The lower level of the wall was laid with bricks that were obviously softer, many of their corners were crumbled and broken, and mortar was not used. The top half of the wall was very neat and precise — bricks laid carefully with mortar. Stan wandered over into our conversation and quickly translated Fernando’s observation to me. The lower half of the wall was built with bricks handmade and simply dried in the sun. They may have made these bricks on site. The top half of the wall was built with bricks that were baked; they would have been bought and delivered here. Fernando had no idea why there would be this difference in construction techniques in the same wall of a building.
This casual conversation about the bricks in a wall made me realize that this simple Honduran pastor was, indeed, my brother in Christ. Since I had been with him, in his presbytery, numerous times, it was obvious now, despite our language barrier, that we are linked in a common ministry.
One of the most exciting conversations of my ministry happened in this simple one-room building, where we sat on plastic lawn chairs, gathered around two small, handmade wooden tables with plywood tops. I am convinced that if the members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) could simply peek in the window of this little building, and catch a glimpse of what was happening, we all would be very proud and supportive of the work and ministry of our church. It was a simple, casual conversation with an abundance of hearty laughter and dark Honduran coffee. It was also a conversation expressing all the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of my ministry.
We came together to ponder and discuss a formal partnership between the PC(USA) and the Presbyterian Church of Honduras. In support of that partnership, our world mission staff people were here to explore with the Hondurans the viability of sending a mission co-worker to serve with them. Gathered around the table from the PC(USA) were Stan DeVoogd, our world mission area coordinator for Central America and Mexico; Tracey King, our world mission regional liaison for Central America; and Kathy Wells, a director of Christian Education. I represented the Presbytery of Carlisle. Joining us was the executive board, “el junta” of the Presbyterian Church of Honduras: Pastors Fernando and Antonio, the patriarchs of the Presbytery; Cristobal, a pastor in a rugged logging community farther north whose congregation has recently planted a new congregation; Juan, the co-pastor of the flagship Presbyterian congregation in Tegucigalpa; Augustin, a professor at a local technical school, elder and the clerk of the presbytery; and Noel, a young college student who is a communication link with U.S. churches because he is bi-lingual.
This is, of course, not a new conversation. Many years and countless mission trips have connected the Presbytery of Honduras with PC(USA) Presbyterians. Our Presbytery of Tampa Bay has led the way in helping the Presbytery of Honduras organize and grow their mission and ministry. The Presbytery of Donegal and recently the Presbytery of Carlisle have been very involved. And now a mission network of people from all over our church with connections in Honduras has been gathering energy.
But this conversation around these simple tables on a sunny Honduran morning is moving everything to a new level. Can our world mission office recruit and fund a new mission position in support of the Presbyterian Church of Honduras? How will that person serve the churches in Honduras? What are their needs, objectives, and dreams? How can we support one another?
As our conversation developed I was blessed to hear the dreams of these Honduran church leaders. They shared the deep sense of calling to build and grow their congregations, and connect them together as Presbyterians. They named their deep need for leadership development and theological education for their pastors. They discussed their Sunday schools and their dreams to provide support for teachers, and more Christian education opportunities for their many children. They understood and discussed their need to be better organized, to strengthen the connections between churches and pastors. They felt a deep yearning to evangelize the people of Honduras, build more churches, and develop the spiritual maturity of their people. It was a privilege and a blessing for me to simply listen to these church leaders share their sense of call and feel the joy of the connections we share as Presbyterians.
I ask the members and leaders of our Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Do you understand what a privilege it is to be asked to share in this ministry with the Presbyterian Church of Honduras? Do you realize the remarkable good work our world mission staff people are doing in building these relationships, and expressing true mutuality in mission with our Honduran brothers and sisters? Can we shift some of our focus and obsession with our internal polity debates to celebrate and support this beautiful work in world mission?
Please support Presbyterian world mission.
Mark Englund-Krieger is executive presbyter, Presbytery of Carlisle in Camp Hill, Pa
