World Vision describes the situation in Honduras as critical. The organization points to the impact of Hurricane Mitch, in 1998, as still affecting living conditions. The hurricane killed over 7,000 Hondurans, injured another 13,000, and caused $3.8 billion in damage. Nearly one-third of the highway infrastructure was destroyed along with thousands of homes, displacing 1.5 million people. Some officials say it set the already impoverished country back 50 years. It continues to be the second most impoverished country in Central America rivaling Haiti and parts of Africa according to some sources. Just outside of the capital city of Tegucigalpa, families live on the side of the hill below the dump in shacks with dirt floors, no running water, and no electricity. They spend their days and lives sifting through garbage to find recyclables to sell. If that is not hard enough, they have to pay a portion to the gangs.

Going hand in hand with the natural disaster and poverty levels is the rampant violence and corruption. The United Nations states that the country has the world’s highest murder rate, with approximately 85 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants (compared to 5 in the US). Geographically it is a key transit point for drug trafficking and is filled with more gang members than all other Central American countries combined. Drug traffickers control many of the state agencies responsible for fighting the gangs. In trying to contain criminal violence, organized crime, and gangs, Honduras has issued executive decrees and iron-fisted policing laws over the past 10 years. Political unrest following the forcible removal and exile of the nation’s president in 2009 has not made the streets any safer for children.

It is these conditions, which led Forgotten Children Ministries founder, Stan Nowell, to hear God’s call through Psalm 9:18. “The needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.” In March of 2003, FCM began with a backpack of sandwiches and a guitar in an effort to rescue the street and market children living by the river in downtown Tegucigalpa. Since that time, God — through His people –has provided a 40-acre farm with three casitas that can shelter 60 boys ages 4 to 18, a school for pre-K to 6th grade, a Mission House for the 30 teams visiting yearly, as well as a church plant in the town of Monte Redondo. Grace Home for Girls, which can house 20 girls ages 5 to 17 opened five years ago. There are currently five missionary couples on the field. The ministry has also created jobs for approximately 40 Hondurans as teachers, cooks, security guards, tios and tias (caregivers called uncles and aunts). An active sponsorship program with a goal of 10 madrinas/padrinos (Godmothers/Godfathers) per child is an integral part of the ministry. FCM supports and serves the community through short term mission teams by feeding the poor and the hungry in the city dump, helping support and organize pastors in one of the country’s federal prisons, going door to door in poor neighborhoods handing out food and sharing the gospel, supporting pastor conferences and revival weeks in local communities as well as providing medical needs through medical teams.

World Vision describes the situation in Honduras as critical. The organization points to the impact of Hurricane Mitch, in 1998, as still affecting living conditions. The hurricane killed over 7,000 Hondurans, injured another 13,000, and caused $3.8 billion in damage. Nearly one-third of the highway infrastructure was destroyed along with thousands of homes, displacing 1.5 million people. Some officials say it set the already impoverished country back 50 years. It continues to be the second most impoverished country in Central America rivaling Haiti and parts of Africa according to some sources. Just outside of the capital city of Tegucigalpa, families live on the side of the hill below the dump in shacks with dirt floors, no running water, and no electricity. They spend their days and lives sifting through garbage to find recyclables to sell. If that is not hard enough, they have to pay a portion to the gangs.

Going hand in hand with the natural disaster and poverty levels is the rampant violence and corruption. The United Nations states that the country has the world’s highest murder rate, with approximately 85 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants (compared to 5 in the US). Geographically it is a key transit point for drug trafficking and is filled with more gang members than all other Central American countries combined. Drug traffickers control many of the state agencies responsible for fighting the gangs. In trying to contain criminal violence, organized crime, and gangs, Honduras has issued executive decrees and iron-fisted policing laws over the past 10 years. Political unrest following the forcible removal and exile of the nation’s president in 2009 has not made the streets any safer for children.

It is these conditions, which led Forgotten Children Ministries founder, Stan Nowell, to hear God’s call through Psalm 9:18. “The needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.” In March of 2003, FCM began with a backpack of sandwiches and a guitar in an effort to rescue the street and market children living by the river in downtown Tegucigalpa. Since that time, God — through His people –has provided a 40-acre farm with three casitas that can shelter 60 boys ages 4 to 18, a school for pre-K to 6th grade, a Mission House for the 30 teams visiting yearly, as well as a church plant in the town of Monte Redondo. Grace Home for Girls, which can house 20 girls ages 5 to 17 opened five years ago. There are currently five missionary couples on the field. The ministry has also created jobs for approximately 40 Hondurans as teachers, cooks, security guards, tios and tias (caregivers called uncles and aunts). An active sponsorship program with a goal of 10 madrinas/padrinos (Godmothers/Godfathers) per child is an integral part of the ministry. FCM supports and serves the community through short term mission teams by feeding the poor and the hungry in the city dump, helping support and organize pastors in one of the country’s federal prisons, going door to door in poor neighborhoods handing out food and sharing the gospel, supporting pastor conferences and revival weeks in local communities as well as providing medical needs through medical teams.