Our Mission
Bethel Central American Ministries’ mission is to glorify God through the promotion and support of individuals and institutions involved in the proclamation of the gospel, Bible teaching, and Christian training in the nations of Central America. Additionally, we seek to serve God’s people through meeting practical needs.
Our Aim
Bethel Central American Ministries informs Christians of the missionary and humanitarian efforts which are being developed in various parts of Central America, and to facilitate the support of those efforts through an effective means of channeling funds to the intended recipients.
Statement of Faith
One God, existing eternally in three Persons: The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, His full deity and humanity, virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and imminent personal return.
The Holy Spirit, who convicts and regenerates sinners, indwells all believers, and empowers them to live a holy life.
The Bible, the fully inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, of absolute authority in all matters.
Man, a sinner by nature and practice, eternally lost apart from Christ's saving work, and redeemed only by His precious blood.
Salvation, by God's grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, entirely apart from human merit.
How it all began...
It was a sunny Texas morning in mid-September when my wife and I and our three children climbed into a rusty 23 year old Plymouth. I rolled down the window and then turned the key and started the motor. We waved goodbye to my wife's parents who were standing on the sidewalk wiping away tears. Then I pulled out into the street and turned south - toward the little Central American nation of Honduras and our future field of service. That was thirty-one years ago.
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Remembering the tradition of the early settlers crossing the continent en route to California, I had made a small cardboard sign, "Honduras or Bust", which I had taped to the rear window of the car. From the human perspective we almost "busted". Our journey, which we had expected would take seven or eight days, turned into more than three worrisome weeks of red tape, washed-out bridges, attempted car-jacking, and a rapidly dwindling wallet as we crept through Mexico encountering one setback after another. In fact, there came a point when I despaired of ever arriving at our destination. In spite of my faltering faith, God provided in remarkable ways - a place for us to stay free of charge for over a week, much needed financial support from a totally unexpected source, protection when we didn't even realize we needed it, and in a myriad of other ways. It wasn't until mid-October that we finally stepped out of the car at our destination, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, but God had gotten us there.
Our years of ministry in Honduras have been marked by some success as well as some failures but pervading everything is God's continual presence, taking us by His hand and leading us ever forward. Times of need were invariably met by moments of God's provision.
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You know, I still have that little cardboard sign that I placed in the window of our car thirty years ago. It reminds me of the unwavering faithfulness of the Lord. How much more will my astonishment be when I look back upon my earthly life from the glories of eternity and marvel at the intricacy of God's plans and work in even the casual details of this present sojourn. My voice will then join those of all the others who belong to Him in singing the praises of the One who has loved us!
