Over the years they have helped plant seven new churches and facilitated several other church expansion projects. They continue to participate in a variety of ministry activities including medical clinics, community outreach, evangelism and discipleship activities as well as hosting several short-term mission teams annually.
God used their previous experience as professionals in corporate America to help them create two nonprofit ministries, FHD Honduras and FHD Missions, start a new ministry caring for people with physical disabilities called La Casa De Rubén, and implement a student scholarship program that provides select high school graduates the opportunity to obtain a college education.
It is not always easy living and serving in Honduras, but God has always been faithful to provide them the strength, encouragement and resources needed to fulfill His call; to show God’s love to the people of western Honduras to draw them into a close, personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Greg Hines shares recent experiences . . .
That None Would Perish
We recently had the pleasure of hosting a short-term mission team who came to teach Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God to nearly 70 pastors and church leaders from eight of the local churches we serve with in and around La Campa.
As we were beginning our journey into global missions nearly 20 years ago (not having any idea at the time that God was preparing us for full time ministry in Honduras) we went through a Blackaby study at First Baptist Atlanta that helped form our foundation for missions ministry.
Many of you reading this will know that one of the key points Blackaby made was simply this; find out where God is at work and join Him.
We began to see that God was at work in Honduras on our first two short-term mission trips here with FBA in 2009 and 2010. God in His love, mercy and grace called us to be a small part of what He is doing here, and we joined Him. God has continued to show us where He is at work and one such place that will not be found on a map is Los Positos.In Los Positos there is a man named Julio. Julio is very friendly, as most people here in the mountains are. He welcomed us onto his property, brought out chairs for us and we began sharing from the Bible. We finished telling him about Jesus and the cross and we paused to take a breath. When we paused, he looked at us and said, “OK, I’m ready to be saved, what do I do now?”
…(God) is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish…
God did not want Julio to perish. God sent us and the team we were with to visit Julio, to tell him about Jesus, so that Julio would not perish in his sin and spend eternity in hell separated from God.
But Julio is not the only one in Los Positos that God does not want to perish.
We visited a woman named Marta who lives down and across the road from Julio. She too was very friendly and welcoming. We spent a lot of time on her front porch sharing from the Bible and encouraging her to make the decision to follow Jesus, to receive Him as her Lord and Savior. But no matter how we tried to encourage her she kept refusing.
As the conversation wound down it started to rain lightly, and then gradually more heavily. She has a metal roof, so it was not long before it became difficult to hear one another. Besides that, we always want to be respectful of people, their time, and their decisions so we determined that the conversation was over and as soon as the rain lightened up, we would pray for her and head on to the next house.
While all of this was happening a woman from our team went over and began to talk one on one with Marta. A few minutes later, just as the rain started to lighten up and we were getting ready to go Maria, our team member who had been talking with Marta, looks at our group and says to us, “OK, Marta is ready to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior.”
What!? Just a few minutes ago she told us no, very politely of course, but it was a very clear no. We still don’t know exactly what Maria said to Marta when they were by themselves, but it isn’t really that important. What’s important is that, according to the Bible, Marta’s name is now written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, she is sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption and nothing or no one will snatch her out of the Father’s hand.
…(God) is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish…
God did not want Marta to perish. God had been at work in Marta’s life and God allowed us to join Him in this work. God does the saving, but He chose this team to be His voice, His hands, His feet, to bring the good news of the Gospel to Marta.
The first time we visited Marta was also in 2019 but it wasn’t until June 2023 that she would choose to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Four years is a long time. What would have happened had she died without Jesus sometime between our first and second visit?
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
Since God wishes that none would perish, and He is sovereign it was not a difficult thing for Him to preserve her life for four more years so that she would not perish in her sin and spend an eternity in hell separated from God.
What about you? Are you looking around to see where God is at work? If you see where God is at work have you joined Him? If you have not joined Him why not? What are you waiting for?
But more importantly than that, have you recognized your sin problem and your need for a Savior? Have you come to the point of being truly broken over your sin? True brokenness leads to repentance, and true repentance leads to salvation. Have you come to the point of true repentance? Is your salvation true and secure? Do you know that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Do you know for certain, like Julio and Marta, that if you were to die suddenly that just as suddenly you would open your eyes and see Jesus face to face?
God desires that none would perish but the decision is yours to make. God didn’t have to do anything for any of us but instead He did everything, well, almost everything. He sent His only Son Jesus to die on the cross in your place, to pay the price for your sin, then Jesus rose from the grave three days later proving His victory over sin and death.
I mentioned that God did almost everything. The only
thing He didn’t, and will never do is force you to make the decision to
receive the free gift of salvation by confessing and repenting of your sin and
placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. That is up to you. But everything
that God has done He did because He loves you and because He does not want you
to perish. - Gregory Hines
8/9 GREG & JEAN HINES (This week's blog guests)
FHD Missions, Honduras
Praise God for the two short-term mission teams from Florida who worked alongside the Hines in July. Pray also for the final mission team (from FBA) as they finalize their plans and prepare to travel to Honduras to help FHD Missions the last week of August. Pray for safety and provision.
Note: Pray for our FBA short-term mission team that will assist the Hines and FHD in Honduras during August 26 - September 2, 2023.
8/10 DOUG & LISA MITTS
Greater Europe Mission, Germany
Pray
God guides Doug as he leads two seminars for GEM’s Annual Conference in
August. Pray also for their disciple-multiplication, spiritual
formation, and spiritual direction, while in Texas.
8/11 K & C
Middle East & USA
Praise
God for the amazing opportunity that K & C had to travel to Cyprus
and another unnamed area of the Middle East to preach the Gospel in
seven different cities. Many had never heard of the stories in the
Gospel!
8/12 ANDREW & ALECIA TEEUWEN
Pioneers, Inc., Greece
EuroConnect
South, their regional conference, allowed workers in their Region to
re-connect with the Lord and with each other. People left encouraged and
inspired. Praise the Lord for the progress in purchasing a new church
building for the Albanian church in Athens, Greece!
8/13 MARK & JANA FAUS
SIM, USA/Worldwide
Pray
for Mark's ministry trip in August to Brazil. This ministry trip will
work to develop and assist in the formation of a new Brazilian board of
directors from an existing advisory board. Pray that God will give Mark
wisdom in the counsel and mentoring he will provide on this trip.
8/14 GARY & ESTHER SMITH
Ethnos360, Papua New Guinea
Gary
and Esther are relieved that the acoustic neuroma on Esther’s left side
has not affected her hearing in that ear. Her right ear has moderate
hearing loss at 41% and is probably caused by Meniere's disease, which
the doctor says will lessen over time. He has prescribed new meds. She
will have another MRI in December to determine that the neuroma is not
increasing in size.
8/15 RICK & ELISABETH ARNOLD
Pioneers, Inc., West Africa
Praise
God for the awesome volunteer team from Florida that helped in a
neighborhood medical clinic. A water reservoir was put in so the clinic
would have water during the frequent water cuts. The walls were freshly
painted. A medical team and several translators helped them.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)
Our monthly Prayer & Praise Calendar is also available on
fba.org/globalmissions
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