For the King! Carmen Villalba's Trip to Honduras this July

Hi there!

This summer, I will be joining the mission team from Grace Bible Church of Tampa for their annual trip to minister to the people of Honduras. From July 5th to 12th, we will be serving at a local church and seminary in Siguatepeque, a town which is home to 80,000 people, located in the lush highlands of central Honduras.

Our time there will be spent in primarily four activities: (1) sharing Christ and evangelizing in the surrounding community, (2) teaching local children in a daytime Vacation Bible School, (3) hosting a Bible conference in the evenings, and (4) doing practical labor projects to support the local church. By God’s grace, these activities will serve our desire for the trip, which is to see Christ exalted.

Being presented with the opportunity to join this trip with Grace Bible Church of Tampa was an answer to prayer. I have had an interest in international missions for several years, which has increased as I have gotten to know missionaries and pastors and read of the lives of humble servants whom Christ used mightily to declare His praise in various corners of the earth.

Whether at home or abroad, I want others to experience the freedom found in Christ - freedom from sin, freedom from fear, freedom in love. True joy and peace are found in none other than the Lord Almighty, who came as a lowly servant, acquainted with our weakness; the spotless Lamb of God who took on Himself the shame of our sin as He drank the cup of God’s wrath and rose from the dead on behalf of all who would come to Him and take refuge in Him.

I joyfully look forward to seeing with my own eyes how the Lord is accomplishing His plan of redemption in this town 950 miles from my own, and am excited to be used by Him as He sees will most glorify Himself.

I have desired to go on a missions trip with a team whose love for Christ has produced a love for pure and biblical doctrine, biblical leadership and discipleship, and a reliance upon the genuine work of the Spirit, rather than the manipulation and winsomeness of men (1 Cor 1:18-24). GBCT is such a church, one that loves Christ and seeks to honor Him according to His Word. (Such an answer to prayer, indeed! :)

I am an active member of Grace Fellowship Church in Bradenton, FL, under the shepherding of Pastor Alan Quiñones. I was introduced to Grace Bible Church of Tampa by a family at our church, and have gotten to know Pastor Mike Sprott and other members of GBCT over the past year as I have attended a monthly Bible study with their young adults. This church places a high value on God’s glory, sovereignty, and Word, and loves sinful mankind with truth and gentleness. This mission trip is under the authority of GBCT and connects directly to a local church in Honduras, Emmanuel Baptist Church. The goal is the glory of Christ in local churches, so that “speaking the truth in love, we.. grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies… causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Ways to Support

Please pray. We simply are weak dust, setting out to do the impossible. But praise be to our God for His Almighty strength, and because He delights to work in response to prayer! I ask for your prayer in the following areas:

Please consider giving. The cost of the trip is $1,850, which includes travel, housing, and food, as well as fund the projects and activities during our week there, resources for Emmanuel Baptist Church, and the offsetting of the cost for the pastors who are training at SEPE Seminary. Many of these students are able to study for free or lower cost, made possible by generosity, so that they are equipped to make and train disciples in their own country.

Thank you so much for your support! If you have any questions, I would love to answer them, so please reach out to me.

May the Lord bless you this day!

In Christ the King,

Carmen Villalba