The Shepherd’s Project

The mission ministry wing of Franklin Ministries, Inc.

Like us on Facebook at: The Shepherd’s Project

Highlights

April 24-29: Spring Honduras Pastors Conference, The Converge Camp Honduras
An 16-member USA team traveled to Honduras where Craig Franklin, Casey Johnson, Reid Terry, Charles Ellzey, and Russell Wagoner taught lessons covering topics such as “Why We Preach,” “Works vs. Grace,” “The Higher Standard of a Pastor,” and “Dealing with Struggles in the Ministry.” Kim Franklin led the rest of the team in preparing authentic, Louisiana-style meals for the pastors, which they loved. This conference was our 9^th annual spring conference – started in 2012 with just 7 pastors. Total number of pastors attending: 100

May 24-31: 1^st Annual Extreme Discipleship Hike Mission Trip – Remote Areas of Honduras
This was the first year of hosting this event. This 11-member team of recent high school graduates and college age young men and women (3 from Jena FBC; 3 from Trinity BC, Jena; 2 from Searcy BC, Jena) was led by Craig Franklin and Devin and Reagan Watkins where they hiked several miles each day over rugged and steep terrain distributing rice, beans, and corn to remote areas of Honduras and sharing the Gospel in each home. Many had never heard the Gospel before and many decisions were made for salvation in Jesus. At night, Bible studies were held that dealt with topics relating to their stage of life – Making Decisions, The Will of God, Trials, etc. The trip was so successful, we decided to make this an annual event.

June 13-20: Honduras Mission Trip – Lonoke Baptist Church, Lonoke, AR
This 30-member team conducted VBS’s at public schools during the morning, VBS’s at church during the afternoon, and sang, testified and preached at churches at night. In addition, several small hiking trips were conducted where they distributed rice, beans, and corn while sharing the Gospel. They also spent time with a local, Christian, all-girl orphanage.

June 24-30: Honduras Mission Trip – Mt. Enon Baptist Church, Dothan, AL
This 15-member team conducted VBS’s at public schools during the morning, VBS’s at church during the afternoon, and sang, testified and preached at churches at night. In addition, several small hiking trips were conducted where they distributed rice, beans, and corn while sharing the Gospel. They also spent time with a local, Christian, all-girl orphanage.

July 2-9: Honduras Mission Trip – Friendship Baptist Church, Baskin, LA
This 15-member team conducted VBS’s at public schools during the morning, VBS’s at church during the afternoon, and sang, testified and preached at churches at night. In addition, several small hiking trips were conducted where they distributed rice, beans, and corn while sharing the Gospel.

November 12-16: Danli Pastors Conference, The Converge Camp, Honduras
This was the first year to host this particular conference. Sponsored by Midway Baptist Church in Jena, LA, 90 pastors were bused from the city of Danli (three hours away from our conference site) and it was without a doubt the most Spirit-filled and moving conference we’ve ever conducted. For this trip, only Craig Franklin and Daniel Breithaupt (Midway’s pastor) taught. Over three days, 14 messages were preached on the topics of “Works vs. Grace,” “Why We Preach,” “Marks of a Real Church,” etc. Although they didn’t have authentic Louisiana meals, our Honduras staff of cooks made sure each meal was delicious.

During 2019 Mission Trips: Ministered to over 2,000 children through VBS’s with all hearing the Gospel; Distributed over 900 pounds of rice, beans, or corn to families and churches; And saw numerous salvations, re-dedications, and even the conversion of a “witch.”

Full-Time Missionary: In 2015 we were able to hire a full-time, native Honduran missionary, Jose Alvarez.

Jose is paid $600 per month (average salary in Honduras is $300 a month) and he is also our translator for all trips/groups. He speaks fluent Spanish and English and is the best translator during preaching any of the USA pastors have every worked with.

His mother and wife are hired during mission trips to cook for all the teams.

Jose’s duties include calling/visiting with pastors we minister to each month and he produces a detailed monthly report and prayer list that is emailed to anyone that request it. (If you would like to get on the email list, please email Craig Franklin at tcf1969@yahoo.com and he will add you to the monthly email list.)

He is also responsible for coordinating all trips, scheduling schools, churches, etc., and any other projects that we sponsor. Projects during last year included feeding children, various construction projects, etc.

Antioch Missions: Several years ago, The Shepherd’s Project partnered with Antioch Missions of Jonesville, LA and their leaders Jack Calclasure and Aaron Jolly. TSP ministry focuses primarily on spiritual aspects (training pastors, VBS’s, evangelism, etc.) but we knew the need for physical projects, specifically construction, was an important component that was needed. This partnership allows TSP to continue its focus and work with AM to coordinate construction projects. Several churches and homes and have been constructed since our partnership formed.

2020 EVENTS

March 6-9: Danli Evangelistic Crusade, Danli, Honduras
Craig Franklin will travel to Honduras to conduct a city-wide evangelistic crusade during this weekend. The Danli Pastors Association (many of whom attended the Danli Pastors Conference we hosted in November) organized this event and asked if Craig would come and preach the messages. They have rented the city’s soccer stadium for the event and are expecting 5,000 people to attend each night.

April 15-20: Spring Honduras Pastors Conference, The Converge Camp Honduras
For this conference, an 11-member USA team will travel to conduct our annual Spring conference. Kim will once again lead the kitchen staff and Craig, Casey, and Reid will teach on various topics. For this conference, John MacArthur Study Bibles have been purchased for the 100 pastors attending and they will be trained on how to use them in sermon preparations. They have never seen or used a Study Bible before so this should be a very special time and change for them and help them tremendously in “rightly dividing the Word of God.”

TSP is currently conducting a pastor sponsorship campaign to raise the necessary $8,500 to fund this conference. $100 sponsors one pastor. As of 1/13/2020, we have 31 pastors sponsored leaving 69 to be sponsored.

May 24-31: 2^nd Annual Extreme Discipleship Hike Mission Trip – Remote Areas of Honduras
For our second annual EDH trip, we have a 15-member team with high school seniors and college students from Jena, Baskin, Dodson, Monroe, Rayville, Winnsboro, and Urania set to attend. The format will be the same as last year.

June 4-11: Honduras Mission Trip – Lonoke Baptist Church, Lonoke, AR
This 30-member team will conduct VBS’s, food distribution, and perform a work project, among other ministry activities.

July 14-21: Honduras Mission Trip – Baskin Baptist Church, Baskin, LA
This 25-member team will conduct VBS’s, food distribution, and other ministry activities.

July 24-31: Honduras Mission Trip – Bonita Road Baptist Church, Bastrop, LA
This 19-member team will conduct VBS’s, food distribution, and other ministry activities.

November: 2^nd Annual Danli Pastors Conference – The Converge Camp, Honduras
Midway BC has once again committed to sponsoring this conference where 100 pastors will be bused to our conference site. As with the Spring conference, they will be presented with Study Bibles and taught how to use them.

Our greatest need is for believers to join with us in PRAYER. We know that God started this ministry and God will sustain it. To God be the glory for all He is doing with The Shepherd’s Project!

For questions or more information:

Craig Franklin (318) 312-0097  or  tcf1969@yahoo.com