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, they surrendered to the call. The Hopkins founded 61 Isaiah Ministries and moved to Gracias, Lempira in 2011.

Edith is from Gracias, Lempira, Honduras where she lives with her parents and 2 siblings. At the age of seven, she received a scholarship to attend Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS). 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 I can use it for His glory. " She officially joined our team after she graduated from ALCS in August 2016.

Joshua Dykes is 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 believes that his time in youth ministry 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 field based team. Josh likes learning, reading, making new friends, listening to music, and playing basketball.

Jeff Holloway surrendered to the ministry his freshman year of college and began serving as youth minister at Calvery Baptist in Cisco, Texas. After five years of service, God relocated him to First Baptist Church Crosby. For the past 32 years he has served there as a minister of: youth, education, administration, and missions and evangelism. While serving at his current church, God introduced Jeff to his lovely wife, Michelle Smith. God placed a clear calling in Michelle's life to love, care, and minister to others. After getting married, the couple began serving alongside one another. God has blessed them with three wonderful children: Matthew, Samuel, and Caroline. Together they have served in 15 countries located on four different continents, with the majority being Spanish speaking countries. While on a one month trip in Honduras, to learn Spanish and discover future mission opportunities for FBC Crosby, they met a kindred spirit within 61 Isaiah, Shannon Hopkins. Jeff and Michelle, visited with 61 Isaiah in hopes of starting a partnership between the organization and their church. It was then that God began to develop a deep love for the people of Honduras. As time passed, it became clear that God was leading their family to serve Him in Honduras alongside 61 Isaiah.

Open position

Jason grew up in Newton, Kansas, as the third of four children. Nelsy grew up in La Unión, Lempira, a small town two hours from Gracias. She has four older siblings. She graduated from Abundant Life Christian School (ALCS) in La Unión and received a scholarship to attend John Brown University, where she met Jason! Jason and Nelsy started dating during their second year at JBU. After graduation, they moved to Honduras in 2018 to teach at ALCS Gracias. They were married in September of 2019 and continued to teach at the school through the 2020-2021 school year. At this time, God began to reveal the next steps He wanted Jason and Nelsy to take. In the spring of 2021, Jason began helping with bookkeeping in the 61 Isaiah office and continues to teach at the school as well. Nelsy started her role as the Field Logistics Coordinator over the summer. They are both very excited to be a part of the 61 Isaiah team!

Micah is a Hoosier born, Arizona mountain-raised, Texan who really only feels at home wherever he can build the Kingdom of God. As the fourth of five children to pastor parents he quite literally grew up in the church. After graduating from high school, Micah decided to follow in his parents steps by pursuing full-time vocational ministry. Yet, he did not know exactly where God was calling him in ministry, so he followed where he felt called - first to Houston Baptist University where he and Lindsey met. Lindsey was born and raised in the great state of Texas. She grew up the third of four in a farmer family where there was always a job to do and a good home cooked meal shared with the family. During her college experience God revealed to her the passion she had for ministry and serving Him. In their Junior year of college, Micah and Lindsey started dating. The more they talked the more they realized how their passion for ministry and dream of serving the Spanish speaking community aligned. They got married in January of 2020, and soon after, made the decision to walk with 61 Isaiah and be a part of bringing God’s kingdom in service and humility to the Lenca people.

Mauricio and his lovely wife, Bercely, have three children named Mauricio, Regina, and Carlitos. When Mauricio was little, his parents divorced. Due to their divorce, he spent most of his childhood with his grandmother. She was a devout Catholic woman who taught him to fear and love the Lord. Mauricio was strictly raised, and when he went off to college to study agriculture, a whole new set of ideals was placed on him. He was expected to be a strong man, and to partake in drinking, drugs, and other actions that make one a "tough man". All the lies he had adopted disappeared after he attended a retreat. He cried out to God for help, asking him to break his chains of addiction. He told God, "If you are really calling me to the ministry, take this addiction from me." After Mauricio asked for help, God took away his addiction. He is currently a pastor of a church in Gracias, Lempira, Honduras, and joined the 61 Isaiah field based team.

Kylie grew up in Abbott, Texas along with her parents, Bryan, and Lesley, and two younger brothers, Kadyn, and Karsyn. She also grew up in the church where many of her earliest and fondest memories were made. Her relationship with Christ started at the young age of six. Throughout her walk with Christ, she has been blessed by others who have encouraged her and challenged her to grow in her faith. As she continued learning about God, she felt called to missions. Kylie attended Howard Payne University and graduated in May 2021, with a bachelor’s degree in Cross-cultural studies. As she was preparing for the next steps after graduation, she remembered the short-term mission trip to Gracias with Southside Church. Kylie wanted to serve, especially in a Spanish-speaking community. God has opened the doors for Kylie to serve with 61 Isaiah, and she is excited to see what God has in store during her time in Honduras.