God is Moving Among The Garifuna People

By Heather Harrison

When God prepares a man for mission work, then reroutes that mission work, it might look like His plans have been compromised, but because we trust a sovereign God, we know His plans cannot be thwarted. David Dickson knows that well.

As a missionary living in Honduras in 1980, after being forced out of Nicaragua, David and his family were spending a day on the beach when he heard two young boys playing and speaking a language he didn’t recognize. After discovering what their language was and who this people group was, he began the journey of learning their language and sharing Jesus with them. Thus, the providential hand of God began the ministry to the Garifuna people, who descended from the Afro-indigenous people from the Caribbean and were exiled to Honduras in the 18^th century. Because of God’s superintending of the lives and details of Dickson and others, Lifeword was privileged to be the first to produce gospel content in their language. Currently, Lifeword and our partners are producing multiple types of programs and planting churches around the world.

Ricardo Herrera Ramirez produces several video programs for the Garifunas in Honduras and other areas. Among the programs are “Grandfather’s Advice,” “Fisherman,” “Garifuna to Garifuna” and “Round Table.” He and his team also manage several community radios and translate multiple videos and blog articles from the Spanish and English sites into Garifuna to post on the Garifuna website. The Garifuna women also lead programs for the community radios.

  As several of the Garifuna people have migrated to the United States and other countries, they are now reaching their people in areas like New York, N.Y., Houston, Texas and Wilmington, N.C. This month, the Garifuna church in the Bronx is celebrating its second anniversary. Cherry Gamboa, who was a pastor in Honduras and Lifeword speaker, immigrated with his family to the US and started this church in New York. Seeing several come to know Jesus Christ, God has grown their congregation. They have also had struggles, between rising rental costs, the growing congregation and simply being asked to leave, finding a place to gather with their growing congregation has not been easy. They are currently seeking their fourth building. Another challenge has been the unique struggle of serving a trilingual congregation as they seek to conduct the service in the three languages spoken by the members — English, Spanish and Garifuna.

In Wilmington, there are already several Garifuna people living there who are ready to help with a church plant. Marvin Miguel, a Honduran pastor, is moving to North Carolina soon. In Houston, Henry Norales, who was trained in media by a Lifeword team, is working on the preliminary work necessary in planting the Garifuna church there. 

  God’s providential hand has been clearly seen throughout the years of the gospel work among the Garifuna people. As He has positioned Lifeword to equip these believers to use media, they have shared Christ with their people around the world. Join us in praising God for His work!

Ministry Updates

Please pray that God will provide a building for the growing Garifuna congregation in the Bronx. Pray also for His direction and provision for the church plants in Wilmington and Houston, and for the leaders and their families in each area.

As we continue to fine-tune the details of our new discipleship portal, FOLLOW, pray with us for God’s wisdom and leadership. We are asking Him to cause many to come to know Him as Savior through this exciting project.