A little history
More than 15 years ago groups formed in the Nashville, TN area with an interest
in learning about short term mission work in Central America. The early groups
travelled to Honduras and other Central American countries and gradually began
the service works that make up what TORCH is today.
TORCH closely follows the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: 40 where he says, "...
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me."
In the preceding verses Jesus spoke of feeding, clothing, caring for the sick, and
taking care of the needs of others. That is the goal of TORCH. We put the words
of Jesus into action.
TORCH history changed in the late 90's as Hurricane Mitch delivered a knock
out punch to the country of Honduras. Honduras was already the second poorest
country in the America's and Mitch dealt misery to almost every person in the
country. TORCH became a prolific house builder after Mitch as thousands of
people moved into the mountains surrounding the capital city of Tegucigalpa - they
were hoping and praying that their country would deliver them from their misery.
Unfortunately, Honduras was not able to provide much relief to their own. The
good news is that many in North America heard the calls of their neighbors and
came to help. TORCH Missions was one of the groups that heard the calls of the
poor of Honduras and fell in love with the people of this simple land. Much work
has been done and much is still needed. There is no shortage of people that are
living in unacceptable situations and even more that wake every day without
knowing what they will eat or feed their children.
WHAT We Do -
Construction is one element of every TORCH Team. By the end of 2006,
TORCH construction was responsible for building more than 800 houses, at least
9 church buildings, 100's of roofs, miles of sidewalks at children's homes, a clinic,
a children's home, and numerous other projects. We love to build!
Food Distribution is another project that every TORCH Team participates in.
We purchase bulk food from a wholesale supplier in Tegucigalpa that includes
100 pound bags of beans, rice, sugar, bulk coffee, and other shelf stable foods.
All of these bulk foods are repackaged into family size bags of about 20 pounds
and then they are distributed into the communities where our teams are working.
A typical TORCH Team will pack and distribute 6,000 to 10,000 pounds of
food. In an average year, TORCH easily distributes more than 100,000 pounds of
food to the hungry.
Medical Clinics are an important part of almost every TORCH Mission. Many
clinics are in communities where 100's of people live without adequate medical
care. A TORCH clinic may be the only opportunity that many of these people
have to seek the care that they desperately need. Many of our clinics also include
the services of a dentist.
In 2006, TORCH and the IRC completed a permanent clinic facility in the Santa
Ana Community. Many of our TEAMS will support that clinic beginning in 2007.
Children's Homes are another part of every TORCH Team's work plan.
Honduras is a country with literally thousands and thousands of children without
parents. The state is unable to properly care for the children and this has spurred
the development of many Christian sponsored facilities. In 2006, TORCH & IRC
completed the initial construction of a children's home in Santa Ana. The home is
called Casa de Esperanza - The House of Hope. In 2007, TORCH Teams will be
working at Casa de Esperanza and many other children's homes in the
Tegucigalpa area.
Public Hospitals are often very different in Honduras than those in the USA.
Many times when children are patients, they are left alone because the mother
cannot leave "the mountain" where her other children need care. Most TORCH
Teams include daily visits to these children where prayers are prayed and smiles
are made. Often, the hospital days are a combination of rewarding and emotional.
Spending a day with children in the hospital is one that will never be forgotten.
Children's Ministry is a daily plan for all of our TORCH Teams. We work in
communities where there are literally 100's of children and they all crave attention.
Our goal is to give them the same attention that Jesus would if he were on the
mountain. We reach out to the children in one on one situations and in more formal
VBS settings where we share Bible stories through ways that the children will
understand. The children of Honduras are hungry for the love that is shown to
them and they love to hear about Jesus.
Personal Evangelism is going on the mountain to share the hope and the
promise of the gospel with people that are desperate to hear some good news.
TORCH has planted more than 15 churches in Honduras and our teams go back
to those communities year after year to follow the Great Commission. Each year,
there are 100's of Hondurans that come to know Jesus through the personal
evangelism and Bible studies that are a critical part of our mission.
Making Disciples is the first thing that Jesus seeks from us as we "go into all the
world". We have found that by working to make disciples, we grow and we too
become stronger disciples.
in learning about short term mission work in Central America. The early groups
travelled to Honduras and other Central American countries and gradually began
the service works that make up what TORCH is today.
TORCH closely follows the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: 40 where he says, "...
Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me."
In the preceding verses Jesus spoke of feeding, clothing, caring for the sick, and
taking care of the needs of others. That is the goal of TORCH. We put the words
of Jesus into action.
TORCH history changed in the late 90's as Hurricane Mitch delivered a knock
out punch to the country of Honduras. Honduras was already the second poorest
country in the America's and Mitch dealt misery to almost every person in the
country. TORCH became a prolific house builder after Mitch as thousands of
people moved into the mountains surrounding the capital city of Tegucigalpa - they
were hoping and praying that their country would deliver them from their misery.
Unfortunately, Honduras was not able to provide much relief to their own. The
good news is that many in North America heard the calls of their neighbors and
came to help. TORCH Missions was one of the groups that heard the calls of the
poor of Honduras and fell in love with the people of this simple land. Much work
has been done and much is still needed. There is no shortage of people that are
living in unacceptable situations and even more that wake every day without
knowing what they will eat or feed their children.
WHAT We Do -
Construction is one element of every TORCH Team. By the end of 2006,
TORCH construction was responsible for building more than 800 houses, at least
9 church buildings, 100's of roofs, miles of sidewalks at children's homes, a clinic,
a children's home, and numerous other projects. We love to build!
Food Distribution is another project that every TORCH Team participates in.
We purchase bulk food from a wholesale supplier in Tegucigalpa that includes
100 pound bags of beans, rice, sugar, bulk coffee, and other shelf stable foods.
All of these bulk foods are repackaged into family size bags of about 20 pounds
and then they are distributed into the communities where our teams are working.
A typical TORCH Team will pack and distribute 6,000 to 10,000 pounds of
food. In an average year, TORCH easily distributes more than 100,000 pounds of
food to the hungry.
Medical Clinics are an important part of almost every TORCH Mission. Many
clinics are in communities where 100's of people live without adequate medical
care. A TORCH clinic may be the only opportunity that many of these people
have to seek the care that they desperately need. Many of our clinics also include
the services of a dentist.
In 2006, TORCH and the IRC completed a permanent clinic facility in the Santa
Ana Community. Many of our TEAMS will support that clinic beginning in 2007.
Children's Homes are another part of every TORCH Team's work plan.
Honduras is a country with literally thousands and thousands of children without
parents. The state is unable to properly care for the children and this has spurred
the development of many Christian sponsored facilities. In 2006, TORCH & IRC
completed the initial construction of a children's home in Santa Ana. The home is
called Casa de Esperanza - The House of Hope. In 2007, TORCH Teams will be
working at Casa de Esperanza and many other children's homes in the
Tegucigalpa area.
Public Hospitals are often very different in Honduras than those in the USA.
Many times when children are patients, they are left alone because the mother
cannot leave "the mountain" where her other children need care. Most TORCH
Teams include daily visits to these children where prayers are prayed and smiles
are made. Often, the hospital days are a combination of rewarding and emotional.
Spending a day with children in the hospital is one that will never be forgotten.
Children's Ministry is a daily plan for all of our TORCH Teams. We work in
communities where there are literally 100's of children and they all crave attention.
Our goal is to give them the same attention that Jesus would if he were on the
mountain. We reach out to the children in one on one situations and in more formal
VBS settings where we share Bible stories through ways that the children will
understand. The children of Honduras are hungry for the love that is shown to
them and they love to hear about Jesus.
Personal Evangelism is going on the mountain to share the hope and the
promise of the gospel with people that are desperate to hear some good news.
TORCH has planted more than 15 churches in Honduras and our teams go back
to those communities year after year to follow the Great Commission. Each year,
there are 100's of Hondurans that come to know Jesus through the personal
evangelism and Bible studies that are a critical part of our mission.
Making Disciples is the first thing that Jesus seeks from us as we "go into all the
world". We have found that by working to make disciples, we grow and we too
become stronger disciples.
TORCH Missions: Who we are & What we do
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| TORCH MISSIONS Training Of Redeemed Christians Heaven-bound |
