The famous Mayan Copan ruins in western Honduras stand as a reminder of the once dominating role of the empire. The Caribbean Sea on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west flank Honduras with rugged, tree-covered, mountains between. Natural disaster, violence, and corruption have proved major roadblocks on Honduras' road to development. These problems have combined to form severe poverty and inequality. CRWRC has been working in Honduras since 1974--a time that has seen significant economic development. However, with the disaster of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, it has been estimated that the country regressed economically about 20 years. As a result, CRWRC expects to continue its work to improve the spiritual and economic well being of low-income families in both rural and urban centers.
On the long-term horizon, CRWRC hopes to strengthen the Christian Reformed Church of Honduras (HCRC) and other church-linked groups to do word and deed ministry. This means that the people of Honduras will grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally and economically.
Fast Facts
Population: 7,792,854 (July 2009 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Literacy Rate: 80%
Life Expectancy: 69.4 years
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $4,400 (2008 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
(From the World Factbook. Click here for more information on Honduras.)
Partners
Association for a Just Society (ASJ) - Asociación Para una Sociedad mas justa.
CRWRC and ASJ work to promote justice and human rights from a Christian perspective. ASJ trains church and community members on Christian values, land rights, and women’s rights. They also support Legal and Counselling Clinics in communities that had formerly been without access to legal or psychological assistance. ASJ is also working in Transformational Community Development.
Christian Reformed Church of Honduras (Diaconia Nacional de la Iglesia Cristiana Reformada de Honduras).
Through the Christian Reformed Church of Honduras, CRWRC is helping farmers learn new agricultural techniques, as well as improved ways to handle their finances. As a result, farmers are able to increase their production and buy and develop more land. CRWRC and the CRC of Honduras are also training church leaders on Christian leadership so that they can coordinate various projects to meet community needs. Together with ASJ, CRC of Honduras is working in Justice Themes. There are legal clinics in the community of Olancho. CRC is working in the Transformational Community Development as well. This year they are developing Literacy projects in the South and Northeast zone of our country. These projects include health programs where children’s growth is monitored, and adults learn improved sanitation and nutrition. They also include community credit unions, where men and women meet together, save regularly, and provide loans to each other from their pooled savings.
Christian Ministry of Mayordomia (MCM) - Ministerios Cristianos de Mayordomía.
Ministerios Cristianos de Mayordomia (MCM) is the social arm of the Genesis church. Through CRWRC, MCM has developed a successful program of income generation in Nueva Suyapa, an urban, marginal neighbourhood of the capital city Tegucigalpa. This past quarter, women community members were taught in savings and small business management. This partner is also working with the Transformational Community Development program.
Harvest - Harvest in Honduras
Harvest in Honduras is a pilot project during the year 2007-2008. They will be working in the Community Capacity program. Their development work must fit adequately with the CRWRC policies towards the search of transformational development. Harvest’s main purpose is to implement in the communities an integral mission based in Luke 2:52 which coverts the four growth areas. (Social, Spiritual, Physical and Wisdom) Using this vision, Harvest has been training leaders and pastors all over Honduras with the Wholistic Ministry.
Irene de Murillo
Irene was born in Tela, Atlantida, Honduras. At age five she moved to Tegucigalpa with her mother where she grew up, studied, and earned a major in business administration.
Before coming to CRWRC in 1995, Irene was employed by Diaconia Nacional (the social branch of the Christian Reformed Church of Honduras) for nine years. While there, she learned much about working in community development. She notes that the biggest blessing in her life has been to serve God through the ministry of the Christian Reformed church both in Diaconia Nacional and CRWRC.
Irene has three children: Freddy, Lidia Irene and Nohemy Chrystibel. Both Lidia Irene and Freddy are married; Chrysti is in Tenth grade and living at home with Irene.
From left to right: Duany Gutierrez, Administrative Assistant; Reyna Rodriguez, Administrator; Ana Joya, Bridger; Irene de Murillo, Representative; Mercedes Herrera, Janitor.