Mission and Ministry work in Latin America & the Caribbean
Throw together some cornmeal, a little bit of meat, a few plantains, and a lot of oil and you’ve got yourself an empanada!
Since its inception in 2017, Concordia the Reformer Seminary has focused on preparing men to be evangelists, shepherds and teachers. In that time, numerous well-trained theologians have graduated and are pastoring congregations across Latin America and the Caribbean. Some 50 men currently attend residential and online pastoral formation classes. The deaconess program has produced nearly 100 graduates, with 70 more women enrolled. In addition, online pre-seminary courses are ongoing, and a Lutheran teacher training program is planned.
The Venezuelan Lutheran Church faces many challenges due to the ongoing socio-political crisis. Millions have migrated to other countries, including well-educated and professional Lutherans. Nevertheless, the Church remains a bulwark to encourage those who stay and struggle to feed, clothe, educate and care for their families. Through Juan de Frias Bible institute and Concordia the Reformer Seminary in the Dominican Republic, the Church forms new pastors and church workers.
VDMA is a Latin acronym that translates, “The Word of the Lord endures forever.” During the Reformation, this motto united Lutherans in solidarity against their adversaries. Five hundred years later, the VDMA Project unites a different group of Lutherans: Spanish-speaking pastors and seminary students throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
LCMS efforts in Uruguay, known as South America’s most atheistic nation, began among German and Slovenian immigrants in the 1930s. Current team efforts consist of Alliance Missionary Maicon Schieferdecker who works with a local parish pastor and a Brazilian school chaplain. The Lutheran landscape is a mix of urban, rural, and school ministries.
Concordia the Reformer Seminary and Mercy Center (CMSCR) in the Dominican Republic, opened its doors in 2017, paving the way for an influx of new Lutheran pastors for Latin America. The institution, noted for its rigorous coursework and practical, church-planting emphasis, draws students from countries across Latin America.
These future pastors have left homes, families and livelihoods behind for the sake of the holy ministry.
Four church-planting pastors and a vicar work with an energetic young missionary team to grow current congregations in Mayagüez, Ponce and San Juan. In Mayagüez and Ponce, each congregation operates a mercy house where members and missionaries do extensive community outreach. In 2022, the mercy houses installed solar panels to meet the need for consistent electricity during regular power outages.
The Lutheran Mission of Peru, established in 2010, is the umbrella organization for church planting in the country. The mission is served by a seasoned LCMS Pastor, an alliance missionary pastor from Brazil and a Peruvian pastor. Together, they serve four growing church plants in Los Olivos, La Victoria, and San Borja, and Ventanilla.
LCMS mission work in Panama began with service to military personnel during the Canal Zone era, as early as 1941. The ministry expanded and led to the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Panama (IELPA), which currently consists of five church plants.
Mexico City’s Martin Luther Institute works with North American missionaries and Concordia the Reformer Seminary to form pastors and deaconesses. The Mexican pastorate, which previously numbered three, has more than tripled since the opening of the Dominican seminary, with eleven ordained men. Twelve more are in the pastoral formation pipeline. In addition, thirty-six deaconess graduates bring the total number of current church workers to 47. Many more are studying.
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