The Mexican Seminary Moved!

Professor Natán, Victor, Jaime, Luis, Dan, & Professor Larry

The Confesional Lutheran Seminary of the IELC in Mexico has prepared men for the public ministry of the gospel in various locations in its 20-plus year history - Torreón, Monterrey, Mexico City, Puebla, back to Torreón, then León. This summer it returned to Puebla.

Two professors from the LATTE team, together with two men who are studying full-time, moved from León to Puebla in August. The IELC decided to relocate its seminary in order to accept two more full-time students, better train a part-time student, and combine efforts with the local ministries.

By God's grace, the seminary now has four full-time students plus three men in the Certified Pastor program. One man should be ready to start his vicar year in January. We ask the Lord of the Harvest to bless the preparation of his workers. We also encourage you, God's people, to think about where our future pastors will come from. Look for children and youth who have the gifts to serve. Speak well of your pastor and the ministry to them. Encourage them to consider serving God in the gospel ministry.

Update from the Caribbean

 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The one congregation of our fellowship and its pastor continue to reach out to the people of Santiago, Dominican Republic. 

  

HAITI

The humanitarian and gospel outreach work continues amongst the orphanages of Leogane and with a small congregation in Cap Haitian served by a Haitian pastor trained by LATTE in the Dominican Republic.

Fall Update

One LATTE professor has now completed preparing an entire Dogmatics course for online presentation (moodle) and has taught it for the whole cycle. He has also prepared the Hermeneutics course for the same presentation. Another LATTE professor has been named director of the Mexican seminary by the national church. 

LATTE continues to provide training for future pastors as well as continued education for those already serving [in Latin America].

What Time Is It There?

I'm kind of embarrassed, but I missed a class on Monday morning. Normally I study Greek with Raul Monday through Friday at 7:45am. This past Monday, everything was going fine. I was up, had my bowl of cereal and cup of coffee, read my morning devotion, had time to look over my notes. I logged into Skype at 7:40, ready to teach.

And then I saw the message from Raul. It was time stamped an hour ago. He was wondering where I was for class. That's when it dawned on me, over the weekend we had ended Daylight Savings Time here in Mexico--but evidently not in Colombia.

As you know from other posts, LATTE is preparing men for the ministry in various countries of Latin America. And that means various time zones, both north and south of the equator. Normally that is not a problem, but it does make us do some interesting adjustments twice a year.

Mexico went off of Daylight Savings Time last weekend, setting our clocks back an hour. The US will end Daylight Savings Time this coming weekend, so we have been an hour apart this past week. Brazil changed their clocks two weeks ago, but since they are in the southern hemisphere, they entered D.S.T. and moved their clocks ahead. Bolivia and Colombia don't use D.S.T. and so they don't change their clocks at all.

I apologized to Raul, and we had a good laugh. Now I set my alarm clock an hour earlier and am ready to teach at 6:45 my time, 7:45 his time.

Teaching Together

One of the joys of being on-site at a mission is to serve with the local ministry as needed.  Last January, the mission congregation in México asked me (Julia) to teach Sunday School to the 7-13 year-old children.  Since that time, our attendance has grown from one to six students.

This semester, there is a change in the classroom. Seminarian Dan and I are serving as a team to teach Sunday School class. Dan is currently studying to be a pastor at the IELC Mexican seminary.

 

The first couple months, I taught the majority of the class while Dan observed and helped as needed with projects and Spanish. Once in a while I stumble on a word that I just can't pronounce correctly or give a good explanation of something.  Dan swoops in and tells the children exactly what I am trying to say.

This month, we've reached the next teaching phase, where we divide the classroom activities into parts. I begin the class by introducing the theme for the day and teaching the Bible story interactively with the children using finger puppets. Then Dan reviews the Bible story with worksheets, projects, and memory work, taking attendance, and closing with prayer.  He's watched the way I do these things and now he is doing most of the things, but in his own way.  It is wonderful to see him teach the key points of the Bible stories and then apply it to our lives, especially the students' lives.

Next week, we will switch activities. Dan will begin the class by introducing the theme and teaching the Bible story with the finger puppets and I will lead the other activities. The following month, Dan will teach the entire class period, and I will be his helper.

Seminarian Luis is currently teaching the children ages 3-6 with Missionary Mike. Dan and Luis will switch classrooms next semester to gain experience working with a different age group.  They are both doing an excellent job and the children love them!

Class with 2 Mexican and 1 Colombian Students

I (Phil) am a professor on the Latin American Traveling Seminary team. At the present time I am living in La Paz, Bolivia because of a special assignment that I was given. Recently I was given a special opportunity, that of participating in the Mexico seminary program by means of Skype.

The two Mexican students that I am teaching are Dan and Luis. What makes the situation even more interesting is that Raúl, a seminary student from Quibdó, Colombia also joins the class. The class I am teaching to these three students is New Testament Isagogics. 

We thank the Lord for this technology which enables us to teach students in their own classrooms or settings even though we as professors live in distant countries.

B2S

Back 2 School! Back 2 Sem! Time to buy pencils, notebooks, highlighters... and don't forget your Greek Bible!

 Mexican Seminary Students Luis and Dan

God has blessed the Mexican church with two full time seminary students who started the new trimester on August 15. Dan is a returning student, and Luis is starting his first year. We were able to coordinate some of their classes with two full time students in Colombia, too. Henry should finish his formal seminary training by the end of the year, and Raúl is finishing his first year.

As they study Greek and Hebrew, Old Testament history and the Gospels, Church History and the Formula of Concord, sermon-writing and leading worship, we ask the Lord of the harvest to bless the training of these men and then to send them out as workers in his harvest field--sharing the message that Jesus was B2S, born to save.

Click here for additional information.

Putting it into Practice

The joys of the ministry are many. For me as a LATTE professor, it is a joy to train men and women for the gospel ministry. And my joy is multiplied when I see our students put what they are learning into practice.

I am not called to be a parish pastor right now, so I am not out there directing evangelism programs for a congregation. I do not preach every Sunday or teach Catechism class to the youth. But I am training others to do that.

What a joy, then, to see God reign in the ministries of our students.  Our students are reaching out with the Gospel.  

I'd like to share a short video of Alex and Obed handing out copies of "The Promise" -- a booklet produced by our WELS Multi-Language Publications to explain God's promise of salvation.  

This video selection was recorded a few years ago in the Dominican Republic.

A Time to Review Hebrew

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. That includes a time to review Hebrew, even though it is not listed specifically in Ecclesiastes 3.

During my recent furlough, I had the opportunity to attend two weeks of intensive Hebrew review and practice at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary's summer quarter. I have always enjoyed Hebrew ever since learning it in college and using it almost every day during my time at the seminary. But, I must admit, my Hebrew has gotten a little rusty over the years.

It was so refreshing to join 28 of my brothers in the ministry (14 each week) and focus on our Hebrew skills as we translated the books of Ruth and Ecclesiastes. Thank you to Professors Paustian and Nass from Martin Luther College for their guidance! It was good to review the different forms of the verb in Qal, Nifal, Piel, Pual, Hifil, Hofal, Hitpael (and occasional Hishtafel and Pilpel) and how those forms influence the meaning and translation of a verse. I benefited from seeing newer resources available for both teaching and studying Hebrew, and I hope to pass that benefit on to our LATTE students in our studies of the Old Testament.

There is a time for everything... Now the time has come to end furlough and continue our LATTE ministry of preparing pastors for God's people in Latin America. Time spent keeping my own Hebrew skills up will be well spent as I pass these skills on to our students.

A Blast from the Past

LATTE Team (2006)

Professors Ralph,  Natán, 
Larry, Lorenzo, & Philip

The following description of the LATTE program was first written for a meeting in January of 2006. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the LATTE program's official start next year, we look back to past descriptions and accomplishments of the LATTE program. Look for more "blasts from the past" throughout the next 12 months.

In 2002, when the first warnings about budget shortfalls and cuts began to circulate, the Administrative Committee for Latin America called a meeting together with all five of its field coordinators to consider options. After discussing many opinions and reaching a consensus regarding the indispensable part of our work to continue serving our fields, even if one no longer had resident missionaries, the idea for LATTE (Latin American Traveling Theological Educators) was conceived. Calls to form part of the LATTE team were issued to the five Latin American missionaries who were then responsible for the theological education in the Spanish speaking missions we had at that time. After a series of meetings planning curriculum, course load, and course responsibility, the teaching trips began in July of 2003.

Based on input from the fields our Administrative Committee established the following goals for LATTE:

1. Maintain theological education in fields that might no longer have resident missionaries.
2. Maintain contact with fledgling national churches when no resident missionary is present.
3. Train nationals to be pastors and other trained workers for the national churches.
4. Provide "post-graduate" instruction to graduated pastors:
• continuing education to improve their ministries.
• preparation for some of them to be seminary professors, according to the needs of the national churches.
5. Visit contacts from counties where we don't have a presence to investigate the possibilities of training them to gather and shepherd their own groups, and provide such training where possible.

To reach those goals, LATTE's ministry would consist of the following ways in which we serve our Lord:

1. Establish a core seminary curriculum for all our Latin American fields.
2. Serve the various fields as requested by the national churches in consultation with their resident missionaries or the missionary contact person for the field where there is no resident missionary.
3. Make teaching visits to the several fields as necessary for teaching the curriculum.
4. Confer with the appropriate national church leaders regarding the theological education needs of the church.
5. Offer instruction on the Bible Institute level where the national church is not yet ready to assume that responsibility.
6. Offer brief seminars for graduate national pastors in subjects where they request help, and also in areas where LATTE professors or resident missionaries detect needs.
7. Visit and then teach contacts from countries where we don't have a presence.

LATTE Students are Teachers Too

LATTE professors teach seminary students of confessional Lutheran churches in Latin America. Many of these students are already pastors of congregations and their national churches have asked us to give these pastors more training. Others are seminary students who are starting mission congregations in cities where there is no confessional Lutheran congregation. 

Adolfo

 Eduardo

Pictured here are two LATTE students, Adolfo and Eduardo, who live in Santa Marta, Colombia. They are starting a mission congregation in Santa Marta under the name Iglesia Luz de Cristo (Light of Christ Lutheran Church). You can read more about their work by going to http://luteranosconfesionalescolombiawels.blogspot.com/2012/06/iglesia-luz-de-cristo-santa-marta.html

Please add these two LATTE students and their new mission to your prayer list, asking the Lord of the Church to bless their studies and their preaching of the Gospel so that the light of Christ may shine brightly in Santa Marta.

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.

Encouraging a Brother

Larry and I have served in World Missions 35 years. A large part of that time he has been training pastors. We have been blessed by strong personal relationships with many of his students and families, something highly valued in Latin America. This often means walking with them through their celebrations and trials in life. 

This week we were given the opportunity to attend one of the celebrations. Eligio (student here in Puerto Rico) asked us to accompany him to a special recognition by his home town and mayor for the charity work of his youngest brother who is a double amputee in a wheelchair. 

Professor Larry & Marlene with the Family & Mayor

As you can see we were included in the pictures along with his family, brother and the mayor. These times are often strained by conflict in the family over the Lutheran student or pastor’s distinct doctrine and as representatives of their “new family in the faith”, our presence is appreciated. There have been frequent opportunities to witness to our faith at these gatherings. It also is a great opportunity to understand the culture and students better.

New Classes in the New Year

The new year has come, and with it the beginning of new classes for LATTE.

Some students are starting an online doctrine course called Escatología--the study of what the Bible says (and doesn't say) about the end times--with Professor Lorenzo.  Another student, nearing the end of his formal seminary studies, has started an intensive four-week study of the book of Isaiah with Professor Larry.  A few will continue examining the Augsburg Confession with Professor Philip  And still others are just starting a class on the history of the Christian church.  It is my privilege to teach this class on Church History.

And I'm looking forward to it.  I'm looking forward to getting to know Henry, Jairo and Raul, three student-pastors in Colombia whom I haven't yet met face-to-face, but will soon get to know over Skype.  I'm in Mexico; they're in Medellín and Quibdó, Colombia.  We'll study together across the Internet.

I'm also looking forward to reviewing the lessons we can learn from history.  I marvel at how God has preserved his church over the centuries.  I appreciate how past Christians have fought to defend Scripture's truth against subtle false doctrines.  I learn from them how to recognize and fight false doctrine today.

The new year has come.  And as we begin a new class on Church History, we ask God to help us learn lessons from the past.

"Lord, it is good for us to be here!"

Echoing Peter's reaction to Jesus' Transfiguration (Matthew 17), a small group of pastors and evangelists of the Brazilian Lutheran Church (ILB) met on October 10 and 11 to bask in our Lord's glory through study of his Word.  Despite an 8 hour drive for one pastor and a 22 hour bus ride for another, the fellowship, encouragement and renewal in the gospel was worth the effort.  In my role as WELS Friendly Counselor to the ILB, I had the privilege to attend, and -- despite a four day delay between flights to get here -- I agree it was worth the effort.  It was good to be here!

I shared a study on 1 Kings 19:9-18, reminding us that God continues to work through his "still, small voice" in the gospel to save sinners.  Pastor Roberto, an ILB home missionary in Presidente Prudente, led us in a discussion on evangelism.  Pastor Elcy of Jesus Salvador congregation in Gravatai, guided our review of lay ministry.  And Pastor Charles of Estela de Belem congregation in Dourados, provided a summary of ILB history from 1986 to 2011 and opened the discussion for future plans under God's grace.

But just as Peter, James and John could not stay because there was still work to be done, we also "came down from the mountain" to return to our ministries -- refreshed and renewed.  For me, that means a few weeks of study with Evangelist Gilberto reviewing what the Bible says about Church and Ministry, and then guiding members of our Administrative Committee of Latin American missions on a field visit in the beginning of November.

Pastor Elcy, Pastor Roberto, Volunteer Missionary Charlie, 

LATTE Missionary Natán, & Evangelist Gilberto 

Thank you, Jesus, for our time together with you and each other!

The Five Solas of Reformation

Sola Scriptura — by Scripture alone  

• You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about [Jesus]. (John 5:39)

• From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:15-16)

Sola Gratia — by grace alone  

• So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.  (Romans 11:5-6)
• For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Sola Fide — by faith alone

• But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  (Romans 3:21-22)
• For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.  (Romans 3:28)
• Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5)
• Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  (Romans 5:1-2)
•  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  (Philippians 3:8-9)

Solo Christo — by Christ alone

• These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.  (John 20:31)
• Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name [Jesus Christ] under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.  (Acts 4:12)
• God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  (Romans 5:8-10)
• No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 3:11)
• You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  (Galatians 3:26-27)
• [God] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.  (1 Timothy 2:4-6)

Soli Deo Gloria— glory to God alone  

• So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  (1 Corinthians 10:31)
• At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:10-11)

Behind the Scenes

In the realm of WELS Latin American missions, LATTE exists as a separate "field" from the individual mission fields of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, etc.  We play a supportive role to the individual fields and national churches by assisting in the theological education of their church leaders.  So communication and coordination of plans is essential to our service.

A few weeks ago, I had the joy of participating in a three-day planning session for the ministry in Mexico. When discussing the local ministry, fellow LATTE Professor Larry and I could serve as consultants and sounding boards for various projects.  When discussing the seminary, we helped brainstorm ideas for recruiting future students, starting the new school year, and taking another step forward in the national church's development--offering workshops to prepare qualified national pastors to become seminary professors for the Mexican seminary.

As a LATTE missionary, I am not called to serve a specific congregation as their pastor. And I admit I miss teaching, preaching and administering the sacraments regularly to a particular flock.  But I truly enjoy being a part of the "behind the scenes" work of training and supporting the men the Lord provides to shepherd his people.  I pray our Savior will bless our future plans to turn them into present reality, as he knows best.

Meeting Together

LATTE Professors: Lorenzo, Larry,  Philip, & Natán

Earlier this month, the LATTE team met in Milwaukee, WI for some long range planning.  Since the four of us live in three different countries, we don't meet face to face very often.  Conference calls and email keep us in touch between meetings, but nothing completely replaces the free flow of ideas and collaboration we have when meeting face to face - during the meeting and during breaks and meals together.

We spent time thanking God for the ways Jesus is blessing his church through our 57 students and the national church bodies. We offered each other advice and encouragement as we shared our challenges. We rededicated ourselves to providing the best theological education we can with the gifts God has given us, asking the Lord himself to overcome our weaknesses.

It is still our goal to assist the national churches in their theological education needs - offering seminary training to men who desire to serve as pastors and who already are serving as pastors, equipping qualified national pastors to be seminary professors themselves, and follow up on requests from independent pastors or church groups interested in becoming confessional Lutherans.  

Worship Conference

The WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts has been held every three years since 1996 and has become the largest conference in the US focused on worship themes--not just of Lutherans, but of all Protestant denominations.  This year was no exception with over 1000 people participating. I had the opportunity to attend this year, July 19-22, and was not disappointed.

The general focus of the conference was on "passing the torch to the next generation" and that fit nicely with my role as liturgy/worship professor.  I attended workshops on Worship Education, Enhancing the Liturgical Year, Church Design for Worship and Outreach, and Freshness and Variety in Proclaiming Law and Gospel.  I enjoyed visiting with others who share my desire to offer God our best as we declare his praises.  Above all, I was strengthened and built up as more than 1000 fellow believers joined together for five worship services (focusing on Holy Week and the Easter season) and two concerts during the four days of the conference, at all times keeping the focus on God's Word and the Sacraments and telling what great things the Lord has done to save us.

Having experienced just "a little foretaste of heaven," I am refreshed.  Now I look forward to passing the torch of excellence in worship to the men training to be leaders of worship in Latin America.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.  --Psalm 145:3-4 

Photo provided by WELS Communication Services.

One in Mission

This week over 400 pastors, teachers, and congregation members gather at the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) 61st Biennial Convention (click here for details) in Watertown, Wisconsin to work together as one body to review, plan, and prepare ministry efforts of the synod. LATTE Professor Natán is one of the world missionaries participating as a delegate at this event. Follow his daily blog for updates.

The days are full of devotions, special events, discussions, proposals, and resolutions with fellowship in between. Some highlights for Latin America:  

Declaration of fellowship 
with the Lutheran Church of Puerto Rico

LATTE seminary student Eligio attended as a representative for the Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Cristiana of Puerto Rico (IELC - PR). Former LATTE Professor Ralph and Roxy also attended this special event.

LATTE Presentation

Professor Natán shared an evening presentation on the work of Latin American Traveling Theological Educators with the delegates.

In addition to the work in Latin America, many presentations and handouts feature mission work in other world mission fields-75th year anniversary in Nigeria, 50th anniversary in the Central Africa Medical Mission, updates from Zambia and other places around the world.  A great opportunity to share and learn!