Trip to Quibdó, Colombia

An historical event took place this month. For the first time in over 30 years a WELS missionary made a trip to the town of Quibdó, Colombia. A congregation of about 30 members from this town had been received into the fellowship of the Colombian national church a couple of months earlier. On a previous trip to Colombia, the congregation’s pastor, Elkin Alzate, had invited LATTE professor Philip Strackbein to include a visit to Quibdó during his next trip to Colombia. The trip took place and professor Strackbein was able to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of our brothers in the faith who live there. He also took part in workshops and Bible studies during the afternoon and evening hours. In the pictures you can see Professor Strackbein leading the class, the group that studied with him as well as Pastor Elkin and his wife Eugenia.

(Posted by Prof. P. Strackbein)

Sharing the joy!

When I was recently in the Dominican Republic I get to meet Tiny (Chiquito - below, on the right). Chiquito is the leader of a small group of Christians in Licey, just outside of Santiago. He was a member of Pastor Alex in Moca (in red shirt) who had taught him Bible Institute courses and trained him to serve the Lord's church. Alex's joy and enthusiasm is evident to all. And Chiquito has been infected with that same attitude. They are both evidence that Jesus' promises to be with us with his power and grace are being fulfilled. LATTE's goal of preparing pastors and leaders for the national churches we serve so that they can function independently is being met with people like Alex and Chiquito. Soli Deo gloria!

Posted by L. Schlomer

Blessings experienced

In the lower photo are Pastor Freddy (right) of Santiago in the Dominican Republic and Juan. Juan is the leader of a small group of Christians (whose chapel is in the upper image) who were looking for someone to help them understand the Bible and to grow in their knowledge of God's Word and promises for them. Juan contacted Pastor Freddy and he agreed to study with Juan and his group. Juan and his group are nearly ready to join our Santiago congregation. Pastor Freddy is an example of what LATTE is trying to accomplish with our work of training nationals to be pastors and leaders of their churches. He has been trained by us so that he is now anxious and able to go out and teach and train others. God be praised.

LATTE continues training in the Dominican Republic

On Wednesday and Thursday of last week I traveled to the Dominican Republic with Pastor Robert Smith, the new chairman of the Administrative Committee for Latin America. We met with Missionary Professor Phil Strackbein and the men with whom he is working there, training them for ministry. As you will have seen from previous blogs, the budget crunch in the WELS almost lost us Phil's position and we wanted to speak with him and his students to assure them of our continued support and of their professor's continued presence with them to finish their seminary training. The second picture shows student-pastor Alex speaking with Prof. Strackbein about the progress on the work on their new church property. Look for more pictures of this trip in the coming days.

(Posted by L. Schlomer)

By God's grace and power, LATTE is spared from a cut in manpower

The LATTE team has some very good news to report today. During the last two days our administrative committee for Latin America has been meeting to deal with the effect of the budgetary cuts that are effecting our Synod. I had previously blogged that Prof. Phil Strackbein was being withdrawn from our team and from his work in the Dominican Republic. While that was the official news from headquarters, it apparently was premature. We have just been informed by our committee that our Latin American mission work will continue to focus on theological education (the preparation of national workers) in our mission churches and sister churches in Latin America. Therefore LATTE will be able to continue with our four remaining professors. We are indeed grateful to a loving and all-powerful God.
To be able to make this work, the committee has had to withdraw our last missionary from Brazil. We know how difficult this will be for the Brazilean national church, and pray God to strengthen them to continue to teach and preach His word there. LATTE will be helping them as we are able with occasional visits to teach and encourage.
We are comforted and strenghtened by the fact that although human plans falter and change, our good Lord's plan for our eternal salvation never changes. He is good indeed.

Flu Slowdown

The flu has caused many small changes to life in Mexico in the last week and a half. Many people of nearly all professions are worried and have been wearing surgical masks when they go out of their homes. But while many businesses, all schools, most government offices were closed in the Mexican government's attempt to stop the new flu strain from spreading, seminary classes continued almost normally here in Torreon. Our only concession to the flu scare was to start classes an hour late so the students didn't have to take the city buses during rush hour when they would be crowded. God has been good to us, so far no flu, and not even any confirmed cases here in Torreon yet.

The Pain and Loss of Budget Cuts

Missionaries are not immune to a difficulty afflicting many kinds of people all over the world today -- the economic crisis. But it has affected us in a drastic way. Ten years ago we were 15 WELS missionaries working in Latin America. At the end of February we were eight. LATTE has gone from five to six, then back to five. Last November our team was cut again when Prof. Ralph Martens (top) was called to serve in Mexico with no replacement on our team. Now we have just received word that Prof. Phil Strackbein (bottom) will be cut and sent back to the United States. And depending on how our Synod votes in its biennial convention in July, Latin America could lose yet another missionary.
The pain comes from saying goodbye to friends and co-workers of many years. The loss to God's kingdom comes from losing two valued, experienced missionary-professors, both of whom have decades of experience serving His church in Latin America. They will both be sorely missed in the training and preparation of future church workers all over Latin America.
We are grateful to God that he has seen fit to call Prof. Martens to Mexico so that is expertise is not lost to our mission effort in Mexico. And we pray to our Sovereign Lord for Prof. Strackbein to receive a call at the opportune moment so his service to the church may continue, all according to His will. To Him alone be the glory and honor.