Serving as a Missionary

Pastor Roberto completed his seminary training in 2009 and serves as a home missionary for the Igreja Luterana Brasileira - Brazilian Lutheran Church (ILB) to start a new congregation in the city of Presidente Prudente in Southeastern Brazil.

 LATTE Professor Nathan Wagenknecht & Pastor Roberto

How are you using your seminary training now?

At this moment, I am giving Bible Studies in the houses of the people, that is to say, I have different studies in some houses on different days of the week. On Sundays, I gather with my family for Bible studies, or sometimes we listen to a sermon that was recorded in Dourados, or other times I myself preach.

What are some of your joys in the ministry?

I am happy to be able to share my joy in knowing that Christ died for all of my sins, and to share salvation in Christ with other people.

Pastor Roberto Teaching a Bible Study

What are some of the challenges in your ministry?

There is always a challenge when one handles God's Word. First, our challenge is to study the Word carefully in order to be as faithful as possible. Then the challenge is to share these truths from the Word with other people.

What is your favorite Bible passage?

 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:17

Professor Nathan, Pastor Roberto, Pastor Elcy, & Pastor Charlie

News from the Caribbean

Although the work is slow, the Lord continues to provide believers and to bless the work being done in various countries of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean through the efforts of national pastors and visiting teachers.

In the Dominican Republic (DR), a key component to the strategy is to involve national Lutherans in the formation and development of a national church body. A congregation in Santiago, DR is leading the efforts in that direction.

 Children of the Congregation

In many ways, the country of Haiti is worse off now than it was two years ago.  Over 350,000 more Haitians live in Port au Prince than before the earthquake.  Vodou permeates the entire culture.  Our missionary works with a Haitian national pastor who graduated from the LATTE program to do outreach to a small congregation in Cap Haitian and with almost 20 orphanages in Leogane not far from Port Au Prince.  A third pastor/trainer position is being considered for work in this country.

The Joy to Teach

 Seminarian Jairo lives in Medellín, Colombia. He serves as the president of La Santísima Trinidad congregation. Currently, he receives his seminary training by visiting LATTE professors along with online education while continuing to serve in his congregation.

Tell us about your congregation:

My congregation is Most Holy Trinity, located in downtown Medellin, Colombia.  At Sunday worship we have an average attendance of 95 to 100 people.  On Mondays, eight (8) men attend a men's Bible Study; and on Wednesdays, 25 attend the study on the Old and New Testaments and devotion.  We have two (2) pastors, two (2) Bible study teachers, five (5) female teachers, one (1) student in the Bible Institute, fifteen (15) in the youth group, fifteen (15) children, and fifteen (15) women in the ladies' group.  We have a church council and participate in the national church council.  One of our pastors, Henry, also serves as a missionary.  Our other pastor, Tonny, works as an industrial mechanic at a business.

What are some of the joys of your studies or ministry?

Knowing that GOD is always with his children, sustaining us.  I have professors who teach me the correct doctrine.  There is unity among the brothers.  But my greatest joy is being able to teach.  I teach a class on the New Testament, and I am studying to become a pastor -- all by the mercy of God.

What is your favorite Bible passage?  And why?

Because it tells me that I am saved by grace, that I cannot do anything to gain my own salvation.  Because Christ died for my sins.  -Ephesians 2:8, 9 

What great joy it is!

LATTE - Taking Seminary Training Across Borders

Nate and I have been tweaking our mission presentation: LATTE-Taking Seminary Training Across Borders for the past two weeks. We are endlessly thankful for the technology to be able to communicate and collaborate our efforts while we are currently in separate countries. We are organizing our content into several presentations to tailor them for each of our different audiences-elementary students, high school students, congregation members, ladies’ groups, men’s groups, and retirees.

If you happen to be in Arizona this month, or planning to attend the LWMS Convention in North Carolina in June, we would love to meet you and share the details about our life and ministry in Latin America in person!

MAY TOUR SCHEDULE – ARIZONA

Sunday, 5/13

• 9:30 AM WORSHIP SERVICE @ SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH-SURPRISE, AZ
• 10:45 AM PRESENTATION @ SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH-SURPRISE, AZ

Monday, 5/14

• 2:30 PM PRESENTATION @ PILGRIM LUTHERAN SCHOOL-MESA, AZ

Tuesday, 5/15

• 9:30 AM CHAPEL & PRESENTATION @ ARIZONA LUTHERAN ACADEMY-PHOENIX, AZ

Wednesday, 5/16

• 8:30 AM CHAPEL & PRESENTATION @ CROSS OF GLORY LUTHERAN SCHOOL-PEORIA, AZ

Thursday, 5/17

• 6:00 AM PRESENTATION @ EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH-TEMPE, AZ

Friday, 5/18

• 8:30 AM CHAPEL & PRESENTATION @ EMMANUEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL-TEMPE, AZ

Saturday, 5/19

• 5:00 PM POTLUCK & PRESENTATION @ ARIZONA LUTHERAN RETIREMENT CENTER-PHOENIX, AZ

Sunday, 5/20

• 8:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE @ GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH-GLENDALE, AZ
• 9:15 AM PRESENTATION @ GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH-GLENDALE, AZ
• 10:30 AM WORSHIP SERVICE @ GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH-GLENDALE, AZ
• 3:00 PM POTLUCK & PRESENTATION @ CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH-CHANDLER, AZ

Monday, 5/21

• 9:00 AM CHAPEL & PRESENTATION @ GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL-GLENDALE, AZ
• 6:30 PM WORSHIP SERVICE @ EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH-TEMPE, AZ
• 7:45 PM PRESENTATION @ EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH-TEMPE, AZ

Wednesday, 5/23

• AM PRESENTATION @ EAST FORK LUTHERAN SCHOOL-WHITERIVER, AZ
• 5:30 PM POTLUCK & PRESENTATION @ OPEN BIBLE LUTHERAN CHURCH-WHITERIVER, AZ

Thursday, 5/24

• TBD ACTS STUDENTS-WHITERIVER, AZ

Sunday, 5/27

• 11:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE @ SANTO TOMÁS LUTHERAN CHURCH-PHOENIX, AZ
• 12:30 PM PRESENTATION @ SANTO TOMÁS LUTHERAN CHURCH-PHOENIX, AZ

JUNE TOUR SCHEDULE – NORTH CAROLINA

Saturday, 6/23

• 2:45 PM PRESENTATION @ LWMS CONVENTION-WINSTON-SALEM, NC

We hope to see you soon! ;) 

Damas Luteranas

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.”

 -- Psalm 133:1

What a joy it was for my husband and me to attend the 2nd Mexican Lutheran Women's convention. Forty-six women from 8 different congregations and 5 states as well as visitors from Chile and the United States joined together for 3 days of Bible study, finalizing and adopting a constitution, worship and fellowship. 

  Business Meeting

Larry and I have been living in Mexico for 19 years and have been a part of almost all the congregations represented so all these women leaders are dear friends.

Noche Mexicana (Mexican Night)

Missionary and Mexican field counselor Mike Hartman gave a sermon in our closing service that included the Psalm verse with which I titled this story. It has special meaning to us all as Señora Ibarra, 96 year [old] widow of one of the founding pastors of the Mexican Lutheran church, crocheted these [crosses] as a momento for all of the attendees at the convention, even though she was unable to attend. She sent them with her daughter and grand daughter, who are a continuing legacy to the importance of the Word in this faithful family.

Sra. Ibarra's Handmade Cross

May God continue to strengthen and bless this group of very special women in their efforts to support the work of His Kingdom.

Damas Luteranas is officially recognized as Sociedad Nacional de Damas Luteranas de Mexico -- National Society of Lutheran Women in Mexico.

Mining the Gospel's Gems in Greek

Back in January as we were starting new classes in a new year, I shared that I was going to teach a Church History course from Mexico over Skype with three students in Colombia.  Recently I also began teaching Greek to two of those students.  I remain in Mexico; they remain in Colombia.  As long as all three of us have power and Internet, we should be ok.

The Holy Spirit in his divine wisdom chose to inspire the evangelists and apostles to write the New Testament using the Greek language of their time.  Pastors who are called to preach and teach the gospel faithfully will want to be able to mine the gospel's treasures in its original language as much as possible.

My prayer is that as Jairo and Raúl learn Greek grammar, analyze and understand its forms, and grow their Greek vocabulary, they will come to appreciate why the Holy Spirit chose this language, which tends to be quite exact and at the same time colorful, to reveal his gospel in the New Testament.  May it lead to a lifetime of mining the gospel's gems together with faithful translation and interpretation of gospel truth.

Brazil - Update

In the southern city of Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Pastor Elcy serves the congregation Jesus Salvador. 

About 18 hours northwest, Pastor Roberto serves as a missionary, working with a small group in President Prudente, São Paulo (SP). 

Evangelist Gilberto actively assists Pastor Charlie Flunker of Estrela de Belén in serving the congregation's needs with zeal in the town of Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS).

LATTE Professor Nathan Wagenknecht serves as the WELS Friendly Counselor for the Brazilian Lutheran Church. He provides theological training for Evangelist Gilberto and offers continued education courses to Pastor Elcy and Pastor Roberto.

The Brazilian Lutheran Church (ILB) is planning its biennial convention this spring.  At the convention, delegates will ask for the Spirit's guidance as they discuss how to combat the increasing temptation of materialism and its effects on Christian stewardship in Brazil's improved economy.  They will also seek the Lord's favor to provide additional servant-leaders for the church, both among the laity and in the public ministry.  

 The ILB is a relatively small church body and growth is slow, but the recent confirmation of three teenagers and return of some delinquent members shows God is still blessing the preaching of his Word.

Retired Missionary Charlie and Beth Flunker continue to serve the ILB as active volunteers.