Angel Vicente

All Sponsor a Sparrow sponsorship funds go directly to the program, and no funds are used to cover the operating expenses of Sparrow Missions.  Our sponsorship model contemplates that each of our sponsors will build a one-to-one loving relationship with the child(ren) they have chosen, while combining the donations of each sponsor to support the needs of all the children currently in the sponsorship program.

Sparrow Missions believes that effective long-term development occurs with the opportunity for education. As a result, no child or their family receive direct cash benefits from the sponsorship program. Instead, we partner with each family to provide the opportunity and cover many of the costs associated with attending school. This insures prudent spending and removes the probability of money being spent on items for which it was not intended.

Our Executive Director, Justin Ross, and Sparrow Missions’ Honduras Director, Cristian Lopez, ultimately decide who joins the Sponsor a Sparrow program, which is designed to operate as an active partnership between the family and Sparrow Missions. The process begins with Sparrow Missions simply creating an opportunity for the parents (generally moms) to notify us that they need assistance in sending their kids to school. We do not have relationships with every family in the area, so we generally focus more on families that are attending our weekly discipleship classes. After being notified, Justin and Cristian spend some time with each family and determine if financial assistance is truly needed.

If assistance is needed, an active partnership between Sparrow Missions and the family is built. Both sides have financial responsibility for the child being sponsored. Sparrow Missions offers to pay and supply the child with transportation, uniforms, tuition, supplies, etc. in exchange for $10 per kid per month from each family. If a child has perfect attendance for the entire month, Sparrow Missions will waive the $10 and that serves as a reward to the parent for supporting the child and making sure they attended school. This creates a sense of commitment from the parents and gives them an incentive to have their children attend each day. Otherwise, each parent understands that they will have some financial responsibility.

Sparrow Missions has been blessed with two very dedicated local Hondurans that have a heart for young people and specifically for the Los Bordos community! Cristian Lopez, who serves as our Director of Honduras Operations, has very deep roots in the Bordos and spends several days each week leading Bible studies or discipleship classes. Many of these children look to him as an older brother or mentor. More recently, Sparrow Missions was able to add Elena Cuestas to our team. Elena serves as our day-to-day Sponsorship Coordinator and will help implement and manage the program. She is offering tutoring two days a week and also assists Cris with getting uniforms, supplies, and helping us create letters/cards from the kids to send to the U.S.

We also work directly with the school, which is called Escuela Vanessa. It is a school in which we have done substantial ministry in the past, and they have graciously taken and educated our sponsored kids. Cris and Justin enrolls the kids, pay the tuition, and ensure that they have all needed supplies, etc. Cris and Elena get monthly (often weekly) reports of attendance and behavior, and, of course, we get results periodically from report cards, often shown to us with pride by the children themselves!

Sparrow Missions operates in Honduras for one reason: To connect people to Jesus Christ. Everything we do starts and ends with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We do believe the opportunity for education will help these families beat long-term poverty, but the goal of the Sponsor a Sparrow program is to connect kids to both.

Yes, we love to deliver gifts and cards to our sponsored children. If interested, we ask that you contact us (sponsor@sparrowmissions.com) so we can help determine what your sponsored child needs. Our Sponsorship Coordinator will determine and suggest items that would be most beneficial. All gifts are mailed to our U.S. office and delivered as soon as possible. Lastly, we would love see each of our sponsored children meet their sponsors! We know it is not possible for some, but if you would like to visit, please e-mail us at sponsor@sparrowmissions.com to learn more. Cards, letters, and visits are tremendous ways to build a strong relationship between you and your sponsored child’s life!