Michael and Glenda Miller are Christian missionaries who live and work in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. They founded Border Buddies Ministries in February 2004, then incorporated it as a non profit in New York State in April 2005, and finally 501(C)(3) status was granted in December 2006. The vision that is foundational to this ministry is simply stated as, “INCREASE THE POSSIBILITIES, DECREASE PRISONERS”. It resulted from watching young people lose heart, join gangs to make quick money, and wreck their lives. It simply broke Mike and Glenda’s hearts.
The foundational scripture for Border Buddies is this: ”To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:1-3
The results are a two pronged approach. The first has to do with communities themselves. Increase the possibilities for more choices for a better future. That involves working with youth through youth groups, bible study, mentoring, and getting a good education through school sponsorship/scholarship funding. All of this brings hope and provides a better way to deal with life and all its troubles. This also involves bringing Short-Term Mission Teams from the States to help refurbish, rehabilitate and expand existing schools and their programs. And working with adults, teaching life skills, job skills, funding and starting micro-businesses, sharing the Word through bible study and interaction with the Short-Term mission teams. Our prayer is that this work will keep young men and women from becoming prisoners.
The second has to do with how to decrease prisoners. Mike and Glenda visit numerous prisons on a regular basis, share God’s word, establish Bible studies, teach and fund micro-business possibilities, and offer TATTOO REMOVAL with a state-of-the-art laser tattoo removal machine. They support prisoners after release and help them get back on their feet. The ultimate part of the vision is to have Border Buddies Farm, where a structured environment of education and repatterning on a self-sustaining farm would provide a four year rehabilitation program with a high success rate. Our prayer is that young men and women would no longer return to prison and that they would now become productive members of their communities.
