Renewed, refreshed, reunited 2008 LAC Missionary Retreat
encouraging and uplifting; very filling spiritually.” The devotions were preceded by a short time of Spanish and English praise and worship, led by Panama missionaries Jack Johnson and Heidi Heisterkamp, and Paraguay deaconess intern Jennifer Bolognini. After worship and devotions, presentations from both the LCMS World Mission staff and board and missionaries occupied the remainder of each day’s sessions. What the missionaries found most valuable, however, was the time spent in conversation; whether it was at any of the three meals, during a quick break between
photo: James Neuendorf
Missionaries from all over Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in December for the 2008 LCMS World Mission Regional Missionary Retreat. The retreat, which took place on the Pacific coast of Panama, was a chance for missionaries from both LCMS World Mission and partner churches such as the Lutheran Churches of Brazil and Argentina; to step out of their respective mission fields and catch a much needed breath of fresh air. “It was like an oasis in the desert;” said, Walter Ralli, an Argentinean Lutheran missionary supported by LCMS World Mission working in Seville, Spain, “like a glass of fresh water it refreshed the thirsty soul of the missionary.” From December 2-5, the missionaries and a few members of the St. Louis support staff packed their days with presentations, devotions, prayer, and tons of conversation. Rev. Vern Gundermann, chaplain at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis led the daily devotions. Structuring the devotions on the Lord’s Prayer, he led the group in day-by-day prayer and reflection on each petition. Missionary Danelle Putnam, who works with disabled children in the Dominican Republic, found the devotions especially helpful. “I really enjoyed the Bible study with Pastor Vern, it was very
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This is a bi-monthly publication of the LCMS World Mission LAC Regional Office Panama City, Panama
a session, or while sitting outside near the beach. “I loved the fellowship,” reflected Jennifer Bolognini, “I loved meeting all the missionaries, the new ones and the ones who have had a lot of experience; hearing from them and [getting] their advice and their comfort and encouraging words.” The opportunities created through the retreat for dialogue about mission strategy were considered by most to be invaluable. “[This is] the best retreat I’ve been at since I’ve been in the mission field, because it was much more a two-way continued on page 2
Missionaries share the peace of the Lord with eachother.
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photo: James Neuendorf
Dave Birner addresses the group.
Venezuela training missionaries
Seminary project reaches crucial turning point
After more than 50 years of foreign missionary work in Venezuela, the Lutheran Church of Venezuela has finally come full circle: the national church is now equipped and prepared to educate and send pastors and missionaries. Three years ago, LCMS World Mission missionary to Venezuela, Ted Krey, established a one-year accelerated Theological Education program in Maracay, Venezuela. The goals were simple: to train enough pastors to serve the existing 19 congregations and nine mission stations, to make the program self-sufficient, and to have trained enough pastors to open new mission fields. At that time, there were
only seven ordained pastors serving in Venezuela, leaving many churches without the opportunity to regularly receive the sacraments or pastoral care. The program provided students with half of their necessary classes in the course of one year. Following five prerequisites taken before the intensive year long residency program, the students were enrolled in 22 to 23 different courses in theology and practice. Today there are 19 ordained ministers actively serving in the Venezuelan Lutheran Church! Two Venezuelan pastors are being called to replace Ted in leading theological education at the seminary. Even more exciting, the six students
conversation; the missionaries got to explain a little bit about what they really do out there. Everybody learned much more about what was going on,” stated Dale Saville, who works with the rural Lutheran farm project of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela. The addition of Ablaze! Alliance Missionaries from Argentina, Nigeria, and Brazil was a decision that associate executive director of LCMS World Mission’s international team, Dave Birner, believed made the difference. “I think this was one of the most exciting retreats; because we had people from our partner churches involved. We had a multinational mission team. This is a new day for LCMS World Mission. I think this was a great retreat; it really set the bar for the rest of the [World Mission] retreats we have around the world.” currently serving their vicarages will go, after their ordination, directly into the mission field! An additional 12 students currently enrolled suggest that many new mission opportunities will be opening in Venezuela. With these goals accomplished, Ted and his wife Rebecca are moving to the Dominican Republic to work on establishing a theological education program there, “In mission there’s always more work to do,” Ted remarked on the transition. “When one has an opportunity to have a small part in that process, it’s simply a privilege and a tremendous honor, to which we can only ever say, ‘Praise God!’” To support the Kreys, visit: www.lcms.org?7819
First on the field
Anthony Diliberto trail blazing in Peru.
photo: Jon Heisterkamp
At only 23 years old, Anthony DiLiberto is serving as the first full-time LCMS World Mission missionary in Peru, a field that World Mission just opened in partnership with LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Beginning in December 2008, Anthony’s service in Peru as a volunteer coordinator is an indicator of the unique approach that LCMS World Mission is taking in the new field. Anthony is responsible for connecting hundreds of short-term missionaries to a long-term field. Leveraging the resources of several congregations Volunteers participate in a baptism.
in the United States, short-term team work in Peru has already resulted in providing fresh clean water to the village of Lucumo, located in a remote area devastated by an August 2007 earthquake, and in demonstrating the love of Christ through relief work, personal connections, and relationships. The work of these short-term teams is preparing the soil in Peru for a full-time church planter, and the establishment of new Lutheran congregations in northern Peru! Keep Anthony in your prayers! To support Anthony, visit: www.lcms.org?13583
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Mission: Momentum
By James NeuendorfWhen I started the ball rolling, it fit in the palm of my hand. When we stopped, I couldn’t even climb it. I remember the cold snow sticking to my mittens, the ball breaking apart if I squeezed it too tightly. By the time I had gotten it out of the playground it had become too much for my eight-year-old arms to handle. Crossing the field between the school and my house, the snowball grew to the point where I could no longer see above it. My dad, wondering why I was taking so long in coming home, came out to help me, and later after combining the efforts of the rest of my siblings, we laid the gigantic snow boulder to rest in our back-yard. Mission work is the same way. At its beginning, it is so simple and so fragile; a conversation between two people, something easily begun and easily ended. Anyone can be a part in starting it; all it takes is the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we each receive at our baptism. But it doesn’t take long before a ministry that has started to grow can become more than we can handle. Before long, enough new people are participating that we no longer know all the stories, or even names. Funds that used to adequately meet the needs of a ministry now barely pay the bills. At first it feels like failure, the barrier which continually presents itself appears to be our own inadequacy, not having enough strength, enough time, enough wisdom, enough hands. We need to realize that what we are participating in is much bigger than us, we are inadequate to meet the task at hand, but our God is not. The sooner we understand that we are serving the One who holds the world in His hands, the sooner we will stop trying to contain His greatest work in ours. This is what it means to be a global mission movement. We can no longer afford the illusion that we can bear the burden of God’s mission from the church in the United States alone. The changing face of Lutheran mission-work in Latin America reflects this. New missionaries are coming from places like Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, and Nigeria. The needs of the mission field are growing everyday. We need more people, more money, more prayer; not because the support has been faltering, but because the work is expanding. We are a mission in momentum, sharing the Gospel and training others to share the Gospel. We can’t handle it, we can’t contain it--all we can do is join in it.
photo: James Neuendorf
"The sooner we understand that we are serving the One who holds the world in His hands, the sooner we will stop trying to contain His greatest work in ours."
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A Message from the Director
Getting Acquainted.
Epiphany is time of disclosure; God reveals himself in his son Jesus, born in Here it is, the first regional monthly Bethlehem. Jesus unveils himself and newsletter for Lutheran missionary work proclaims that He is the son of God sent to in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lord the world, beginning his ministry on earth. willing there will be many more. Missions is Epiphany in the sense that What we are hoping to accomplish the good news proclaimed reveals God’s through this publication is to inform and saving sacrifice in the cross reaching out to inspire you, the reader, the missionary, the all humanity. supporter, and the son or daughter of God. “Puertas” is your open door to mission What is happening is this region (Latin opportunities. Puertas’ goal is to tell and America and the Caribbean) is exciting, there share the story and mission work that misis so much to tell and so much to learn! If sionaries from south and north do in Latin only we had the space to devote to telling America and the Caribbean. They “reveal” every story and showing every photo! opportunities in which you as well could Through these stories, you can become become an instrument for God’s epiphany just a little bit more connected with your to the world; by praying, telling, sharing, brothers and sisters whom we serve with and going, offering and celebrating. We pray among. this newsletter serves such purpose. I hope that as I learn and grow from working on this publication, that you too would grow in your knowledge and underJorge E. Groh standing about missions and our exciting role and opportunities in them. If note therefrom is anything I can doSpecialist, to make Communications aJames Neuendorf this newsletter more useful to you, please let me know.Here it is, the first regional bi-month-LCMSly World Mission Communication Specialist, Latin America: newsletter for Lutheran missionary Jameswork Neuendorf (James.neuendorf@lcms.org) in Latin America and the Caribbean. Lord willing there will be many more. What we are hoping to accomplish Partners in this through this publication is toIssue inform, inspire, and involve you, Church the reader, the LCMS World Mission Lutheran of Brazil missionary, the supporter, and the son or daughter of God. What is happening is this region (Latin America and the Caribbean) is exciting, there is so much to tell and so much to learn! If only we had the space to devote to telling every story and showing every photo! Through these stories, you can LCMS become World Mission Church of just a little bitLutheran more connected in Latin America Argentina with your brothers and sisters who serve in this region. I hope that as I learn and grow from working on this publication, that you too would grow in your knowledge and understanding about missions and our exciting role and opportunities in them. If there is anything I can do to make this newsletter more useful to you, please let me know.
Everyone who2008 attended 2008 LAC Missionary Retreat LACthe Retreat Attendees
Getting acquainted
email me at: james.neuendorf@lcms.org
Get Involved! Pray This month pray for unity in Latin America. In a culture and in a field where relationships and partnerships play such an important role in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the devil works hard to create division and confusion. Pray for each congregation, that they would love and accept each other as brothers and sisters, for each national church body, that they would see themselves as a single body working towards the same goal, and for the entire region, that every resource available would be shared and used towards the same heavenly purpose.
Give
a few LAC projects needing funds Peru
New Mission Projects
$35,000
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=13783
Dominican Republic Walter and Anna Ries
$43,800
http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=13770
Go a few Short Term opportunities Costa Rica Mexico (2) Guatemala Haiti Panama
ESL Camp Construction/VBS Team Dental Clinic / Health EFL Eyeglass Clinic Police ministry
JUNE JULY JULY SPRING FALL
If interested call MOST ministries at 1-734-994-7909 for more info.
a few Long Term opportunities Argentina Argentina
Relationship Builder/EFL (seminary) Theological Educator
8-10 Months 9 Months
If interested call Erin Alter at LCMS World Mission at 1-800-433-3954
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