Honduras, meaning “the depths” either refers to the safe waters of Trujillo port, or Christopher’s Columbus statement that the was leaving the “depths” of his experience there.
Honduras became independent from Spain in 1821 when many other Latin American nations rebelled against foreign rule. By 1932, the country had seen 134 revolutions. The 20th century witnessed one military rule after another.
The country is one of the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nations; political decisions and economic wealth is centralized in the hands of a very small minority. People visiting Honduras for more than just a quick trip comment on the widespread unemployment, low wages, and gang violence. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch destroyed 80% of the country’s agriculture 70-80% of the nation’s infrastructure was ruined, including bridges and roads. Since then, other hurricanes also wrecked dreadful damage.
The population is generally a mixture of indigenous and white, 90%, indigenous, 7%, Black, 2%, and White 1%. In terms of religion, about 75% are Roman Catholic, while 13,000+ churches are spread out through the Protestant and Independent churches across 70+ denominations. Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, and other marginal groups compose around 1%. Since 1963, beginning with Evangelism in Depth, the number of evangelicals grew from less than 1% to today’s 23%
Pray for Benjamin and Isabel Martinez in Puerto Lempira:
Pray for Kike, and Belinda Vega, and Henry:
Pray for the great needs in Honduras: children at risk, powerful gangs, and AIDS.
While evangelicals are growing, division, isolation and jealousies weaken the witness of churches and leaders. Pray for the growth of mission vision.