by Jeni Miller
It’s a huge responsibility to have the only Lutheran Spanish-speaking confessional seminary in the world,” said the Rev. Carlos Nagel, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina (IELA). “We are a partner church of the LCMS; we continue walking hand in hand and deeply appreciate all of the investments of time, support and people that the LCMS has given us.”
The LCMS supports 10 of the 60 students in residence from 12 countries at Concordia Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has provided computers and technical assistance to make the seminary’s four-year online program a reality.
The Dominican Lutheran Seminary, “The Reformer,” is both diaconal and pastoral. The deacon and deaconess students are trained on an Acts 6 model. The students receive 10 theological courses and 10 modules on caring for people with disabilities.
[quote style=”boxed”]I learned that this Gospel of forgiveness is to be delivered by Word and Sacraments, to the church.[/quote]
By training pastors and deaconesses across the region who are well versed in both theology and the practical aspects of institutional mercy and disaster response work, a culture of mercy is permeating the church. Additionally, conferences and articles, in Spanish and Portuguese, help to ensure that all pastors and deaconesses in the region are of one heart and mind with regard to caring for people in body and soul.
Pablo D. Gonzalez, a student at Concordia Seminary in Buenos Aires, relates, “What does it mean to me to be a Lutheran seminary student? Well, I fall on my knees in front of my Lord every day to be sure that I have forgiveness of my sins all by faith in the Crucified. And also, I learned that this Gospel of forgiveness is to be delivered by Word and Sacraments, to the church.”
“Wherever we do not have a church, we want to be able to establish a house of worship, with Word and Sacrament ministry where Jesus is present and His gifts are given, with a mercy house alongside,” explains the Rev. Ted Krey, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Work in the region draws from the experience and assets of the Lutheran churches in Brazil and Argentina, both of which have long-standing roots in theological education, church planting and human care. The seminaries in those countries, along with seminaries in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic and assistance from the LCMS, provide opportunities to reach the goal of preparing, sending and nurturing pastors and deaconesses who tirelessly share the Gospel and bear mercy throughout all of Latin America and the Caribbean.
LCMS work in Latin America and the Caribbean
- 7 countries
- 11 partner churches
- 7 career missionaries
- 4 alliance missionaries
- 4 GEO missionaries
[do action=”invest” tier1=”Office of International Mission” tier2=”Latin America and the Caribbean” tier3=”–enter value” budget=”1,532,702″ email=”mission.advancement@lcms.org” givenow=”http://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmission”/]
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