Shannon and Kristi Hopkins met in high school at First Baptist Church Gordon, Texas. In 2000 Shannon and Kristi married.  They have 3 kids, Tyler, Emma and Isabella. Before serving in Honduras, the Hopkins served in youth ministry for 10 years. Throughout this time they have participated in various mission trips all over the world. It was on one of these trips that they went on a vision trip to Gracias, Honduras. They left with a calling to go live and serve God and the people of Honduras. Both Shannon and Kristi were called to the mission field before they were married but God also confirmed this calling as a couple. After much prayer and seeking the guidance of their closest peers, colleagues, and family that they surrendered to the call. The Hopkins founded 61 Isaiah Ministries and moved to Gracias, Lempira in 2011. In September 2009, the Hopkins formed 61 Isaiah Ministries and began raising support. They left the U.S. December 28, 2010 to attend Language School in Costa Rica. In June 2011 they moved to Gracias, Lempira, Honduras.

Edith is 18 years old and from Gracias, Honduras where she lives with her parents and 2 siblings. At the age of seven, she received a scholarship to attend and then graduated from Abundant Life Christian School. This school is where she met the Hopkins, who she had as her Bible and Family Living teachers. She began working with their team as a babysitter and translator in 2014. Here is her story in her words, "I saw how happy my people were with us just being there, kids playing with people that didn’t know their language but that not being an obstacle for them to enjoy their time together, and people walking in the rain to have a church service with the ‘’gringos.” But what impressed me the most was going back to those villages a year later and seeing the people with joy in their eyes, welcoming us as if we were a part of their family. With experiences like this, I started developing a need in my heart to keep doing this. I started praying about it and I had many ideas, but finally I decided that since God gave me the gift of knowing a second language, it is so that I can use it for His glory. " She officially joined our team in August 2016.

Joshua Dykes from Mount Pleasant, Texas where he grew up with his awesome parents (Chris and Martha) and his younger brother (Brandon). Josh grew up attending First Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant along with his family and his relationship with Christ started when he was 9 years-old and asked his parents, “If Jesus is perfect and I am not, then why would He die for me?” To which they responded, “Because He loves you.” From that moment onward, Joshua started the crazy and fulfilling adventure that we call being a Christian. Josh continued to learn about God’s will for his life and when he was 16 years-old he felt a call to ministry. He followed this call to Howard Payne University where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Youth Ministry, Public Policy (from the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy), and a minor in Spanish. He has worked in youth ministry for the past 4 years and believes that his time in ministry has prepared him to work in adaptive innovative ways. Joshua came to Gracias for the first time on a short-term mission with Southside Church and returned again the next year. It was after this second stay in Honduras that Joshua joined the missions team. Josh likes learning, reading, making new friends, listening to music, and playing basketball.

I started my studies at a school where few kids have the same opportunity, but fortunately I was one of the kids that had this passion for learning new things even when it seemed to be a little hard. My mom and my dad have been Cristians since I was born so they were the ones who taught me that letting God guide us everywhere, is the best choice anyone can make. They always talk to my sister, my three brothers and me about how good is God. At the age of 14 I decided that the opportunity that God gave me to learn a different language should be used to do things that pleased Him. So I started to translate for missionaries that worked in the church where I attended. There was were I found that God gave me a very special gift that I can help many people understand what those missionary wanted to say. When I started to work with missionaries I found out that God wanted to use me as a tool to transfer the good ways of thinking of American people to Latinos people but not only that, also help Latinos to teach and to show Americans how big our hearts can be if we serve God.

Spencer Wolverton grew up in the ministry along with her parents Kelly and Susan, and her two older sister Kelsan and Sharon. They moved multiple times within Texas. Her relationship with Christ started at age seven. She told her mother that she wanted a love similar to the one her parents and grandparents had. Throughout the next several years of her life the Lord taught her many things and continuously guided her path by opening and shutting doors. Eventually the Lord lead her to Howard Payne University, where many other hard lessons were learned. She graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Communication and a minor in Psychology. Spencer joined our team after the Lord revealed to her that He wanted to use her in Honduras. She said, "God can use anyone as long as they are obedient, but there must be joy in our obedience."

My name is Hannah Williamson. I am from Fort Worth, Texas and I am currently finishing up my first year of teaching at Abundant Life Christian School in Honduras. Next year I am excited to join the 61 Isaiah team as their Field Logistics Coordinator. I was first introduced to 61 Isaiah after my junior year of college when I served as a summer missionary. Since then I’ve graduated college and served as an on campus missionary at Howard Payne University for a year until I moved to Honduras. Being a teacher has been challenging and growing in multiple ways and I’m thankful to have had this opportunity. Next year I’m excited to see what the Lord has in store as I begin full time ministry with 61 Isaiah.