A 30,000 foot view of OMS in Honduras

Last week, upon his return from their latest trip to Honduras, Gary sent in a report to his immediate supervisor at OMS. He sent a copy to me as well and it gave such a great description of the scope of the work they have helped foster in that country that I asked him if I could share it with the blog community. He was happy to share. So check out what three years has meant to the sharing of the gospel in this one Latin American nation.

A general summary of the work in Honduras is that it is growing rapidly and in ways that clearly show the hand of the Lord in how, who and where the growth is occurring. 

When we started in Honduras about three years ago, they were really only seeing and working in three prisons, at San Pedro Sula, La Paz and Marcala.  They were working with a small core group of volunteers  who worked very hard, but due to lack of training and material, were really only ministering to the inmates' physical needs and to a much lesser extent, their spiritual condition.  They were in each of these prisons approximately twice each month, and they delivered personal hygiene products, some OTC medicines and preached a short message in the chapel.  The total number of people that they ministered to was probably in the range of 30-40 individuals in each of these prisons.  This was after serving with Prison Fellowship for more than 25-30 years.  It wasn’t lack of desire or effort, but no appreciable direction or materials for growing the participation.

Enter Train & Multiply.  The combination of the material and the funding of their ministry has changed the face of their ministry and isdramatically changing the face of the prison system in Honduras. 

Now their volunteer base consists of pastors from several different denominations, Nazarenes, Church of God, and even Roman Catholic, seeing the people in the prison several times each week. These are people who are graduating multiple classes from Train & Multiply each month and are providing the manpower and follow-up that Herasmo, Erasmo and Nora were unable to do because of the distance and time requirements to travel in Honduras. 

Where three years ago there were three locations, now there are 12-15 including:

La Esperanza, Comayagua, Tamara National Prison for Men, Tamara National Prison for Women, a third Tamara Prison, San Pedro Sula, El Progresso, Marcala, La Paz, Danli, Tela, Choluteca Prison, Nacaome Prison.  The ministry has grown and has made an impact to the point that the ministry has now been involved with Samaritan’s Purse to deliver Shoe Boxes to the children of prisoners.  They have an expanded participation in the PFI Angel Tree Program - again providing gifts for the children of prisoners. 

I have included a map of Honduras for you to get an idea of the scope of where they are working.  The country is about the size of Tennessee, but to go a little over 80 miles as the crow flies, it requires a drive of almost 4 hours even in the non-rainy season, which is better known there as construction season.  The volunteers are currently working in a large number of the departments or states in the country and are already planning on serving more. 

They are still doing all the things they used to with regard to preaching, personal hygiene and medicinal items, distributing gifts for the inmates children, but more importantly, they are developing a core group of 25-40 men and women that are trained as trainers who are spreading the program even when our volunteers are not on site. 

We have found that some of the inmates, primarily the gang members, while making a real change in their lives, still desire to be taught by an outside volunteer rather than by fellow inmates.  I have actually experienced this preference in the prisons I work in here in the states as well.

The program has been somewhat slow to grow outside the prison, but there is some activity in the city of Tegucigalpa with people participating from various barrios in Train & Multiply. Some of the remote pastors serving in the prisons have discovered that the Train & Multiply Program provides great material for developing the discipleship in their own churches and communities.

The program has developed to the point where it could almost be self-sustaining!

If you would like more detail, that is certainly available, but this gives you an idea of what and where things are happening.  On my next visit in November, it will be after the rainy season and before the construction season gets rolling and Herasmo promised that we would once again be running all over the country seeing the growth of the program throughout Honduras!

Colombia, January 2017 - Diane

I love sharing these snippets from my mom's travel journal. If you know Diane at all, you know that traveling is not second nature to her. I suspect most all of you know that if she were deciding, she would be home with her beloved dog, Summer and in close proximity to her kids and grandkids and her typical daily routines. Isn't it just how God works on us to make us uncomfortable to grow closer and more dependent on Him? Please be praying for Diane and Gary and their discomfort and growth - mental, emotional and physical discomfort is hard but it pays in huge dividends when God is the source!

Saturday Jan 21

Today the first day here in Medellin was a very full day! We arrived at the hotel about midnight last night and just unpacked enough to sleep. Then this morning we met Lacides Hernandes, the president of Prison Fellowship - Latin America, and off we went!  Back to the airport an hour away to pick up the board members arriving from an OMS board meeting in Peru. Then we went to visit a part of this ministry that reaches boys through soccer. They built a big sports complex that enables them to practice and play a lot of soccer. But also while they are playing this sport, they are being led to Christ and discipled

in the Christian way of life. And the families are involved in their process also. They are also building a church in the community that has grown from the soccer ministry.

Then we were taken to a facility that manufactures brownies using an American recipe and the proceeds are used to fund the soccer facility!  It is an amazing process that shows Gods  people working together to further His Kingdom.

Sunday January22

We got up and had breakfast with some of the International Board members, including president of OMS, Bob Fetherlin. We got to share our story of how God called us to serve Him in mission work. Many people who are with OMS have been in missions their whole lives and their families were missionaries. So our story fascinates them.

We went to church in Medellin at the first evangelical church established here by IGLECO, a division of OMS. It was a very special day for them to have the president and board members visiting. They gave a plaque to the President with their many thanks. One of the board members is a pastor and he preached a wonderful sermon with Randy Spacht as his translator. It was very powerful for everyone. The title was "At the Feet of Jesus," the story of Mary and how that was where you could always find her. It was very applicable in our busy world to take time to find what we need at the feet of Jesus. 

Bob Fetherlin spoke of the goals of OMS to reach all who have not heard the name of Jesus. He challenged all of us saying we are the ones who will take His name to all the earth. He also challenged the church here in Medellin - they are called to send missionaries to other countries that need Jesus. As always he was very inspiring.

Then after the service of much singing and greetings, we went to a local mall for lunch. The officials of the church hosted us and many were there with their families.

After lunch we went to visit the offices of IGLEICO. They are located very close to our hotel. They shared their organizational plan and plans to expand into other areas of Columbia. They are already in much of the country and even have a church in London.

Tonight for dinner we will hear about other aspects of ministry here. Such as the Satura Columbia project which as the name implies, has the goal of saturating the whole country with the Gospel. It was a special treat to hear from Juan Guillermo Cardona tonight about the saturation project for all of Columbia. He gave a very detailed plan of how this would be accomplished. He and his family work very hard for the Lord. It was such a pleasure to see them all. The last time we saw them his wife was undergoing chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. Thankfully she is cancer free now and looks wonderful! Their two teenage children, a boy and a girl, are so sweet and welcoming to us. It is wonderful to have such good friends here.

OMS - Counting on a Miracle of God!

One of the things that Gary and Diane do when they aren't traveling to Latin America is participate in conferences and trainings here in the states for OMS. Below, Gary describes one such conference from June of 2016, where they began to tally the numbers to watch God work a miracle.

I know Diane has already shared her impressions of the International Missions Conference and the Worldwide Coordinators Seminar that were held at Ohio Wesleyan University in Marion, IN in June.  I just wanted to give you an overview from my standpoint.

The Missions Conference was primarily focused on sharing the vision of Bob Fetherlin, President of One Mission Society.  Bob explained his desire since being named president to cast a vision for the next decade.  He said he kept coming up with goals, but kept feeling God saying “bigger!”  Bob began a long prayerful negotiation with God and came up with what he said was a GOD SIZED GOAL.

“One Billion – One Opportunity Vision”

“We’re asking God, by his power and grace and for his glory alone, to enable OMS and our partners to give one billion people the opportunity to hear, understand, and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ over the next 10 years.”       

    Robert Fetherlin – President One Mission Society

This first half of the conference was to share the vision and discuss how this God Sized Goal could "reasonably" be achieved.  Not by OMS or other organizations, but by God because, after all - with God all things are possible. 

We were presented with outstanding speakers involved in worldwide mission with reaches spanning throughout the world. The world seems to be primed for receiving the good news.  Attending the conference were prayer supporters, financial supporters, missionaries and ministry partners from approximately 60 countries where OMS has an on-going ministry presence.  This was the inspirational part of the meeting and everyone got really excited for the opportunities that God is opening for us and Christians around the world to spread the Gospel.

The second half dealt with the mechanics of the implementation of the vision, the “feet on the ground” aspect of what God was calling us to do.  This was attended by ministry leaders from all over the world -  Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and from North America as well.  Here each group and ministry provided a short update on their activities, successes, setbacks and their plans for the future.  

There were seminars and workshops presented that discussed methods and practical steps to more effectively spread God’s word.  They explored and explained the challenges and creative methods each group had found to overcome obstacles and shared those with others that may currently be encountering similar issues.  

The first three days of the Symposium were packed with good practices that have worked in other areas and how to avoid pitfalls and errors and follow Biblical principles in the spread of the Gospel.  On the last day, each national group met individually with others from their respective countries and together they worked to determine what portion of the One Billion – One Opportunity goal they could manage.  

During the final session, the results of the tally were presented to the assembly.  Now remember this is just what OMS ministries feel they can be reasonably held accountable,  ...….. The number came to approximately 400 million, forty percent of the stated goal, without allowance for the contributions that come from other agencies, organizations and evangelistic-missionary groups.  That is an impressive goal in and of itself, if combined with other partners are able to do, the One Billion – One Vision concept appears reachable. Because indeed with God, all things are possible!

  

The Conference ended on a very positive note and we all headed home - inspired, encouraged and challenged.  When we look at the big picture, we can all see that it has to begin with each and every one of us sharing our faith on a daily basis and letting the power of multiplication work to give the opportunity to billions to know Jesus.

Slacker Blog Poster

Hey all! It's been literally MONTHS since I posted anything to Gary and Diane's blog and NOT for lack of material. Life has just been full and busy and this slipped through the cracks. Apologies!!!

Right now they are on their way back from Medellin, Colombia, South America after a ten day visit filled with all NEW wonders and stories. However, I was looking through unposted stories and ran across this one from over 6 months ago that we didn't share. Getting back on schedule, I thought it well past time to remind everyone of the amazing things that Gary and Diane are blessed to be part of with One Mission Society and Prison Fellowship. Hope you enjoy!

From Diane's Travel Journal last summer in Medellin:

Well, we FINALLY spent our first full day in Medellin,Columbia. We were off to a very rocky start. We were supposed to arrive here late Monday night with a full day planned for Tuesday. A graduation and baptisms were planned for Tuesday. But instead we missed the plane to Medellin due to a late plane from Pittsburgh. Thankfully Delta paid for our hotel room that night, since it was their fault. We still may have to pay for the missed reservation at the hotel here in Medellin, not sure yet.

But we were off this morning bright and early to Pedregal women's prison to see  their APAC program. Which is their reentry into society program. The girls were doing a Bible study and we got to listen with a wonderful translator. She was a joy to meet, but we came to find out that she is Muslim and is merely teaching the others English. We listened to her story and talked to her about salvation and it was clear the she is searching and confused. We will be praying for her salvation. Will you join us?

Some of the girls shared with us how the program is helping them grow spiritually and prepare them to reenter society.

Then after the prison we were off to a meeting at the CCC, Confraternidad Carcelaria Columbia, where Lacides was having a meeting with the Board of Prison Fellowship Columbia. We had an interpreter then also. There was much talk of finances and some questions for us representing OMS that we must find answers to. 

 It was a wonderful but exhausting day. We did not actually check into our room last night until 11pm and were quite tired.

Sometimes in reading or listening to my parents tell about their trips, I forget how exhausting travel can be. They have MANY days with back to back to back meetings and it is fair to say that during most all of their visits, they must be ON, focused, and present. When I consider that and the fact that they are both closing in on 70 years on this earth, it becomes clear that God is sustaining them while they are away. I hope I am as youthful as they are at that age but even as they spend this full day traveling back again from South America, please know how critical your prayers are for them. This is not an easy path but He is certainly the God of miracles and the impossible. Thank you for all of your support! Would you consider leaving a prayer in the comments here or on Facebook to encourage them today?

Thanksgiving for the work God is doing!

As we all settle down for gatherings with family and friends to begin this season of Thanksgiving to count our blessings, here is a reminder from Gary and Diane's recent visit to Honduras. Strung throughout is evidence of all the gratitude and thanks we have for the amazing things God is doing. This is also a time for Gary and Diane to say thank you for all of the support and prayers that you have offered them since this adventure began. All of us have so much to be thankful for during this special season.

November 7

   

Today we went to the city of Tamara to visit the National Men's Prison there. There are about 4,000 men housed there.  The day was beautiful and cool. We were taken to a very nice open air worship area. There we would participate in the graduation of about 40 men from the Prisoner's Journey Program. This is is 6-8 week program of evangelism and introduction to Jesus. Then immediately following they will be going on to do the Train and Multiply Program, which will train them in discipleship in the coming year. This will prepare them to be mature followers of Jesus. At the graduation they were given a Bible and a diploma. Most had never had a Bible before. It was a treasure to them. We were blessed to shake their hands and witness this wonderful celebration. 

Across the rest of that prison, programs are being held in Train and Multiply and the Prisoner's Journey. A total of 980 men are actively involved in these programs throughout the prison system since the program started approximately one year ago.  One amazingly beautiful thing beautiful is that the Catholic Church there at the prison is holding a class in The Prisoner's Journey! This kind of collaboration does not happen often, but as it happens more frequently we as "The Church,"will be able to help fulfill the One Billion Vision that the Lord has given to OMS - one billion lives reached with the Gospel message in the next 10 years. We are so blessed to be a small part of what the Lord and His servants are doing in the prisons of Honduras.🙏🙏

After the ceremony we were introduced to another group of volunteers who work in the prison of Tamara. One of them spoke English! He had been in prison in the US when he found Jesus! So now he is working here in Honduras to bring the Gospel to his fellow prisoners. He also wants to work together with Prison Fellowship Honduras. So the Lord orchestrates the meetings of His hands and feet! We see this often! The love of our Savior and The Gospel bringing us together.

Another special moment happened at the closing of the ceremony. They brought us pop and two small chicken burritos to eat. So sweet and generous. Herasmo said we should try to eat it because they want to share this special time with us. So Gary and I and Herasmo drank the pop and ate the burritos 🌯 with them. It was their celebration and we were honored to share in it. Herasmo knows I sometimes have problems with the foods here, but I knew the Lord would bless this food that they shared with us. Another blessing to end the wonderful morning.

Another PS to this story! As I was writing this I neglected to share that Gary was able speak a word of encouragement to the graduates! He told them how much of a blessing the success of this program is to us and to both OMS and Prison Fellowship International. They woven into our lives,hearts and prayers.🙏

Reflections From the Last Trip to Columbia - from, Diane

On this day we began the day at Bella Vista prison. We thought we would see a worship session but we got a wonderful surprise and were witnesses to 20 baptisms!  The process of admission to Bella Vista was not as strict as for Pedregal. There was one computer check point and one metal detector. One stamp and finger printing. And then they checked our shoes after the metal detector! And of course we were fingerprinted when we left too.

We were directed to the chapel when we got there where we were informed about the baptisms taking place today. We were very excited to be present for this wonderful time. 

We were also informed that Janean Brabon would be there too. It was a pleasure to see her again. She was a part of the first people to bring the Gospel into Bella Vista back in the days when they were killing each other and the guards were even afraid to enter. But due to a vision from the Lord, the Gospel was taken into the prison by a few brave missionaries, and the prison was changed from a place of darkness and violence to a place of the Light of the Gospel. Today there is a seminary there that produces pastors who serve both inside  and outside the prison. 

After the baptisms we got to shake everyone's hands and extend our blessings to them. We were so blessed to have been there to witness this wonderful event.

After the baptisms we were taken to another patio or cell block. Much smaller and less crowded than the previous one. They said the prisoners in this patio were all former police or guards or government officials and lawyers! It seems crazy but that is what we were told. We went into the room where they have Bible study. There was a guy sleeping there. They told us that this room also is used is as a safe place to sleep when inmates have no money to buy sleeping spots! That is the way it works there due to the severe overcrowding of the prisons in Columbia. Our guide from Prison Fellowship (who also spoke English, praise God!), told us that Prison Fellowship owns some space and they see that the men have adequate places to sleep if possible. We also found our our guide works for OMS! It truly is a small world.!!!  They asked me to say some words about how believing in the Lord Jesus changes your life. I gave a short testimony of what He has done for me with a salvation message. The Lord gave me the words, for sure. Gary shared about how we were called into prison ministry and they seemed moved by our stories. So grateful the Lord provided a translator. We are so grateful to be serving in the prisons of Latin America❤️

A God-Sized Vision for OMS

In June we were invited to be a part of the International Missions Conference and the Worldwide Coordinators Seminar that were held at Ohio Wesleyan University in Marion, IN.  Since not all of our time is spent in Latin America, I wanted to give you an overview of what we accomplish in these other activities, both as an organization and as individuals and share some of my experience {Gary}.

The Missions Conference was primarily focused on sharing the vision of Bob Fetherlin, President of One Mission Society.  Bob explained his desire since being named president to cast a vision for the next decade.  He said he kept coming up with goals, but kept feeling God saying “bigger!”  Bob spent long prayerful negotiation with God and came up with what he said was a GOD SIZED GOAL.

“One Billion – One Opportunity Vision”

“We’re asking God, by his power and grace and for his glory alone, to enable OMS and our partners to give one billion people the opportunity to hear, understand, and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ over the next 10 years.”       

    Robert Fetherlin – President One Mission Society

This first half of the conference was to share the vision and discuss how this God Sized Goal could reasonably be achieved.  Not by OMS or other organizations, but by God. After all - with God all things are possible. 

We heard outstanding speakers share how their placement in worldwide mission gave them a critical position to see that the people are primed for receiving the good news.  Attending the conference were prayer supporters, financial supporters, missionaries and ministry partners from approximately 60 countries where OMS has an ongoing ministry presence.  This first half was the inspirational part of the meeting and everyone got tremendously excited for the opportunities that God is opening for us and Christians around the world to spread the Gospel.

The second half dealt with the mechanics of the implementation of the vision - the “feet on the ground” aspect of what God was calling us to do.  This was attended by ministry leaders from all over the world:  Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and from North America as well.  Here each group and ministry provided a short update on their activities, successes, setbacks and their plans for the future.

   

There were seminars and workshops presented that discussed methods and practical steps to more effectively spread God’s word. They pressed us to be looking at the challenges and the creative methods each group had found to overcome and share those with others that may currently be encountering similar obstacles.  The first three days of this portion of the Symposium were packed with good practices that have worked in other areas and how to avoid pitfalls and errors and follow Biblical principles in the spread of the Gospel.  

On the last day, each national group met individually with others from their respective countries and together they worked to determine what portion of the One Billion – One Opportunity goal they could be responsible for.  During the final session, the results of the tally were presented to the assembly.  Now remember this is just what OMS ministries feel they can be reasonably held accountable,  ...….. The number came to approximately 400 million, forty percent of the stated goal, without allowance for the contributions that come from other agencies, organizations and evangelistic-missionary groups.  That is an impressive goal in and of itself, if combined with other partners are able to do, the One Billion – One Vision concept appears reachable. Indeed, with God, all things are possible. 

The Conference ended on a very positive note and we all headed home inspired, encouraged and challenged.  When we look at the big picture, we can all see that it has to begin with each and every one of us sharing our faith on a daily basis and letting the power of multiplication work to give the opportunity to billions to know Jesus.