LCMS World Mission Blog

“‘It’s a beautiful thing,’ remarked Gladys Hamann, one of the deaconess delegates from Paraguay, ‘to be able to meet sisters in Christ from a different part of Latin America who are working hard somewhere else for the same thing that you are. It’s reinforcing us and preparing us for more fervent prayer for one another in the future.’

“The gathering, funded by LCMS World Relief and Human Care and hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina, was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The event brought together women from nine different Latin American countries, representing the ministry of women in each of their respective national Lutheran churches. From April 30 to May 4, each delegation shared in the types of ministry and outreach in which they are engaged at home, as well as hearing from presenters from the United States about the development of a formally trained deaconess community. For Carmelina Rodriguez Orellana of Guatemala the event highlighted the regional importance of diaconal work: ‘What I’m really learning here is that it isn’t just Guatemala, that needs women involved in special events, alongside their spouse, alongside their pastor; we need all the [believing] women of the world to take a more active role in the service of the church!’

“Presenters included Olga Groh, director of the diaconal program in Latin America (a joint project between LCMS World Relief and Human Care and LCMS World Mission) and coordinator of this gathering; Rev. Matthew Harrison, executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care; Deaconess Jennie Waters of Concordia University Chicago; Dr. Arthur Just of the Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Rev. David Birner, associate executive director of LCMS World Mission’s International Team; Pam Nielsen, president of the LCMS Concordia Deaconess Conference; Rev. Carlos Hernandez, director of Districts and Congregations at LCMS World Relief and Human Care; and Rev. Jorge Groh, regional director of LCMS World Mission in Latin America. The Latin America delegates also brought their own perspectives about the work of a deaconess. Santa P. Ortiz Catalina of the Dominican Republic shares her own insight, ‘To serve those in need, is to be a Christian 24 hours a day. It’s to help in our church, to help our pastor, to help our brothers and sisters in Christ, and not necessarily just to those inside our church, but to bring the light to the darkness.’

“The gathering was a tremendous opportunity for developing strong bonds of fellowship among the Lutheran women in service throughout Latin America. Throughout the gathering, the delegates spent an incredible amount of time in conversation, asking each other about how work was proceeding in their country and seeking ways to grow in their own work at home. Two evenings in a row, the women organized an impromptu ‘song exchange’ to teach and learn music being used by the deaconesses from across the continent. In accordance with the idea of community, and in reflection of the new connections formed at the gathering, the Web site www.almadiaconal.com was unveiled to the delegates for the first time. The new Web site is intended to facilitate further international reflection and conversation
about the role and training of Latin American deaconesses. On the final day of the gathering, the participants took part in worship and communion, led by Rev.
Edgardo Elseser, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina, and Rev. Gerardo Meyer, reflecting on the example of Jesus in humble service.

“Olga Groh, director of the program and coordinator of the gathering commented, ‘This event was a God-led, blessed event that has brought together men and women of Christ from different cultures in the Americas…men and women whose hearts are hurting and burning and crying without a hint of regret in responding to the Lord that calls them to speak His own Word, and to be His hands and feet running and reaching out to the hurting hearts and broken bodies of those who need His love. We pray fervently that the Lord will make a blessed reality out of a Lutheran, Latin American, cohesive movement of men and women for mercy and diaconal service that will take a more active role in the service of the church!’”