|
II Hispanic Ministries Convention Report
by Pam Bridgehouse, Photos by Miguel Luna and Pam Bridgehouse
The Luna family and I attended the II National Lutheran Hispanic Ministries Convention in Irving, Texas, July 19-22. The experience and contacts from the Convention will prove valuable in the spread of the Gospel among Spanish-speaking people here in the Northwest District.
We were able to meet the new director of the Department of Hispanic Studies, Dr. Leopoldo Sanchez, and begin planning theological training for Hispanics in the Northwest District. Marta, who is intensely interested in becoming a deaconess, was able to converse at length with several of the deaconesses who were there, regarding their training and their work. We met the director of Lutheran Hour Ministries in Central America, as well as a missionary to Panama, who gave us contact information in hopes of connecting Orlando Genis, Marta’s brother-in-law who ministers in Guatemala, with the LCMS there. I was able to hand our brochure to President Kieschnick, who also attended the Convention. Our brochures, in addition to my being asked to serve as pianist for devotions, put the ministry to Hispanics here in the Northwest District, very visibly in front of the national church.
The Luna’s were able to participate in the voting on the several resolutions brought before the Convention. Resolutions included:
Giving thanks to God for the support of the National LCMS for the Convention, asking synod to condemn all kinds of oppression and condemnation of undocumented immigrants in the U.S., not to consider them as criminals, and asking sister congregations of LCMS to facilitate Christian mission to the undocumented immigrants;
to recommend to the Board of University Education to develop and implement a plan for training, sustaining, and graduating Hispanic ministers in the LCMS church;
to call the districts to select regional and local Hispanic counselors that would meet semi-annually or tri-annually in order to join forces and meet the goal of reaching souls for Christ as a form of implementing the Ablaze! goals under a united single focus; that the Hispanic Convention will seek (501)(c)(3) status as a non profit organization;
and to dedicate the offering from the Convention worship service be dedicated to funding Hispanic ministry. All of these resolutions passed, some after amendment and discussion.
The entire process was carried out with exemplary order.
In addition to the business sessions, several workshops were presented. The theme of the Convention was “The Purposes of God. . . in the church, in my family, and in my life.” There was a workshop presented on each of the areas in which we need to seek God’s purpose. There were also daily devotions and singing. All sessions, even the business sessions, proclaimed the message of salvation through Christ crucified and raised from the dead.
President Kieschnick told of his plans to institute a Task Force for Hispanic Ministries for the purpose of expanding ministry among Hispanics and facilitating training of Hispanic church leaders. His presence at the Convention testifies to his commitment to the spread of the Gospel among the Hispanic people. Once again let me express our gratitude to the Northwest District for supporting the II Hispanic Convention. The Secretary of the Convention told the assembly that she had communicated with all LCMS districts in the U.S. asking for support of this Convention. The Northwest District was one of only eight districts that responded. Supporting agencies were listed in the Convention notebook for all to see.
Pr. Julio Flamenco, Missionary at Large for the Texas District, has consented to speak at our Hispanic Ministries Convocation, to be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, on Saturday, September 30, 2006.
We were strengthened, encouraged, and inspired by our attendance at the Convention, and once again, we thank you for the opportunity and support.
Spanish-language materials from Concordia Publishing House were displayed, and we were given a gracious discount by Hector Hoppe, Director of Multicultural Publications, who again expressed his thanks for my English translations of the bilingual VBS songs.
The II Hispanic Ministries Convention in Irving, Texas was attended by church workers from Panama, Guatemala, Arkansas, California, Wisconsin, Indiana, Arizona, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Iowa, Oklahoma, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Colorado, Ohio, New York, Louisiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Kansas. Staff members from Concordia in Mequon, River Forest, and St. Louis |
