Missions

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. With a per capital GDP of only $3000 and unemployment at 28%, Honduras is the 3rd poorest country south of the U.S. (ahead of only Haiti and Bolivia). Over 65% of the population is impoverished. Although, as you might suspect, it is ravaged by crime, drugs and disease, its people are for the most part gentle, quiet, generous, gracious and grateful. The children are beautiful, well behaved, loving and respectful. The children are the hope of Honduras.

Under the able leadership of Bishop Lloyd Allen, the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras is doing wonderful things in Honduras: building thousands of homes for victims of Hurricane Mitch and creating orphanages, schools, clinics and churches throughout the country. The Diocese of Honduras is the fastest growing Diocese in the Episcopal Church, with over 65,000 faithful members in 146 congregations.

Beginning in 1995, St. Luke’s Honduras mission ministry spent the first ten years focused on the small Episcopal Church of San Juan Evangelista (St. John the Evangelist), in the barrio of Villanueva on the outskirts of the capital city, Tegucigalpa. The success of the work there was to such an extent that it is affecting the entire country. In 2005, our mission work expanded to the very low income agricultural community of Rincon de Dolores, which is located about 30 miles from Tegucigalpa. Beginning in 2007, Bishop Allen asked our mission team to relocate to the Deanery of Comayagua in the community of Siguatepeque, which is located about 2 hours northwest of Tegucigalpa. In February, 2007, we took medical and dental services to 4 small, rural communities with mission churches outside of Siguatepeque, and also to begin a construction project for the improvement of the Episcopal Church Santiago Apostol (St. James the Apostle) in the town of Siguatepeque. We provided children’s Christian Education in those communities where we worked.

St. Luke’s Honduras mission ministry is returning to Siguatepeque in February, 2008, with a medical and dental clinic and children’s Christian Education in some of the small, rural communities where we worked this past year. We anticipate having doctors, dentists, pharmacists, Christian Ed teachers and other volunteers on our mission team working to bring healing (both spiritual and physical) to these communities and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with our brothers and sisters in Honduras.

There are many ways to be a part of the ministry. Pray for the mission team and our Honduran brothers and sisters. Provide financial sponsorship for supplies and equipment. Go with the team or help support from home.