Issue:2 Volume:1
This is a bi-monthly publication of the LCMS World Mission LAC Regional Office Panama City, Panama
Face to Face with Latin America
photo: James Neuendorf
LCMS Board for Mission Services makes landmark visit
Coming from as far away as frigid Alaska, members of the LCMS Board for Mission Services and World Mission directors, saw first hand some of the mission work in Latin America and the Caribbean this March on a journey that spanned Central and South America. The trip was an important time for members of the board to see for themselves the many opportunities for expanded ministry and partnership in Latin America. This is the first of serveral regional visits for the board. “We are not here as a ‘giant’ church to tell people what to do, but rather to stand by them, to walk with them, to listen to what they have to say,” shared LCMS World Mission interim Executive Director Thomas Zehnder, “[the question is] how do we use the resources that we have in other parts of the world without taking the role of being in charge.” The group landed in Panama and met with national church president Milton Castillo Arosemana, to learn about the ministry in Panama and how the Lutheran Church in the United States can assist in the work that our Lutheran brothers and sisters are doing there. Besides meeting with local leaders, the group had the opportunities to worship with the Panamanian Lutheran churches in both Sora and Loma Cova. After 3 days in Panama, the group hopped on a flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina to meet with national church president, Rev. Edgardo Waldemar Elseser, and the leadership of the Lutheran Church of Argentina, a church which has sent several career missionaries through LCMS World Mission, to discuss further ways of partnering with this church in ministry in Latin America. The board had the opportunity to visit Ablaze Alliance missionary, David Theys and worship with his mission congregation in Salta, Argentina, a 2 hour flight from where they stayed in Buenos Aires.
Top row:Pastor Martino, Dave Birner, Virginia Von Seggern, Olga Groh, Roger Buck. Bottom row: Demetrio, Pastor Patricio, Thomas Zehnder, Milton Castillo, Linda Reiser, Anselma, Jorge Groh, (not pictured Phil and Judy Kuehnert)
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photo: James Neuendorf
Finally the group met with national church leaders in neighboring Brazil, a church body which also has sent several international missionaries, and visited their theological seminary and university. For board member Roger Buck the trip, his first to Latin America, was a huge learning experience, “before [the trip] I was going just on preconcieved ideas [about Latin America], this has really broadened my perspective.” What board member,Virginia Von Seggern took away from the trip however was the scale of work to be done,“The biggest thing I’ll take home with me is the vastness of Latin America, the job and the opportunities and the hope that we have that we can do this.” She added, “another thing that’s clear to me though is that we don’t have near enough staff in this area to do all the things that we need to do.” Indeed as it says in Matthew, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
The board at worship in the Lutheran Congregation at Loma Cova, in Panama.
Around the Table in the Dominican Republic
photo: James Neuendorf
LCMS ministry partners meet to discuss future outreach
Dominican Vicars Joseph (left) and Willy (right)
Gathered around a small table in the Dominican Republic’s second largest city, Santiago de Los Caballeros, representatives from five different Lutheran partner organizations met to discuss future outreach efforts in the Dominican this March. The representatives, which came from Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, LCMS World Mission, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, the LCMS South Wisconsin District, and a Lutheran congregation in Florida, each discussed the unique role that they could play in supporting the mission effort there. The three LCMS World Mission missionaries in the Dominican Republic, Walter Ries, Danelle Putnam, and Ted Krey, reported on their progress, and future desires and needs for the young Lutheran church that is developing in the Dominican Republic. They reported an exciting increase in the efforts of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through various means, a new worship service and Bible study community opening in the city of Santiago, the launch of a Sunday school in the district of Las Americas, on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, and an increased desire to develop leadership to work with children with disabilities by members of the growing Lutheran community in the Dominican Republic. Two vicars are already being trained by Brazilian missionary Walter Ries, with 2 other strong candidates for pastoral training already identified, and strengthened by the arrival of theological educator Ted Krey, the mission team expects to see significant indigenous pastoral leadership early into the life of this emerging church. Among other logistical issues discussed, the most important topic of the meetings involved how to develop and support the existing national leaders and how to hand over control of the fledgling church to Dominicans as early as possible, while remaining a strong partner and resource for the Dominican church. At the end of the weekend, Ted Krey was officially installed as a missionary to the people of the Dominican Republic, by Dr. Jorge Groh, Latin America Regional Director, and with the blessing of church planting missionary Walter Ries, and the rest of 2 the ministry partnership team.
By James NeuendorfSuffering, our Lenten season is focused upon it. We take this time to reflect on our sin and its consequences, to look long and hard on the cross of Christ and the blood that flowed from His hands, His head, His feet, and His back and side. We fix our eyes on Jesus, and on Him fixed upon a cross. We carry the message of the cross as missionaries, the message of salvation and of sins paid for, but what does it really mean to carry the cross? Suffering is a daily part of existence for Latin Americans, poverty is rampant, in many places sickness is endemic and there are few of even the simplest remedies available to the poorest of the poor. Basic necessities like water can carry more disease than nourishment, and tightly knit families are frequently torn apart by marital infidelity, abuse, and death. This is the reality into which the message of the cross is carried. When possible, Christians aim to relieve the suffering of those around them, yet ultimately, any physical relief that we can offer is temporary, but the message we carry is enduring and eternal. Christ took on the mortal carcass of human flesh, and walked the dusty streets of Nazareth, and the crowded noisy markets of Jerusalem, He did
photo: James Neuendorf
The Missionary's Cross
countless miracles, healing the sick and the lame and feeding the hungry, but Christ constantly confided to the disciples that this was not why He had come. His road was always set towards the cross. It was there at the cross that Christ’s work was truly accomplished, that His sacrifice was made complete, that the crippled could truly be made whole. Today, any person can give to the thirsty a glass of water, there are countless human-care agencies that do so,
and these are good and necessary things, but only those who carry with them the Living Water can truly quench the thirsty soul. Together with our brothers and sisters in Latin America, we can bring this hope that we share to all people, enduring all kinds of suffering! Therefore carrying the cross of Christ into all the world, and in the joy of the hope we have in the resurrection,“let us proclaim the death of Christ until He comes!” 1 Corinthians 11:26b
Special Childrens Ministry Sunday in Jamaica St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Kingston, Jamaica has record attendance. night and on Sunday morning.” The Ite’s prepared for the service weeks in advance, Abasifreke designed special clothing for the children. Together with church member, Donna Lawrence, they painstakingly designed and assembled special African outfits for the children to wear at the service. In the service, the children were
given opportunities to lead in group songs, special presentations, Bible reading and recitation. One woman was able to bring 18 children from her family and community to attend the service! The event has opened many new doors in the community through which the gospel can be shared!
photo: Ms. Shantall Tate
On March 22 in St. Andrew Lutheran Church Kingston, Jamaica recorded the highest number of worshippers since the beginning of this year and of Ablaze Alliance missionaries Obot and Abasifreke Ite’s ministry in Jamaica, at a special Childrens Ministry Sunday service. 55 adults and children attended the service. Obot is excited about what this means for the ministry, “We really thank God for the transformation and renewal of hearts of members of this congregation since we began serving in Jamaica. Apart from having in attendance the highest number of children in the service compared to other services, worshippers from far distances were able to attend the service despite the heavy rain on Saturday
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Lasting Impressions LCMS World Mission's Executive Director I was impressed with the energy of the Lutheran Church in Latin America. The outreach to specific community needs in Panama, Porto Alegre, Buenos Aires and Salta was moving. Our fellow workers in those countries are dedicated men and women whose hearts are filled with the Gospel of Jesus, and they show this through their ministries of human care for those in need. We were privileged to worship with our Latin American sisters and brothers, and in every worship service we heard
the Gospel proclaimed clearly and powerfully. Receiving the Holy Communion at their altars was a humbling and strengthening experience. I rejoiced at the unity of the Church Universal. If hospitality has a home, it is certainly found in the good people of Latin America. I am filled with gratifude to all of them and look forward to another visit in the future. -Thomas R. Zehnder
LCMS World Mission Communications Specialist
Puertas is a bi-monthly publication of the LCMS World Mission Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office in Panama City, Panama.
photo: James Neuendorf
Special thanks to Obot Ite, and Ms. Shantall Tate in Kingston, Jamaica, for their special contributions to this issue.
photo: James Neuendorf
photo: James Neuendorf
Writing, photography, and layout by LCMS World Mission Latin America Communications Specialist James Neuendorf. Editing by the LCMS World Mission Communications Team.
This March I had the opportunity to visit and photograph the missionwork in the Dominican Republic, a beautiful country with a rich history and extremely warm and friendly people. The one thing that struck me the most about the Dominican people was the incredible stories that are told in so many of their faces, worn from years of working in the hot sun, but full of a pride and confidence that spoke to a strong Dominican spirit. The joy of the Lutheran brothers and sisters there in the fullness and hope of the gospel is something that I will always carry with me, and that I hope the lens of my camera was able to capture. -James Neuendorf To see the photos from this ministry:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lcmsworldmission
This Publication is meant to inform and inspire you regarding the many open doors of opportunity we have in Latin America for spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. If you have any questions, tips, ideas, or news that you would like to share please contact us at the LCMS World Mission Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean at the following Panama address: Casa 958-A Calle Uraba La Boca, Ancon Panama City, Panama email: james.neuendorf@lcms.org 501-228-4564
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