Sharing Christ in Central America
This past year we have been looking at the global footprint of Sports Outreach Institute (SOI), and our focus this month is on two Central American countries where ministry was started by our El Salvador field.
HONDURAS
SOI El Salvador Director Humberto Alférez has been making periodic trips to the Ocotepeque region of Honduras since 2008. After joining SOI in 2012 he continued these “missionary trips” and began ministering to students at a local high school, all the while praying for a point person for sports ministry there. During a 2013 visit he met Pastor René Menjivar, also a soccer player, who was very interested in working alongside SOI. Soccer ministry was begun, and in 2018 a soccer academy became a part of Pastor René’s broader church outreach. Because this is a municipality in which there are few wholesome recreational outlets for young people, the residents are very supportive of SOI. Now local youth can learn the technical aspects of soccer and also hear the Word of God during practices! The soccer program currently has 35 participants.
GUATEMALA
In October 2019, Humberto met Salvadoran Pastor José Noel Erazo, a military chaplain and first division soccer coach. Pastor José Noel had heard that SOI El Salvador was already working in Honduras, and he wanted to have a soccer ministry in the church where he is a missionary in Chiquimulilla, Guatemala. Humberto gave the go ahead immediately. Pastor José Noel was an answer to prayer in that country! In November of that same year we started a pilot soccer program and in January 2020 the SOI-Taber Integral Soccer Academy was formed. There are currently around 40 trainees practicing soccer, and they also travel to play in other cities. They even got to go to El Salvador to play! Pastor Erazo is the head coach and is assisted by Guatemalan coach Rony Gomez and Salvadoran missionary Walter Alonzo. The community has been very supportive, with the mayor granting sponsorship to use the Los Conacastes Municipal Stadium and providing for transportation for equipment when needed. The Lord has been faithful every step of the way!
Humberto is still taking trips to Honduras, and now Guatemala, only nowadays he takes people with him. Interested volunteers, coaches, or soccer team members not only get to experience traveling to another country, but they can also observe different ministry styles and develop leadership skills. What an ideal way to recruit, train, equip, and deploy the next generation of committed Christian leaders!
HIGHLIGHTING HILDA LEMUS
“I am Hilda Lemus. I have lived in El Salvador for almost 12 years, but I am from Honduras. Most of my family members still live there. I thank God I was born in a Christian home, so my parents instilled in me spiritual values and how to have a relationship with God. I consciously accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of 13.
I came to El Salvador in November 2008 for medical treatment because of a problem with my throat. I had lost my voice for three years, but during that time I met Humberto Alférez while he was on a mission trip to Honduras, and he was able to recommend a doctor to evaluate my health problem. While in El Salvador for the doctor visit I had the privilege of meeting Sal Ferlise (current SOI CEO). At that time, neither Sal nor Humberto were with SOI, but I know now that I am here because it was God's plan to transform my life through the SOI ministry.
Five years of treatment, two years of speech and occupational therapy, and a throat surgery later, I am now a ‘talking miracle.’ It was Humberto and his wife Mirna who supported me through it all as I did not know the country and my parents had to stay in Honduras. I ended up transferring my high school transcripts to El Salvador and was able to attend university there, receiving degrees in teaching math, elementary education, and most recently, finance.
Humberto began serving with SOI in 2012 and in 2013 I started at SOI as a volunteer. After a couple years I was hired as Humberto's assistant working in the accounting office. The ministry has been growing since then and therefore, so have my responsibilities. In addition to accounting, I am now the office administrator, handle the payroll, assist Mirna with Saturday handicrafts and discipleship, translate for EmpowerME letters, and coordinate and support Humberto with the mission trips that come to El Salvador each year. My vision is to continue with SOI if God allows me, sharing and serving all those who need Him, and sharing and discipling the children and youth of our programs.”
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