About the Honduras Agape Foundation

Our goal is to manifest the love of Jesus Christ to the people of Honduras by partnering with the local community members to provide medical and health care and educational support, construction of homes and other community facilities, and care for the children. HAF will also encourage and support the outreach of the local Christian believers within their communities.

Background

South Aiken Presbyterian Church of Aiken, SC, began a foreign mission ministry to Quimistan, Honduras in response to Hurricane Mitch in 1999. The first mission team went to assist in the rebuilding of homes that were destroyed by the hurricane. Shortly after that the ministry established a "Sister Church" relationship with the Agape Church led by Pastor Rene Jerezano.

From the initial 1999 trip, mission efforts grew into an ecumenical collaboration that included various churches and civic groups throughout the southeast. Rapid growth and participation by diverse organizations necessitated the establishment of a separate non-profit foundation to manage the future work.

In January of 2003, The South Carolina Project Agape Foundation was formed with the goal to continue manifesting the love of Jesus Christ to the people of Honduras by providing medical and health care and education, resources to construct homes, care for the children, and other support for the community of believers.

In July 2007, the foundation recognized that its supporters extended far beyond the state of SC and approved the name change to Honduras Agape Foundation. And what began with one mission trip a year is now up to five each year with up to 16 members per team.

Throughout this time, the foundation has worked closely with The Agape Church and MPA (Ministerio Proyeccion Agape) both of which were shepherded by Pastor Rene Jerezano. In 2002, MPA received non-profit status from the Honduran government. Falling under the direction of MPA were the church activities, the Compassion program, the Agape Clinic, the Agape Promise (formerly known as Aiken Promise) program, and construction projects. During eight years of collaborative work, HAF has successfully supported MPA and the Agape Church and the Quimistan Valley communities in the following manner:

• Created the Agape Promise program that provides sponsors for up to 50 children to continue their education beyond the 6th grade, healthcare, Christian education, and general support. The first four graduates from the local high school were celebrated in November of 2007 and two more in November 2008.
• Created the Quimistan Valley Scholar Program, a collaborative program with local businesses to provide financial support to the brightest and poorest to attend a university through a matching funds program with our foundation matching their donations dollar for dollar. The first 4 recipients are currently attending college classes.
• Initiated and sponsored evangelical events which included youth retreats for five local churches, vacation Bible schools in four neighboring villages, Bible story time with local kindergartens, home visitation with gifts of beans and rice with Gospel literature, and church fellowship through many hours of worship.
• Experienced the joy of witnessing the baptism of 37 local youth; the wedding of an elderly couple who had been living together for 35+ years; many come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior; and the development of long term, deep relationships between missionaries and local Honduran families.
• Construction Activities

Through these years, we have seen the town of Quimistan progress in ways including but not limited to paved road, commercial growth including Internet services, neighborhood developments, and population growth.

With three mission teams planned for June, July and August of 2008, arrangements were made for our mission teams to stay in the home of Gary and Martha Thomsen, a Honduran-North American couple that graciously opened their ranch to us. Following the blessing of accommodation, three successful mission trips sent a total of 45 individuals representing 15 different congregations. Two homes were completed; a classroom was started (and has subsequently been completed); over 400 people received eye exams and 1000+ school children received fluoride and anti-parasitic medications along with Gospel information; 28 families received gifts of beans and rice with a presentation of the Gospel; local kindergartens were visited with Bible story time and snacks; worship was shared with many groups; new relationships made and old ones strengthened.

Three existing directors and one incoming director attended the 9th annual 'Conference of Honduras' in Copan in October 2008. It is a premier networking event for individuals and groups engaged in efforts to empower the people of Honduras in the areas of education, healthcare, and community building. Following the conference, they spent time in Quimistan and met with the Mayor and the Commissioner of the municipality to evaluate ways our foundation can work with the local government to support one another and at their suggestion, visited remote pueblos that are in profound need, to evaluate possibilities for future outreach. They also spent time visiting: the leaders of the local health clinic, a group of doctors who are building a hospital in Quimistan, the health clinic in a neighboring municipality, Pueblo Nuevo, and Santa Clara, a small village with great needs. Networking is being done to begin a program of providing biosand filters to provide clean water to the local families of Santa Clara.

Looking Ahead

In reviewing the past and looking to the future, the foundation hopes to reach an agreement with MPA, which will allow us to continue to use the Agape Clinic for our medical outreach. We approach these plans recognizing that after nine years with our focus being in Quimistan and its close neighbors, God seems to be directing us to other areas of need in Honduras. By reaching out beyond the compound of MPA, we allow our work to become more ecumenical and inclusive, and we provide ourselves with the opportunity to learn from the past. We believe our foundation can continue its outreach in a new and improved way as we implement techniques for encouraging the locals how to take ownership of their own needs and working for solutions to them: empowering them with educational support in areas of health, agriculture, and evangelism and offering help to those who are willing to help themselves and their neighbors.

Problems Being Addressed

• Unclean drinking water
• Need for medical treatment and facility
• Sub-standard housing
• Educational needs
• Nutritional needs
• General support for the Agape Church family

Goals of the Project

• Provide clean drinking water for the community
• Establish a means of dispersing the clean water to the local homes
• Complete the medical clinic
• Establish biannual medical mission trips to provide dental and medical care
• Build cement block homes for families in need
• Complete an industrial kitchen and classrooms to be used by the "Lily of the Valley" Feeding program
• Build a storage building
• Establish shipping of support supplies from USA to Honduras
• Provide instruction ( i.e. basic hygiene, nutrition, gardening, sewing, carpentry)
• Support a full time missionary

Our Organization

The Honduras Agape Foundation is a 501-3c non-profit organization dedicated to sharing God's love and supporting our sisters and brothers in Honduras.