A pastor who got his start in Cortez plans to start a ministry in Honduras.
Andy Smith and his wife, Jennifer, grew up in Cortez, and when Andy was a junior in high school, God intervened in his life. After that his goals changed radically, and he became the youth pastor at the First Assembly of God. He was also the children’s pastor at Evangel Assembly of God.
Now, the two are preparing to go to Honduras to work for Latin American Child Care to help manage 14 missionary schools in the country, Andy Smith said.
The poorest families in Honduras face major challenges as the country struggles with the drug trade. Smith hopes to start after-school programs that would help keep young girls from being sexually abused; and boys, some as young as 10, from being recruited to gangs, he said.
Currently, the schools employ native Hondurans to teach in the schools, and the students are sponsored by donors. The schools have been in place for 50 years, and many alumni come back to teach and sponsor other students.
The Smiths have sons ages 13, 10 and 7.
Andy said he received his call to ministry while traveling to Latin America on shorter mission trips. “Every time I would go, I felt like God was telling me that’s where our lives were heading,” he said.
The two will spend a year in language school. They also have to raise $45,000 to cover expenses. To learn more, visit smithmissions.net.