Imagine visiting Honduras and staying in one of the nicer hotels. During the day, life feels normal—markets bustle with fresh produce, and stands sell handmade goods to tourists. But as night falls, everything changes. The lively, colorful streets take on a tense and uneasy atmosphere.
This is what Betsy, founder and director of Jericho Ministries, experienced on one of her trips to Honduras. As a registered nurse, she observed the nicer hotels turning into red-light districts at night and felt compelled to help. Through promptings from God, she went directly to where the women were and simply shared Jesus with them.
After sharing Jesus with several women on the streets, Betsy saw two leave the red-light district to follow Him. They needed a way to earn a living, so she taught them to sew placemats—and Jericho Ministries was born.
What is Jericho Ministries?
Jericho Ministries began as a small workshop to help women leave the streets and rebuild their lives. As the ministry grew, Betsy and her team began caring for the children of these women, adding daycare and housing to their programs. Eventually, they found a safe property outside the city—a peaceful refuge called Jericho Villa—where women and children could heal and begin anew.
Over time, the ministry began caring for more children who had faced abuse, exploitation, and trafficking. Today, Jericho Ministries is both a children’s home and a spiritual family—providing safety, education, counseling, and the hope of the Gospel. More than 40 children now live in a God-centered home filled with love and purpose.
What They Do
Jericho Villa Children’s Home
Jericho Villa is the heart of the ministry—a children’s home in the Honduran countryside where kids learn and heal through the power of the Holy Spirit. Each child has faced a painful past, and Jericho’s mission is to help them grow through education, discipleship, and loving, family-style care.
Their guiding verse, Isaiah 61:3, reminds them of God’s transforming power:
“To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
Jericho has legal custody of children ages 2 to 18 and is committed to their physical, emotional, and spiritual growth until they are ready to live independently or reunite safely with their mothers. Each month, the children participate in community outreaches, sharing the Gospel with other at-risk children and their families.
In recent years, Jericho shifted from one large communal building to a family-style model. They’re building seven smaller homes where children live with caring house parents. Four homes are now complete, creating a warm, family-like environment. Next, the team plans to finish the remaining homes, build a new school, and add solar power for a sustainable future.
Jericho Christian School
What started as a daycare for rescued women’s children has grown into a full school serving students from elementary to high school. It’s more than a place to learn—it’s a source of hope and opportunity.
Once focused on inner-city kids from low-income families, the school now also welcomes children from the municipal dump, offering free education and a path to a new future.
One inspiring story is Heidy, who grew up in the dump and became the first in her family to attend university. She’s now a teacher’s assistant at Jericho Christian School, giving back to the community that changed her life.
The school continues to grow, reaching more marginalized children and helping them discover God’s purpose for their lives.
Outreach Ministry
Several years ago, Betsy felt a strong burden to reach families working in the city dump of Tegucigalpa. What began with sharing meals and prayer has grown into an ongoing outreach ministry that brings lasting transformation.
Jericho invited children who weren’t attending school to join their education program, providing transportation through newly purchased vans. Teachers began visiting families in their homes, offering practical help and spiritual guidance.
One family who believed collecting garbage was their only destiny has since been transformed. The mother graduated from high school and is now studying online to become a teacher, while her husband—skilled in animal husbandry—serves at the Jericho Villa. Their story reflects the generational change Jericho is working to inspire.
Jericho Boys’ Home
Jericho first focused on rescuing and discipling young girls. When boys began arriving with their sisters, the ministry expanded to care for them too. In 2019, Jericho Boys’ Home opened under the leadership of Eduardo Madrid, who felt called to minister to the boys.
The Boys’ Home offers a safe, loving place where boys can attend Jericho Christian School and later continue to Honduran universities. It ensures both boys and girls at Jericho have the same chance to heal, grow, and thrive.
Jericho Ministries’ Vision for the Future
Jericho Ministries is moving boldly toward the future with faith-filled plans to:
- Complete construction of all seven family-style homes
- Build a dedicated school on their property
- Implement solar power across their buildings
- Continue expanding outreach to families living and working in the Tegucigalpa dump
Through these efforts, Betsy and her team remain steadfast in their mission—to break cycles of abuse and poverty, raise godly leaders, and bring the light of Christ to the most vulnerable.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Jericho Ministries continues to welcome mission teams, prayer partners, and supporters who want to be part of this powerful story of restoration.
If you feel called to help, you can:
- Join a mission trip to serve and build alongside the Jericho family
- Pray for ongoing healing, provision, and protection for the children and staff
- Give to support the construction of homes, the school, and daily care needs
At Simply Earth, we are honored to partner with Jericho Ministries and continue supporting their incredible work transforming lives in Honduras. Together, we can bring light, healing, and hope—one child at a time.
Website: https://www.jerichoministries.org/