpack collection trip. Mary Faith was preparing to return to language school. Kirstin was getting ready to jump back into the office work. The container in Maryland was about to be loaded. And Allen and Trish were gearing up for their own trip to the U.S.

Now that you’re all caught up on the “previous episode,” let’s see where the story picks up!

The Sequel: Progress All Around

Mary Faith is now back at language school, “hablo-ing Español” up a storm. After a short at-home vacation, Kirstin has returned to the office — although word on the street is that she was still called upon for her expertise during her “official” time off. (Brandy laughingly assures us that doesn’t count, of course.)

Meanwhile, the container did get loaded (thanks so much, to everyone who helped with that), and the ministry is working on securing the necessary documents to bring items like toothpaste into Honduras. And yes, Allen and Trish successfully made it to Alabama, where they’re visiting churches and sharing about Sowers4Pastors’ new sponsorship program.

On the Ground in Honduras

While all of that was happening, the work in Honduras didn’t skip a beat. Last week, a team from Crosspoint Church (in Mississippi) served on the ground, and this week a vision team (from a church in Pennsylvania) arrived for their visit. Brandy and the team spent Tuesday visiting the sponsorship programs connected with Life Community Church (in Ohio) and New Life Christian Ministries (in Pennsylvania). They met with students, teachers, and pastors.

Brandy shared, “We had a good time talking to people at the schools. The teachers expressed how grateful they are. Some of the teachers aren’t Christians, but they appreciate the ministry and how we work with their school. We thought they would point to things like the backpacks or shoes kids receive, but the first thing they mentioned was how much they value Pastor Marvin’s weekly Bible lessons for the children.”

Many of these teachers work on six-month or one-year contracts, while others have been there for years. Those who’ve been around longer say they’ve seen real change in their students’ behavior.

Of course, Brandy noted, “Kids are still kids — they aren’t always going to behave perfectly.” But they love the interactive Bible lessons with coloring pages and activities, and they’re carrying those lessons home with them.

Stories that Stick

The team also visited with three local pastors and heard powerful stories about the ways the sponsorship programs are impacting entire communities.

One pastor shared how a family in his area couldn’t afford school supplies, so their children weren’t enrolled in school. The family happened to be present when S4P returned to the community to double-check that no children had been missed during the first distribution. That’s when their kids were enrolled in the program — and just a few weeks later, they started school.

The pastor recalled how the parents came to him in tears, thanking him for helping their children. He told them, “It’s not us. It’s not the gringos. It’s God sending your family what you need.”

Faith in Action

Stories like these aren’t rare, but they never lose their impact. Hearing firsthand from the people who live there — the teachers, pastors, and parents who witness transformation every day — is a beautiful reminder of how God is using these programs to reach the people of these villages.

Each Bible lesson, each backpack, each smile shared between teacher and student — they’re all threads in the same story. And it’s one that keeps unfolding, week by week, both on the ground in Honduras and right here on the blog.

Prayers for Safety

There has been a lot of rain lately, resulting in roads that are more treacherous than usual. Plus, there is a hurricane in the area that might impact Honduras. Please pray for safe travels and for continued safety for the people who live in the area.

- 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

Not All Heroes Wear Capes: Celebrating Teacher's Day

In Honduras, Teacher’s Day is officially celebrated on September 17th. In cities like Tegucigalpa, schools mark the occasion with meals and festivities. But in the rural communities around Gracias, the day has often passed quietly — just another school day with little recognition for the men and women shaping the next generation.

Sowers4Pastors is changing that.

Last Saturday, the ministry hosted its second annual Teacher’s Day celebration, inviting every teacher from the 26 schools it partners with. Sixty-five teachers arrived — some saying it was the first Teacher’s Day celebration they had ever attended.

“It was really beautiful,” Alejandro shared. “They were very excited about it.”

The day began the Honduran way — with coffee and sweet bread. (As Alejandro likes to say, “Water is life… because I need water to make coffee.”) Teachers were welcomed with prayer, laughter from icebreaker games, worship songs, and a message from Alejandro titled Teachers Who Change Lives.

In his sermon, Alejandro reminded them that their influence goes far beyond math drills or spelling lessons.

“They are teaching about life — about morals. They are teaching kids how to be good people. They are changing destinies. These teachers are sometimes acting as parents, doctors, friends, and psychologists in the lives of their students. I encouraged them to remember that and to do their best each day.”

The impact is undeniable. Every year, children in the sponsorship program share simple details for their profiles — favorite colors, shoe sizes, future dreams. Again and again, many write that they want to become teachers. Why? Because the teachers they already know are inspiring them.

“These teachers have future doctors, lawyers, politicians, parents, and teachers sitting in their classrooms,” Alejandro said. “They can make a difference.”

Before leaving, each teacher received prayer, encouragement, and a small gift: a metal water bottle emblazoned with the words, Not All Heroes Wear Capes. Some Teach. They were also briefed on the upcoming backpack distribution schedule.

They left with more than just snazzy new water bottles. They left with fresh encouragement, a sense of community, and the reminder that their calling matters.

And for the second year, Teacher’s Day didn’t slip by unnoticed — it was celebrated in style.

 - posted by Christi