Rev. David M. Virkler

I was privileged to be part of a missions trip with Bible Basics International on one of their STAR Mission Teams (Sowing, Teaching And Reaping). We ministered in La Ceiba, Honduras for a week in July.
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere (Hurricane Mitch devastated much of the country in 1998). Honduras has a population of almost 6.5 million and is slightly larger in size than Tennessee. It borders Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. La Ceiba, located on the northern coast on the Caribbean, is the third largest city in Honduras.

There was far too much that took place to include in this report, but here are some of the highlights of my week in Honduras. (Contact us if you would like a copy of my full report.)

Before STAR team’s outreach began, several BBI staff members conducted training sessions for local pastors and church leaders. They were expecting about 30 people, but 80 came! I had a part in this. Some of the counselor training materials that I use in my own meetings were translated into Spanish and used in the sessions.

Each morning of our ministry, we had an early breakfast and then were off by 8:00 AM for visitation in area homes. We split up into eight teams, each one consisting of one or two STAR team members, a translator, the pastor of a local area church and a church member. Homes had been pre-selected by the pastors based on people’s interest in spiritual matters, and the people knew we were coming.

Some teams were taken far out of town and dropped off in very rural areas for their visits. My team’s visits were mostly in town. Some were in hilly areas—the mountains rise up sharply just outside of La Ceiba—with extremely steep paths leading to the homes.

I had been warned of the intense heat in Honduras, but I found it no worse than what I had just left in New Jersey! Since it was the rainy season, a torrential downpour came late each afternoon and cooled things off a bit.

Our presentations consisted of giving each person a folder with my personal testimony (translated into Spanish) and a series of questions including "Do you believe in God?" "Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?, …that you are a sinner?, …that Jesus Christ died for your sins?" The last question asked if they wished to accept Christ as Savior.

In these home visitations, I personally led 13 people to Christ. Pray for Ercilia; Nancy, Ramon, and Jackeline (members of one family); Oscar and his father, Jose; Doris and her mother, Maria; Delmina (a new babe in Christ at 86); Jorge; Ana and her grandson, Jaime (bedridden while recovering from being shot by a gang); and Steve (the only one who spoke English).

I also helped two people receive assurance of eternal life. Sadly, three people we spoke with did not make decisions. Pray that they will remember our presentation and come to Christ. Several couples we visited who were living together but are not married were exhorted to set this matter right.

The other teams had similar experiences in their home visits and also led many to salvation in Jesus Christ.

I preached on Thursday and Friday evenings in a local church pastored by Perfecto Erazo, who was on my team for visitation. Another member of the team, Rev. Sam Montoya, was my translator. These services were well attended, and some decisions for rededication were made. Eight local churches had members of our team preach in special meetings. Seven Honduran pastors participated in our outreach.

On Friday afternoon, I attended a meeting with Dr. Gene Priddy, president of BBI, and the local pastors to encourage them to produce programs for a second BBI radio station in Honduras.

Throughout the week, Dr. Larry Edwards (a physician and Director of Evangelism for BBI) and another member of the STAR team gave 28 presentations in public schools on AIDS. In every school, invitations to receive Christ and to practice abstinence were freely allowed. Over 300 students received Christ, and 600 decisions for moral purity had been recorded. On Saturday night, there was a rally mostly for church youth. Thirty made various public decisions, some for salvation. Through a Spanish-speaking member of our team, I counseled Alex, who pledged himself to moral purity and following Christ.

Rev. Montoya preached in Pastor Perfecto’s church on Sunday morning, and I attended. It was a wonderful time of worship and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ even though we do not speak the same language. They sang hymns in Spanish, and I sang right along in English!

In the evening, I preached at the closing citywide rally in La Ceiba with Sam Montoya again translating for me. The rally was held at a partially completed gymnasium giving it a somewhat "open air" feel. There was a good attendance, and some came forward for salvation. I met many who had been in the meetings during the week.

Most Hondurans dream of coming to America. One pastor told me it was almost impossible to get visas, however, because the Honduran government fears visitors to the States will never come back. We have so much, and they have so little. Some, however, are now rich in Christ.

I am thankful for a safe and fruitful trip and that so many joined in the project through prayer and giving. As my plane flew over La Ceiba on the way home and I looked down at the city where I had spent a week telling others of salvation in Jesus Christ, I prayed that our ministry would have an ongoing impact on a poor and needy people.


Trip  Photographs and Highlights
The view from the plane of La Ceiba on the Caribbean coast
Typical small homes on the steep hillside
One of the steep paths we climbed to get to homes
A typical neighborhood in La Ceiba
The other members of my visitation team outside the home of the first woman we led to Christ (right). Pastor Perfecto is on the left.
With a mother (middle) and daughter (second from right) who trusted Christ as Savior
"El Buen Pastor" – The Church of the Good Shepherd (Pastor Perfecto’s church) where I preached during the week

Preaching at the closing citywide rally with
Rev. Sam Montoya (left) translating.
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Highlights From A July 11-18, 2005 Missions Trip
With Sam Montoya and the congregation on Sunday morning.
A Report On The Honduras Evangelistic Outreach