-We follow the example of Christ by helping those in need and proclaiming the hope of the Gospel.
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what is hope honduras?
Hope Honduras is a Christian nonprofit organization providing spiritual and physical aid to the hurting people of Honduras. Our goal is to help meet the needs of people who are victims of violence, corruption, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will impact this nation through immediate Relief, Development, & Reform. Our ministry is all about Jesus—first, last, and always. As the Apostle Paul said, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” 2 Corinthians 4:5.
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Honduras Today
With a per capita GDP of only $2,796 in 2021, Honduras is the third poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and nearly two-thirds of its population live in poverty. Honduras has rich resources in forests, marine areas and minerals, though these are often poorly utilized and threatened by extensive deforestation and a lack of effective government conservation. Honduras’s economy is largely based on agriculture. Coffee, bananas and cultivated shrimp are important exports. Maquilas (garment factories) represent a significant portion of manufacturing output and are an important source of employment.
While the official unemployment rate stands around 5%, underemployment is pervasive – in fact, government statistics report that 46.65% of the population is underemployed. Just over 39% of Honduran laborers work in either the service or agricultural sectors, while 20% work in manufacturing. Many Hondurans make their living in the informal sector, selling tortillas on the street, running neighborhood convenience stores from their home, or other small business initiatives that lack the stability of regular income.
Honduran culture varies between rural and urban populations. Though the rural population is declining, it still makes up 46% of the population, many of whom have difficulty accessing infrastructure such as electricity, running water, or roads. Many rural Honduran farmers practice subsistence farming in the same way as they have for generations, though increasingly, droughts, diseases, and rising costs are forcing them to move to the cities. Honduras’ large cities host malls, restaurants, museums, and galleries, alongside a large population of urban poor for whom there are few, if any, social services. Though it is sometimes overshadowed by violence and insecurity, Honduras has a wealth of natural and cultural beauty. Honduras has a variety of terrains from pristine beaches to pine forests. Tourists enjoy hiking in cloud forests, visiting ancient Mayan ruins, or snorkeling in the world’s second-largest coral reef. Artisans make beautiful crafts out of wood, leather, or clay.Most Hondurans speak Spanish and are of mixed European and indigenous origin, though indigenous groups including the Garífuna, Miskitu, Lenca, Tolupan, and Maya Chorti retain their language and heritage.
Challenges in Honduras
Honduras struggles with high levels of violence and homicides; however, foreign tourists and visitors are rarely targeted as victims. As in many places in the world, those who most suffer from violence in Honduras are those who are already most on the margins of society – the poor, the homeless, or those living in communities run by gangs or drug traffickers. There are several reasons for Honduras’ high levels of violence. First, approximately three or four metric tons of cocaine pass through Honduras every month, with a U.S. street value of over $500 million. These huge quantities of illicit funds and substances destabilize law enforcement and lead to military confrontations.
Second, powerful multinational gangs divide the country. Groups like MS-13 and Barrio 18 stake out territory, using it to extort “war tax” payments, peddle drugs, and enforce their authority with violence. But drugs and gangs don’t prosper alone. An underlying cause for both is rampant impunity – in other words, the likelihood that someone can commit a crime and get away with it. In Honduras, just 24% of homicides will ever be investigated, and less than 13% will result in conviction. There are more than 180,000 backlogged cases in Honduran courts.
Honduras also suffers from high levels of corruption, which can be defined as the abuse of power for private gain. Corruption limits the effectiveness of crucial government services like health, education, roads and infrastructure, and public safety. It diverts public funds from the budgets of public services to the pockets of the powerful – and by stealing money that should have gone to medicine, preventative policing, or other essential services, corruption kills.
Another serious issue Honduras faces is the limitation of human rights. This includes human trafficking, smuggling, and extortion. It is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be an activist or journalist, and many people have lost their lives defending their causes. Prominent government officials, including police officers and military police, have been accused of links to gangs, organized crime, and teams of murderers-for-hire. Furthermore, Honduras has weak public systems of laws and government, meaning that it is difficult for law enforcement to respond to human rights abuses, violence, corruption, or other crimes.
At Hope Honduras, our mission is to defend the helpless and the most vulnerable in Honduran society who most suffer. Our goal is to impact this country with immediate relief, development and reform. There are many ways you can support our work in Honduras. You can support us financially, through prayer, or through sharing our message in your own networks. Contact us for more information, to set up a presentation, or just to say hello!
Caridad Valle Honduras Project 2024
Bringing Immediate Relief to the hurting people of Caridad Valle
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Senior Pastor & Missionary of Hope Mission Church
Cristobal Torres
favorite quote-
"The Ugha word for gold translates as "treasure." But their treasure wasn't gold. It was Knowledge. Knowledge was their treasure."
A Message from God's Heart
