He Is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!

This past Easter, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Valley of Peace, Belize, not only celebrated our Risen and Victorious Lord but also reaffirmed our place in the Body of Christ.

New Director at the Helm of Concordia the Reformer Seminary

On Sunday, September 10, Concordia the Reformer Seminary in the Dominican Republic celebrated the installation of her new director, Rev. Sergio Fritzler. Pastors from five countries participated in the special service, with seminarians, missionaries, deaconesses, Dominican Lutheran Church members, Concordia Lutheran school children and faculty joining in the festivities.

Four Countries, Eight Days

After years of hard work, patience, and coordination, the Spanish Lutheran hymnal, Himnario Luterano, arrived in Guatemala. The hymnals were published by a group of dedicated Lutheran pastors throughout Latin America, who considered the many cultural differences among the Spanish-speaking countries. Thanks to a generous gift from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, a large portion of the printing and shipping costs were covered, making the hymnals affordable for our sister churches.

A Snapshot – Belize

For several years, church services in Orange Walk were held in the home of Roldan Rojas. Now, what was once an abandoned woodshed has become our newest church for a growing congregation in the north of Belize. Situated on a 1.5-acre lot, the church has room for expansion, and soon, there are hopes of adding running water, plumbing, and a bathroom to the church property.

English Classes in Belize

After months of planning and preparing, English as a Second Language classes started the weekend of January 28-29 at El Buen Pastor Lutheran Church in Valley of Peace, Belize. The classes commence with Alliance Missionary Pastor Benjamin Flores leading a 10–15-minute devotion, then Missionary Jordan Logston teaching the two-hour long class.

A Week of Intensive Pastoral Formation

Concordia the Reformer Seminary welcomed distance-learning Formación Pastoral Hispano (FPH) students and pastoral mentors from several Latin American countries to a week-long symposium in January. The FPH program is similar to the SMP program at our LCMS seminaries in the United States. This program consists of sixteen courses with the students taking four courses a year, with pastoral mentors assigned to them. The focus of the FPH program is on the pastoral acts.

Mercy and Gospel in Belize

On Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, the LCMS Belize Mission group was blessed to host and help a six-person team from the Belize Mission Society (St. Louis) with a two-day eyeglass clinic at El Buen Pastor Lutheran Church in Valley of Peace, Belize.

Church Planting in Honduras

reaching in La Paz, Honduras, for years, even during the recent lockdowns. The fruits of his pastoral care and outreach to the community were evident in the overflowing crowd at a recent church dedication. With a capacity of 120, the new sanctuary was packed with worshipers. Dozens more gathered outside the facility to join in the celebration and sing praises to the Lord.

Schlund Family Farewell

Missionary Pastor Andrew Schlund, his wife, Kelsey, and their two little daughters, Charlotte and Margaret are on their way back to the United States. They have faithfully served as LCMS missionaries since June of 2015. Rev. Schlund worked tirelessly as Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Mexico City, and as an adjunct professor for Concordia the Reformer Seminary in the Dominican Republic.

Fresh Beginnings in Belize

When one thinks of the Lutheran Church of Belize, they can’t help but think of the many ways God’s hand has blessed the ministry there. The country is bursting with opportunity!