Last spring, Al Tuttle, an experienced beekeeper, went to visit ABWE Missionary Bruce Edgar in Nicaragua with the hope of lending a hand and finding a way to use his God-given skills to support existing ministries. After visiting several small and struggling church plants, Al realized that beehives would be an amazing way to help support fledgling churches in rural, low-income areas. He saw that Nicaragua has an ideal climate for beekeeping, and honey would inject new churches with much-needed income to help provide for their pastors and aid in church growth.
Feeling God’s leading, Al gave the idea wings by generously providing two hives for two church plants. The first church to receive colonies was Iglesia Bautista Hebron II, whose colonies are being overseen by an involved church member named Alvaro.
“Alvaro was my first choice because he had an ideal location, the ability, and the dedication,” said Bruce. “He is the guy willing to do anything that needs to be done at the church — including being stung by bees.”
This winter, the two Nicaraguan church plants had their first honey harvest. Most of the honey was sold to cooperatives that give fair market value to local producers, but visitors to Nicaragua can also purchase the honey at ABWE’s Nicaragua Ministry Center.
“We always strive to equip church planters with
the tools and training that will help them thrive in their unique area,
and this now includes beekeeping,” said Bruce. “We pray this ministry
will grow and allow more church plants to flourish in hard to reach
communities.”