OVERVIEW OF THE MINISTRY

Take a Delta flight from Atlanta to Guatemala City.

Then drive three hours eastward to the mountain city of Jalapa.

In the center of this busy city (population over 100,000) is the Life in Jesus Baptist Church, membership about seventy-five.

This visionary congregation started mission churches in two of the poorest areas of the city: Los Laureles and Los Pinos. 

above, Los Laureles church; below, Los Pinos church

Four Friends International partnered with this church to establish clinics in both areas. 

above, the Los Laureles clinic (opened in 2015); below, the Los Pinos clinic (opened in 2018)

Each clinic has a lobby, a central hallway, three exam rooms, a pharmacy, and an apartment at the rear of the building. All treatment, including medications, is free of charge.

Within walking distance of the Los Laureles clinic is the city dump, inhabited by residents who earn their living scavenging for garbage and recyclables.

Four Friends International, through a project called Operation Amalia, provides diapers and infant hygiene supplies each month to babies from the dump.

In 2021 Four Friends International added a mobile unit that provides care to three communities higher in the mountains (El Divisidero, Laguna del Pito, and El Chorro) and to El Terrero (another Jalapa suburb).

above: view of Jalapa while ascending to the mountain communities

above, the medication "shoe bags" of the mobile clinic; below, the community center at El Divisidero

The Barnabas Project, a sister organization, pays the salaries of four pastors and provides funds for non-medical church needs.

pastors, from right to left: Mynor, Filiberto, Dany and his wife Adela, Luis

In both stationary clinics and in the mountain communities, dental extractions have been performed by mission team volunteers over the past 3 years.

From young to old, Four Friends International offers free, compassionate, ongoing medical care every week in the name of Jesus.

MAY 2026 MISSION TRIP

Randy Stewart, Garland Cooper, David Skidmore

Garland at the downtown church with Patti, a clinic office worker

David gives a food bag and the gospel of John to a resident at El Divisidero.

from left: Karina, Imelda, Mynor, and Kelly distribute food bags in the mountain community of El Chorro.

ladies awaiting medical care at El Chorro

Nurse Vanessa with a patient at the Los Pinos clinic

Pastor Joel and his family from San Luis, about an hour's drive from Jalapa. A worship service was held in his church during the week.

The music during the service was provided by two guitarists.

July 2026 mission trip

4 team members ministered in Jalapa and its surrounds from July 25-29

from left: Randy Stewart, Jeff Fowler, Christopher Hughes, Hayden Eldridge

Over 250 foods bags were assembled, each providing a week of nourishment for a family. 

The bags were distributed to families in each community and at the city dump.

Hayden and Chris presented a food bag to this mother at the dump.

Children received a gospel-themed coloring book and crayons.

A medical screening examination was offered to everyone who received a food bag.

Through the screening exams, twenty-five people were identified with diabetes and hypertension who did not know they had the disease. They will be able to receive free medications each month at one of the clinics.

Other activities included a Sunday morning worship service. Jeff gave his testimony, and Randy preached the message. A fellowship dinner at a local restaurant with the clinic staff and pastors was a fitting end to the mission trip.

Next Mission Trip: January 2-7, 2027

medical and non-medical ministries

Cost: $1750

call or text: 256-302-4296

January mission trip (and other news)

 MISSION TRIP: JANUARY 5-9

A team of 10 volunteers arrived in Jalapa, Guatemala on Monday evening January 5 and returned home late Friday. Here are some photos that capture the ministry activities during the week.

Medical Missions

Patients were treated at the clinics at Los Laureles and Los Pinos. As usual, all medical care, including medications, was offered at no cost.

Gospel Presentation

Before receiving medical care or food, Pastor Filiberto shared a message and a prayer.

Dental Care

At the clinics and in three mountain communities, Reyna Craft extracted over fifty teeth during the week. Below, in El Divisidero, she is assisted by her son Eliot.

Koben Craft, husband and dental assistant

Children's Activities

At each site, children participated in several recreational activities...

...jump-roping 

(pastor Luis demonstrates the proper technique)

...bubble-chasing 

(courtesy of Colt Yates)

...tug-of-war

Wednesday Night Women's Bible Study

Men's Bible Study

Thursday Evening Worship and Supper

Los Pinos Church

Pastor Dany of Los Pinos

Eyeglass Table

After finding the correct lens, this lady was able to read again!

Ministry at the City Garbage Dump

Janet and Mary Skidmore handing out scarfs

Food Bag Distribution

Jeremy Yates, delivering a food bag

Mynor, a young pastor, with some of the 200 food bags that were distributed

...and 200 prayers were offered

Thanks to our Guatemalan partners!

Daniel, one of our translators

Patti, one of faithful clinic staff

David Skidmore and a new friend. 

There is no American or Guatemalan, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Special thanks to Liam Craft, right, the young man always behind the camera.

JANUARY ACTIVITY AT THE CITY DUMP

Each month, one of our clinics has a ministry activity in the community it serves. In January, the nurses and office workers at Los Laureles went to the nearby city dump to hand out supplies for the new school year and to offer a Bible story and refreshments.

ESSENTIAL MEDICATIONS PROVIDED

This girl, who suffered an eye injury, was treated in December. She could not afford the medications she had been prescribed, so she received them from our pastors free-of-charge.

Each month, this lady is one of many receiving medications for diabetes and hypertension.

LIFE-CHANGING TREATMENTS
Kimberly, who was born with dislocated hips, received two hip surgeries a few years ago because of your donations. She visited us at Los Pinos during the trip.

NEXT MISSION TRIP: July 25-30, 2026

medical care

children's activities

Bible study

food bag distribution

worship service

fellowship event

...and more!

Cost: $1750/person

Registration Deadline: May 15

for more information:

Randy Stewart (256) 302-4296

a personal testimony and offer 

heartandmindbooks.com

Many of you are aware that I went through a period of theological doubt in college. One day, in the midst of this struggle, I happened to come upon a book fair on campus, and I purchased four discarded works for less than one dollar each: Mere Christianity (C. S. Lewis), The Kingdom of God (John Bright), What Can a Man Believe? (Bruce Barton), and The Book Nobody Knows (also by Barton). Collectively, these books started me on a path toward restoration. They were considered to be of little value to someone else but became priceless treasures to me. Their impact on my life proves this point: God can use books to change lives!

During the past twenty years, I have written several books to help people likewise mired in doubt and longing for answers. Granted, my books may not be on the same level as those mentioned above, but I believe they could be of some use to a subset of believers and skeptics. For this reason, I am offering them free on a new website: heartandmindbooks.com. I have also included a few writings that are more devotional or academic than theological. 

As you visit the website and read the list of titles, you or someone you know may be in the same place I was fifty years ago. These books are available to read yourself or to recommend to others who might benefit. My hope and prayer is that God will use these sincere “meditations of my heart” to help hearts, minds, and souls commit to what matters most in life.

Randy Stewart

heartandmindbooks.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

As of today, Four Friends International has sufficient funds to continue our ministry through September 2026. Your partnership in this ministry is deeply appreciated.