September/October 2011
PK 9160 444 Brickell Ave. Ste 51 Miami, FL 33131 USA to Honduras: (901) 405-9424
Rick & Kim Beck Ministering in Honduras Kim’s Honduras Cell: 011-504-9-854-8912 Rick’s Honduras cell: 011 504 9 958 6709
yfcRickBeck@hotmail.com yfcKimBeck@mac.com www.RickBeck.blogspot.com
THE BECKONING
A Newsletter Raising Awareness, Prayers, & Support For Honduras Missions “And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them.” Luke 5:7
The Least-Reached In The Americas Window of Opportunity for Tolupan Is More Open Now Than Ever Before If you researched people groups least-reached by the Christian faith in the Americas you would soon discover that the indigenous people groups, or tribes, have small percentages of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Central and South America many of them are geographically separated from the rest of “main stream” and many of them wish to remain socially separated, as well. Such has been the case with the Tolupan tribe of Honduras.
Tolupan youth are receiving the “life-changing” message of Jesus Christ like never before.
An unreached or least-reached people is a people group among which there is no indigenous community of believing Christians with adequate numbers and resources to evangelize this people group.” —Joshua Project
Christian movies are presented to share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ with the Tolupan. Generator, gasoline, audio and video equipment all have to be carried-in. Many respond with a new faith in Christ.
There are two categories of Tolupan; 1) those who boarder Latino communities and are being assimilated into the main stream, and 2) those in remote Tolupan villages that resist the “outside” way of life. Most Tolupan members live as part of this first group. In the first category, the boundaries between Tolupan and outsiders are blurred. Although prejudices are quite strong they share the same language (Spanish), and they may work together by necessity. Most, however, opt to not mix their kids together in schools (often sacrificing their education). Regarding church… they do not congregate together. Outsiders have continually taken advantage of them. They are often cheated and robbed of land rights and resources. They have little trust of “outsiders,” Honduran or American. They call both Ladinos. The second category of Tolupan holds the idea that Ladinos should remain outside. These Tolupan still speak their native language, Tol. Necessity may drive them to deal with outsiders (ie. during illness or to sell their coffee harvest). Traditionally they resist both education and religion from the outside. Their remote location helps them to remain separate. But, all this is changing in more recent years. Roads are advancing and access is easier. Even the remote villages are speaking more Spanish and less “Tol.” The probable future for the Tolupan culture has been “played-out” by many other tribes in the Americas… the Tolupan will assimilate into the surrounding dominate culture until the Tolupan people and culture no longer exist. Today, the Tolupan chiefs that historically have been closed to outsiders are now extending invitations to certain groups to work with their villages. It may be accurately said that because of this new “openness” - including invitations to missionaries - more Tolupan have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the past two decades than in all of their history.
Continued...
every young person one at a time Rick & Kim Beck Missionary Account # 25292 Donation Information: Check # __________ Amount _______ This is a pledge of $______per month Special gift of $__________ I will pray for the YFC in Honduras Honduras Special Projects Account # 25505
Donation Information: Check # __________ Amount ________ Apply $________ to the City Dump ministry Apply $________ to the Tolupan Indians Apply $________ to the Foster Care Apply $________ to the Prison Ministry
Planting Tolupan Churches Leading Youth Into The Local Church The YFC Vision is… As part of the body of Christ, to see that every young person in every people group in every nation has the opportunity to make an informed decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ and become part of a local church. Hundreds of youth from the Tolupan tribe have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as YFC has provided events specific to the Tolupan. This leaves YFC with a challenge, as we attempted to stay true to the YFC vision regarding which is to “...become part of a local church.” What are we to do if there is no local church for them? Logically, we must plant churches to see the YFC vision fulfilled. This is exactly what the Lord has put in the hearts of several YFC “like-minded” partners to do. Our first Tolupan church plant is where we’ve been ministering to the tribe’s youth for nearly seven years. This church is growing. They represent the Tolupan from communities that are mixed with outsiders. Speaking Spanish they network economically, attend school, and intermarry with outsiders more and more. However, they don’t congregate together with outsiders, so there has not been a church for young Tolupan new to the faith. Now, (thanks to the Pacific Union Congregational Church for adopting the Tolupan as their church’s unreached people group) Pacayal and the surrounding Tolupan villages have their own congregation and place of worship. It is here where the Becks recently hosted Eric and Penny Brand in October. Rick translated for Eric as he taught several Bible lessons. Kim and Penny worked with the women and their children ministering to them in the love of Jesus, as they distributed clothes and toys. The new pastor is Carlos, who has helped Rick for seven years in these Mountains. Carlos loves the Lord and has a heart for the youth.
Kim’s vision is to see that every Tolupan youth “has the opportunity to make an informed decision to be follower of Jesus Christ”
The new tribal center where the new Tolupan church meets was completed and dedicated in August by Pacific Union Congregational church of New Bedford, MA. The new tribal center is to the left; the old one is to the right.
Our other church plant is in process. It is within the region of the tribe that is most remote and most resistant to outsiders. However, one of the five chief’s in this Mt de Flor region is a believer and three years ago Rick was introduced to him. Then, the next year he invited Rick to work with the youth in his most remote village; Rick was lead four hours on foot up to Hierba Buena. Jason Fisher with Germantown Baptist Church accompanied Rick to help with evangelism and to consider an effort to plant a church there. Through the last two years we have led many youth (and adults alike) to faith in Jesus Christ, but the church plant in Hierba Buena is still in the “germination” phase. It is as if they do not realize that they “have what it takes” to be a church. Pray for this community of believers as the Lord raises leaders from among them, and for them to have unity to come together regularly to pray, worship, and be students of the Bible. Kids fill this barn to receive Bible lessons. Invitation from the chief is for us to specifically work with the youth, but is a step toward all the community being reached with the Gospel.
Kim and I deeply appreciate your prayers for our missionary work, your finacial gifts toward our mission, and your friendship with us. May God bless you and yours.
The Becks’ missionary account has been in the negative since May. Please prayerfully consider a special gift at this time to help them continue strong in the mission field. You (in the Memphis-area) remember to re-load your YFC Kroger gift cards. It is a 5% donation to Rick and Kim. Call Ann Beck (901.767.9203) for your new gift cards. Kroger donated $334 in October. Thank you!