Worship Workshop

The agenda for the third weekend of January included a joint workshop in México for Mexican pastors and seminary students from Mexico and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS). Worship was the theme of the workshop. Professor Natán led a Bible Study on the elements of worship. Mexican Missionary Mike continued the workshop in a review and discussion of a new Lutheran hymnal in Spanish.

Two of the WLS seminary students, Ryan and Tim, previously served as English teachers in Mexico. It was a special treat for Mexican seminarista (seminarian) Dan to spend time with them.

The Mexican pastors enjoy coming together every two years for a workshop to assist their current ministries. Many of them travel long distances for this study and fellowship, and return to their congregations full of new ideas and encouragement.

Preparing Leaders

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true".

The classes with the congregational leaders have begun with prayers that the Holy Spirit will work in these leaders the desire to study the Word and to teach these truths to others. There exists a great deal of confusion about "biblical" truth since the people have been exposed to many different, false teachings. 

Many hearts are still burdened with trying to fulfill the works of the law: fasting, tithing, working for their salvation. After hearing a presentation of basic law and gospel, some have commented that the "scales were falling off their eyes". The Holy Spirit is leading them to see that Jesus has already completed all the law for us. 

We pray that these leaders continue to grow in their faith in the Savior and that they would be motivated to teach these truths to others.

Serving with Zeal

Seminarian Gerardo previously served the congregation in Ciudad Juarez as a student pastor.  In the fall of 2010, he and his family relocated to study full-time in the seminary.  Currently, he is continuing his training in Torreón where he is working with a mission congregation and studying under Pastor Esequiel.

Why did you decide to study/prepare for the ministry?

"That is a question I often ask myself.  I think... in the beginning when, I met Rosa [my wife], and she's the one who introduced me to the church in Ciudad Juarez.  At that time, Pastor Guién was pastor -- who is now in glory.  He constantly invited me to become a member.  It took a while because at first I didn't want to, but finally with his encouragement I became a member of the congregation.  I slowly got more and more involved.  After Pastor Guién, there was Pastor Marío.  And I kept getting more and more involved because there was a need in the church.  It was Pastor Guién who especially convinced me to enter into the ministry.

At that time, we went to a conference in Puebla.  And there, I felt that it was possible, and Pastor Guién kept on encouraging me by saying, 'You are the one...' and inviting me to serve the Lord.  Finally I answered, 'Yes.'

I attended various conventions, and Pastor Esequiel said yes, I would enter the seminary.  But there was a lot of back and forth, and time went by.  I went to more conventions as a delegate, but they didn't accept me in the seminary right away...

Well...  what more can I say?  I moved here [to the seminary] and that is how I am here -- by the grace of God."

What are you currently studying?

"I am studying -- thanks to God -- and thanks to my professors, Pastor Larry, Pastor Natán and Pastor Mike  [They] are instructing me in the Word and in doctrine in order to save souls and preach the gospel.  Learning in order to teach."

Which courses?

"Liturgy, Catechism, Teaching the Faith, Sunday School, Genesis, Shepherd under Christ, and  Preparing Devotions."

How do you plan to serve in the ministry in the future?

"I want to serve wherever you place me, wherever you think there is a need, and wherever you consider me apt to teach.  I will do all I can with what I have learned and what I continue to learn throughout my ministry."

Continue to keep Seminarian Gerardo, his family, and his ministry in your prayers as he continues his training to serve.

New Trimester at Mexico Seminary

The seminary in México just began a new trimester.  LATTE Professor Natán continues to teach four days a week.  His schedule varies between 8:45 in the morning and 2:00 in the afternoon. He is currently teaching Homiletics, Pastoral Theology, New Testament Isagogics, and Reformation History. Most of these classes require additional preparation time for it is the first time he has taught some of these courses.

In additional to the onsite classes here in México, Prof. Natán also teaches a student in Puerto Rico through Skype two times a week. They try to maintain a regular schedule, but due to the nature of the student’s occupation, internet availability, and weather effecting utilities, often times classes are rescheduled.

As this is the second week of the new schedule, everyone is still in adjustment mode. What a privilege be a part of training reliable men to teach others the true Word of God. All praise and thanks to God!

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. – 2 Timothy 2:2

Note:  LATTE Professor Larry also teaches onsite at the seminary in México in additional to other online courses.

Entrusting Reliable Men

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

(2 Timothy 2:1-2)

One of the LATTE professors' goals is to make the seminary and other courses that we teach to national pastors as transferable as possible. We try to design courses so that a national pastor, after studying a course, can then teach that course to others.  This way the national pastor grows in his faith in Jesus, his Savior, and he is prepared to teach others.

Professor Lorenzo Teaching Students

This plan has worked well.  

In Bolivia, a number of our students are Lutheran Pastors with congregations. After studying a course in basic doctrine with the LATTE professor in the city of La Paz, these pastors were given a clean copy of the course plus a teacher's guide. The student pastors in turn returned to their congregations where they could make copies of the course and teach it to their members. 

In Quibdo, Colombia, the pastor asked if he could duplicate the materials of the online doctrine course he was studying so he could teach the same subjects - faith, conversion, justification, sanctification, and good works - to his Sunday school teachers and other interested members. 

Waldo Teaching Bible Class*

At times it may appear that the work of a LATTE professor is inefficient: he writes and then teaches a whole course to just a few students. Remember the plan the Apostle Paul taught to Timothy: "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."

*Note on photo above: Waldo is teaching the Bible class. He has been prepared entirely by his pastors, LATTE has not given him classes, we have only trained his trainers/pastors.

¡Muchas Gracias!

For the past four years, LATTE member Lorenzo has been making regular trips to La Paz, Bolivia.  He has been teaching doctrine courses to people who are interested in learning about Confessional Lutheranism.

Recently, LATTE member Philip was asked to move to La Paz, to live there and thus be able to work full time at the continued teaching of these leaders with the desire that they will soon be in full fellowship with the WELS.

The students who had attended Lorenzo’s classes for the past four years, gave him a warm farewell, thanking him for his dedication in the preparation and presentation of these classes and his patience in working them as they struggled between what they had learned in the past and the presentation of these truths as they are found in the Bible.

¡Muchas gracias professor!

Many thanks to Lorenzo for all his hard work here in La Paz.

To God be all the glory who gives His gifts and prepares servants to work in His kingdom.

Spring Training

Student-Pastor Gonzalo is currently taking online seminary classes with LATTE and serving the congregation Cristo Glorificado (Christ Glorified) in Puebla, Puebla, México.

Recently, the congregation requested leadership training for its members and also invited members from their two sister congregations in Puebla to participate.  This spring, LATTE professors Larry and Natán have each led a workshop focusing on children and youth ministries, including a session on how the adults can support these programs with their time and talents.

Student-Pastor Gonzalo shares a few details about their 'spring training'...

How / Why is the congregation having this workshop?  What is the need?

"Due to the fact that the congregation does not currently have a full-time pastor, but rather is being led by a part-time student-pastor, the congregation asked for additional help.  They asked various pastors for advice, and Pastor Larry came up with the idea of this workshop to train members for ministry to children and youth."  

How does the congregation hope to use the information from this workshop once it is over?

"The congregation's hope is to grow.  Since I cannot serve the congregation full-time, they have extended a call for a full-time pastor.  The goal of the workshop is to help all members become involved and active in ministry.  With a full-time pastor and many active lay-members supporting and participating in the ministry, the congregation plans eventually to extend its mission work beyond Puebla to Huamantla, Tlaxcala where there are already two members and six prospects."

Please pray for Student-Pastor Gonzalo and our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Puebla as they plan ways to serve their congregation and the community.

In the near future, Mexico Missionary Mike will lead the third workshop for the congregation members in Puebla.

Growing in Brazil

LATTE continues work in another country in South America, Brazil. Missionary Natán serves as WELS Friendly Counselor, working with the Igreja Luterana Brasileira (ILB) to maintain their current ministry and provide training for future church leaders at local and national levels. 

This young Brazilian Church is served by two national pastors and a lay evangelist. They are committed to faithfully applying God’s Means of Grace in the cities of Dourados (Mato Grosso do Sul), Gravataí (Rio Grande do Sul) and Presidente Prudente (São Paulo). Missionary Charlie Flunker continues to reside in Brazil after his retirement, serving the ILB as a volunteer.

LATTE Prof. Natán, Pastor Elcy, Volunteer Missionary Charlier

The Brazilian Lutheran Church is slowly growing. The church is growing numerically with seven baptisms, an adult confirmation and sixteen in instruction class. Growing spiritually as members mature in personal evangelism and participate more in their local ministry.

Congregation in Dourados

Having completed two years in the city of Presidente Prudente, the Brazilian church has to decide whether to continue mission efforts there or direct its efforts elsewhere.

Pastor Roberto

Please keep our brothers and sisters in Brazil in your prayers as they plan for the future to share the good news of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Seminary Graduate in Mexico

This month, one of LATTE's students graduated from the IELC (Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Church) seminary in Mexico.  Seminarian Jorge completed four years of ministerial training, including his recent vicar year.

Seminarian Jorge, IELC President Esequiel, & LATTE Professor Larry

A comment from Jorge on his seminary training--

"Well, my studies in the seminary were very interesting.  There were difficult moments with the courses, but thanks to God, I had good teachers who had much patience and helped me alot to prepare for my ministry. I believe that one of the classes I enjoyed the most was Hebrew.

From the LATTE team, I only had Pastor Larry as my teacher. I learned much from him as he instructed me in the Word of God. Also, Pastor Mike was my professor.

I enjoyed my time very much as their student.  It was very edifying, because they were not only my teachers, but also my family while I was in Torreón. 

  

I am very thankful to God for the opportunity that He gave me to be instructed in the seminary, through good teachers and friends, whom He used as faithful tools.

Now that I have graduated and have seen everything they have done for me, I am filled with happiness since I feel prepared for the work which God has given us to do."

Jorge & his fiancé Kerry

Jorge and his fiancé Kerry are planning to be married in mid-February and will be moving to serve a new mission in the Mahahual area located in the Yucatan Pennisula.


Jorge is also the web administrator for the IELC's Spanish website http://www.luteranosmexicanos.net.

Happy New Year

A new year with a new look!  We have added a few more features to this blog, including a "Contact Us"  page.  We look forward to hearing from you.   :)

Our goal for this blog is to provide updates and additional insight into LATTE's seminary training in Latin America.

In 2011, we will continue to share life and ministry experiences from missionaries, missionary wives, and seminary students living in Latin America.

May God continue to guide you in sharing Jesus with others in this upcoming year and beyond!

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 Professor Larry)

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 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. Philip about the progress on the work on their new church property. Look for more pictures of this trip in the coming days.

(Posted by Larry)