What a beautiful day in Tegucigalpa! This week is my first opportunity as board chairman to spend significant time on site during a time of normal operations. I am blessed by the opportunity to become better acquainted with the work being done.
The clinic devotional begins at 7 a.m. and the singing, prayers, and Bible study were uplifting. The work done through the clinic, along with the nutrition program, is incredible. With about 8000 patient contacts each year at the clinic site, and thousands more through the mobile clinic and medical brigades programs, the amount of good being done is immeasurable. The nutrition program not only serves the needs of undernourished children and families, but provides nutritional training and vocational training, coupled with the counseling services of our social worker. Each year at graduation, a group of guests attends the graduation for those who complete their vocational training. The nutrition program makes a different for families in need, and can be funded for about $1/day to help a needy family.
The devotional with the students was also delightful. On average, Baxter Institute graduates 15-20 ministers each year. These finish four years of intense study capable of effective ministry. Most not only work as ministers, they also go forth to help with smaller ministry training programs in various part of Latin America. I believe if you will do your research, you will find that we are graduating as many ministers each year at Baxter as is the case in some of our well-known Christian university programs in the U.S. This is a program worthy of support and encouragement–the cost of training is significantly less than in the U.S. and has the potential to yield incredible results as wave after wave of students go forth into ministry, and as members of church planting teams and mission teams.
I would like to personally share the story with you or your church. Let me know if you would like more information about the programs and opportunities here.