Soccer practice is on its way in Pandy Town. This Saturday will be the team’s first tournament. Hank and Kathy are excited to see the Lord move in the hearts of the youth on the island. This Sunday will be the first Childrens Service at the Alpha Community Church.
Please pray the Lord would meet each child in a powerful way.
YOUTH
As Hank puts it… “The Youth are on fire.” God has been blessing the youth ministry at Alpha Community Church. Doris the youth director has been doing a tremendous job and the youth group is growing.
H.I.O. is so thankful for the many supporters who allowed us to finally begin purchasing a ministry Van! This van is a huge tool for ministry as it will help bus youth and adults into church and help transporting short-term teams that visit Pandy Town.
It’s soccer time!
The youth of Roatan are precious and they are in great need of more opportunities to grow in the Lord and spend their time developing into young men and women of integrity. Sports activities are a great way for this to happen! Without structured opportunities for youth to spend their time positively, they are often consumed by the easy to come by lifestyle of drugs, prostitution and crime.
That’s why Hank is really excited to announce the formation of Pandy Town’s first minor soccer league. Hank was able to meet with the parents of forty kids who were interested. He estimated about 75% of the children came from a single-parent household. The team is made up of kids ages 5-13 from Pandy Town and the nearest community Oak Ridge.
So far over $600 has been raised to cover the cost of team shoes and balls. We are hoping to raise additional funds to make team shirts/uniforms, put together a first Aid kit and provide transportation for the team.
Please be in prayer for the solidification of the team and their remaining needs. Pray that this team becomes a place for children to be discipled, nurtured and inspired for what their lives could be in Christ.
We would also like you to continue to pray for the young adults ages 13-18 who are still in desperate need of constructive activities to fill their time with. Pray for the funding of the Alpha Community Center to grow so that we can expand its programs.
This past week Hank was able to give out some of the remaining toys and presents donated by Reality church at Christmas time. Praise God for the generosity of those who donated these toys and please continue to pray for the youth of Roatan…
- For the Lord to train them up in “the way they should go,” by the word of God.
- For the Lord to reveal Himself to the children as their loving, heavenly father who never fails them.
- For protection and provision in the midst of daily needs and struggles.
- For salvation and wholeness to come to the families of Roatan.
Hank reports great things from Roatan! The church has been prosperous, with many wonderful times of worship and fellowship, in both their spanish and english services. There has been much salvation and deliverance! However, with that, the church is also experiencing a lot of spiritual attack. Pray for Hank and the church!
Lastly, some members of the congregation are greatly struggling financially, a few even being unable to feed their families. Pray for the Lord’s provision for the church and its congregation that such basic needs may be met.
We are looking forward to an exciting summer of ministry on Roatan. This past month Hank left for Roatan to begin preparations for summer teams. In June he will be joined by the Granada family who will be serving at the Alpha Community Church doing men’s ministry and helping to establish a children’s Sunday school. In June a men and women’s team will arrive to host two conferences and outreaches. In August, a youth team from Reality church will be arriving to serve in various ways. Please continue to keep the Stanley family in your prayers as well as the needs in Roatan. As summer updates come in we will be posting them!
Hank has been back in Roatan for 2 1/2 weeks now and has been settling back into Pandy Town. there are many new faces to meet at the church, the body has grown even since just 6 months ago. There has been so much freedom within the body in Pandy Town. People who have been addicted to drugs for more then 10 years and some of the islands major drug dealers have been set free. Hank is also seeing freedom from drinking and prostitution. All by the power of God!
There are many couples on the island that want to be married, this is so exciting to see! The problem that has come up is the cost of obtaining the papers are beyond what most can afford. The couples are now saved and want to make things right by marrying and getting baptized. Its looking like a little under 1,000 dollars to get all the papers needed. God is so good, and He will provide, Hank has asked that we pray and help in any way we can to see these marriages happen!
There are also many who are wanting to be baptize, who have given their lives to the Lord over the past few months and weeks. It is exciting to see the the Lord moving in the hearts of the people in Pandy Town. Many of the people getting baptized have been set free from drug use and prostitution. Also one of Hanks cousins who was an alcoholic and drug addict will be getting baptized. Praise the Lord for His mighty hand at work in the hearts of His people.
Pray:
- That Hank will see opportunities for discipleship as he baptizes new believers and rases up church leaders.
-That the Lord would provide in His will for the money needed for the marrige papers.
-For rest, wisdom and peace for Hank as he pours out to the body in Roatan.
-As Hank meets with the men in Pandy Town, and challenges them to be leaders in their homes.
Hank is settling into his first week back to Roatan. He is overjoyed to be back in Pandytown. In just his first days there he has been very busy. Here are some of the highlights:
- The Alpha Community Church has grown! There are many new believers that Hank is getting the chance to meet, teach and baptize! 16 have asked to be baptized this coming Sunday.
- Meetings with Pastors, law-enforcement and local government. Hank has been busy meeting with many pastors and government workers in the community. His heart has been to connect with local churches about spiritual issues facing the island and how they can combat strongholds facing women, men and youth. There is an obvious increase in drug use and dealing among young people on the island. Please pray!
- Prayer meetings. In the evening Hank has been preaching and praying at the Alpha Community Church. When Hank announced the first prayer meeting, he said about 90% of the church actually came later that night. What an encouraging sign to see a church so eager to pray and intercede for their families and community.
Pray for Hank:
- To have wisdom as he meets with many local leaders.
- To have peace, rest and humility with everything that can possibly overwhelm him, drain him and distract him.
- To see opportunities for discipleship as he baptizes new believers and raises up church leaders.
Talk about a fun way to raise money for Pandytown!
Handcrafted by master designer Michael Beaudry, The Pandytown Pendant is a work of art that unifies flawless .25cttw black diamond pave, .20cts lily-cut diamond, black rhodium and 18K white gold around a stunning 3.51 carat Tanzanite gemstone. The pendant was created to raise money for ongoing causes such as the Pandytown Youth Center, the Women’s Empowerment Program and the Freshwater Well. At only fifty dollars each, five-hundred tickets will be sold for a chance to win this five-figure Tanzanite and Diamond pendant.
Read more about this fundraiser at: http://pandytown.com/?p=164
