Another step forward for Mexican church
Filed Under: Convention, Mexico, World Missions
The Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Church of Mexico, one of WELS' sister synods, held its 17th annual convention—an indicator the church body continues to grow and mature. From July 17-20 delegates discussed the future of the church and addressed business issues like pastor compensation and synod organization—they also celebrated a student's graduation from the seminary.
"It was the most positive convention I've been to," says Missionary Mike Hartman, who has served in Mexico for the past nine years. "I think the main reason is because we have a good group of strong, Christian leaders who are very concerned about reaching out and doing evangelism."
Delegates identified regions with outreach potential and discussed where the new graduate, Alejandro Sánchez, should be placed. There are now seven national pastors, two WELS missionaries, and one WELS vicar that serve the synod's 17 congregations. "[Sanchez's graduation] was another highlight," says Hartman. "When you only have six pastors, it is a really big deal to have another guy coming."
Hartman says with seminary enrollment right now, the synod is on-track to have a new pastor every year for the next three years. "It is a good pace, I think, because it's a way in which [the church] can grow, but at the same time it's not too fast that they won't be able to support that growth."
And this church of approximately 600 souls is growing. In the past four years, Hartman reports that worship attendance has increased, and there has been a 20 percent increase in baptisms in the past 18 months. In addition, 92 people were confirmed last year.
"In my experience, most Mexicans don't know that Jesus rose," says Hartman. "My prayer is that God would continue to watch over our Mexican brothers and sisters and help them to grow and mature so that more and more of the millions of lost souls in Mexico might know that Jesus rose and is the only way to life eternal."
For more information about the Mexican Lutheran Church, visit www.lutheransinmexico.com
