Our History. . .
1980—Polo and Marta Garcia begin ministry outreach among migrant workers in camps around the Woodburn
area as independent missionaries.
1992—A small group of supporters begin meeting with Polo and Marta Garcia, missionaries to migrant workers
in Woodburn, to find ways to support the ministry.
Radio sponsorship of a weekly Gospel broadcast begins.
1999—ESL classes and Rainbow Roundup begin at Ascension, Gresham
2000—A Convocation on Hispanic Ministries at Hope, Woodburn, is attended by 98 people.
Plans are made to expand the work of Lutheran Hispanic Ministries.
ESL classes begin at Trinity, Portland.
Polo Garcia, Jr. begins higher education with the goal of becoming a pastor.
Mission statement, purpose, and position description for a missionary, are created. Work toward calling a
full time missionary is begun.
2002—Lutheran Hispanic Ministries becomes a non-profit corporation.
2003—Spanish language services begin at Hope, Woodburn.
Benjamin Duarte & Miguel Luna begin Leadership Advancement Process classes
with the goal of ordination.
The name is changed to Lutheran Latino Ministries, Inc. and 501(c)(3) status is achieved.
Polo Garcia, Jr. graduates from Concordia, Portland
2005—Miguel and Marta Luna are hired to serve as Circuit Rider Missionaries.
Miguel Luna is licensed as Deacon by the Northwest District Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
2006—Pr. Luna’s sermons are broadcast on AM970 from Rupert, Idaho.
2007-- Financial responsibility for the Woodburn radio broadcast is handed over to House of Zion, Woodburn.
2008— Pr. Luna completes colloquy and becomes a certified LCMS pastor. He is jointly called to serve as
Missionary Pastor for Hope-Woodburn, Trinity-Mt. Angel, and Trinity and Ascension in Portland.
Marta Luna begins training in the Deaconess Formation Program of the Center for Hispanic Studies at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
2010 — Lutheran Latino Ministries becomes a Recognized Service Organization of the
Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
2011 – Marta Luna completed the Deaconess Formation Program, was called and commissioned by Lutheran
Latino Ministries to continue her evangelism work among women, families, and youth.
Five Latino people begin theological training with the goal of becoming Lay Assistants or Deacons
2014 - Pastor Miguel resigns his call to Trinity-Mt. Angel because the people previously served there have
chosen to worship with the nearby Woodburn congregation.
2015 - Pastor Miguel is disabled by cancer. LLM calls Rev. Dr. Paul Gossman to continue worship services for
the congregations served by Pr. Miguel.
Three members of Trinity-Portland complete the 10 entry-level classes offered through the Center for
Hispanic Studies of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in order to be better equipped for service in their
congregation and others.
2016 - Trinity Lutheran in Portland calls Rev. Dr. Paul Gossman to serve as Associate Pastor for Mission
Development, with the responsibility of training and equipping the members for mission and ministry,
and to serve the Hispanic/Latino members. Ascension contracts a portion of his time to serve the
Hispanic/Latino people in that congregation.
Hope Lutheran in Woodburn calls Rev. Zabdi Lopez to serve as their full-time bilingual pastor.
Two full-time pastors are now dedicated to the work previously developed by Pastor Miguel and
Deaconess Marta Luna.
2017 - Pastor Miguel is called to glory.
The first Mentoring for Ministry leader training retreat is attended by 26 people from Woodburn,
Portland, Tonasket, Washington, and Jerome, Idaho.
Pastor Gossman leaves Portland to serve as Director of the World Mission Prayer League.
Lay people assume mission responsibilities under supervision of Rev. Jim Sprengle (Ascension) and
Rev. Terry Merrill (Trinity, Portland)
2018 - Ruberto Ek Yah, member of Trinity, Portland, begins Pastoral Formation studies through the Center
for Hispanic Studies of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Rev. Zabdi Lopez becomes adjunct instructor with Concordia University, Portland and begins teaching
Mission Training Center classes to Spanish-speaking lay people.
Lutheran Latino Ministries begins planning the next phase of ministry outreach.
.
We hope you’ll be part of our future!
1980—Polo and Marta Garcia begin ministry outreach among migrant workers in camps around the Woodburn
area as independent missionaries.
1992—A small group of supporters begin meeting with Polo and Marta Garcia, missionaries to migrant workers
in Woodburn, to find ways to support the ministry.
Radio sponsorship of a weekly Gospel broadcast begins.
1999—ESL classes and Rainbow Roundup begin at Ascension, Gresham
2000—A Convocation on Hispanic Ministries at Hope, Woodburn, is attended by 98 people.
Plans are made to expand the work of Lutheran Hispanic Ministries.
ESL classes begin at Trinity, Portland.
Polo Garcia, Jr. begins higher education with the goal of becoming a pastor.
Mission statement, purpose, and position description for a missionary, are created. Work toward calling a
full time missionary is begun.
2002—Lutheran Hispanic Ministries becomes a non-profit corporation.
2003—Spanish language services begin at Hope, Woodburn.
Benjamin Duarte & Miguel Luna begin Leadership Advancement Process classes
with the goal of ordination.
The name is changed to Lutheran Latino Ministries, Inc. and 501(c)(3) status is achieved.
Polo Garcia, Jr. graduates from Concordia, Portland
2005—Miguel and Marta Luna are hired to serve as Circuit Rider Missionaries.
Miguel Luna is licensed as Deacon by the Northwest District Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
2006—Pr. Luna’s sermons are broadcast on AM970 from Rupert, Idaho.
2007-- Financial responsibility for the Woodburn radio broadcast is handed over to House of Zion, Woodburn.
2008— Pr. Luna completes colloquy and becomes a certified LCMS pastor. He is jointly called to serve as
Missionary Pastor for Hope-Woodburn, Trinity-Mt. Angel, and Trinity and Ascension in Portland.
Marta Luna begins training in the Deaconess Formation Program of the Center for Hispanic Studies at
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
2010 — Lutheran Latino Ministries becomes a Recognized Service Organization of the
Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
2011 – Marta Luna completed the Deaconess Formation Program, was called and commissioned by Lutheran
Latino Ministries to continue her evangelism work among women, families, and youth.
Five Latino people begin theological training with the goal of becoming Lay Assistants or Deacons
2014 - Pastor Miguel resigns his call to Trinity-Mt. Angel because the people previously served there have
chosen to worship with the nearby Woodburn congregation.
2015 - Pastor Miguel is disabled by cancer. LLM calls Rev. Dr. Paul Gossman to continue worship services for
the congregations served by Pr. Miguel.
Three members of Trinity-Portland complete the 10 entry-level classes offered through the Center for
Hispanic Studies of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in order to be better equipped for service in their
congregation and others.
2016 - Trinity Lutheran in Portland calls Rev. Dr. Paul Gossman to serve as Associate Pastor for Mission
Development, with the responsibility of training and equipping the members for mission and ministry,
and to serve the Hispanic/Latino members. Ascension contracts a portion of his time to serve the
Hispanic/Latino people in that congregation.
Hope Lutheran in Woodburn calls Rev. Zabdi Lopez to serve as their full-time bilingual pastor.
Two full-time pastors are now dedicated to the work previously developed by Pastor Miguel and
Deaconess Marta Luna.
2017 - Pastor Miguel is called to glory.
The first Mentoring for Ministry leader training retreat is attended by 26 people from Woodburn,
Portland, Tonasket, Washington, and Jerome, Idaho.
Pastor Gossman leaves Portland to serve as Director of the World Mission Prayer League.
Lay people assume mission responsibilities under supervision of Rev. Jim Sprengle (Ascension) and
Rev. Terry Merrill (Trinity, Portland)
2018 - Ruberto Ek Yah, member of Trinity, Portland, begins Pastoral Formation studies through the Center
for Hispanic Studies of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Rev. Zabdi Lopez becomes adjunct instructor with Concordia University, Portland and begins teaching
Mission Training Center classes to Spanish-speaking lay people.
Lutheran Latino Ministries begins planning the next phase of ministry outreach.
.
We hope you’ll be part of our future!
