WELS reaches out in Bolivia
Filed Under: Bolivia, BWM, Missions, World Missions
Missionary Larry Retberg, part of WELS' five-man team of Latin American Traveling Theological Educators (LATTE), returned to the United States on Mar. 13 after teaching a series of doctrine courses in Bolivia. More than 60 students—many were pastors and leaders of Bolivia's Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches—registered for Retberg's 7- and 10-day course offerings on doctrine, evangelism, and church fellowship.
"The people were very receptive to the Word of God," says Retberg. "Many in Bolivia think that Jesus died on the cross to forgive their sins, but they have to be good to go to heaven. So when they learned that Christ completed the law for us too, and that we're dressed in his perfection, it was like a sigh of relief because they learned their salvation is certain."
This is Retberg's second time teaching in Bolivia. WELS sent Retberg and Rev. Timothy Satorius to Bolivia for an exploratory visit in May 2007, after a Bolivian leader from the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches asked WELS for help in training church leaders. Although this church body is called Lutheran, Retberg says he and Satorius found a very mixed doctrine. After meeting with church leaders, Retberg agreed to teach a series of basic doctrine courses in November 2007. His courses were well-received and he was invited to teach again in March 2008.
Rev. Dan Koelpin, administrator of WELS Board for World Missions, says there are many instances like this where churches see what WELS has to offer and ask for spiritual guidance. "When people find there's a church body that lets the Scripture interpret itself and has a real set of beliefs that are biblical, they want to grow in it," he says. "We want to strengthen those churches and eventually we hope they can function according to a deeper biblical understanding and join the confessional Lutheran churches around the world in doctrine and practice."
Another trip to Bolivia is planned for November 2008. "This church wants to get back to the Word of God," says Retberg. "It's going to be a slow process of changing them from their old doctrines to the true teachings of the Bible, but it's a challenge that we accept because our responsibility is to teach them the Word of God. The rest is in the hands of the Holy Spirit."
