| 2026_hispanic_ministry_convention_photos.pdf |
VIII Convención Nacional Hispana LCMS
July 28-31, 2026 Concordia University, Irvine, CA
Report by Pam Bridgehouse
Theme: 100 Años CelebraZión Salmo 145:4
Todas las generaciones celebrarán tus obras,
y darán a conocer tus grandes proezas.
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
I am grateful to the Northwest District for providing my travel expenses for attending the Convention. I received the registration at no cost in appreciation of Lutheran Latino Ministries’ sponsorship.
Generous donations from Trinity, Oregon City, Trinity, Portland, Fred Kramer, Wayne Tonack, and a fundraiser by the Latino people of Trinity, Portland, helped cover the cost of the nine people from Portland and Deaconess Marta Luna to attend. Attending were: Pr. Ruberto Ek Yah, his wife Colleen and children Ian (9) and Jaire (7); Natalia Sánchez, Jonathan Hernández, and their son Joan (2), Steven Burgos and his brother Jesse (12). LLM’s Pastoral Advisor Rev. Mark Hoelter attended at his own expense.
As an exhibitor I arrived July 27 so I would have time to prepare and set up LLM’s display. Pr. Mark did us the great favor of bringing all our display materials so I wouldn’t have to ship them or bring them as extra luggage on the plane. Following the Convention he also brought back all the books and heavy items we collected.
Day 1 July 28, 2026
Pr. Mark and I arrived and set up our display. The morning was spent greeting other exhibitors and renewing some old friendships while tending to registration and check-in details.
The group from Portland arrived about 2:00 and got checked in.
The Convention was attended by people from 22 states and five countries. There were 78 voting delegates among approximately 250 participants.
The convention opened with a Divine Service with approximately 300 people in attendance. The procession included some 30 robed pastors and 10 deaconesses in uniform.
Plenary Presentation:
After the service the service was followed by a presentation by Dr. Marcos Kempff and translator Rev. Stephen Heimer on Shouts from the Past, in which they reviewed the history of Hispanic ministry in the LCMS. It was a celebration of the many past blessings. At the end of the presentation Marcos said, “One more shout – let’s celebrate!” at which moment several people throughout the audience set off giant crackers that filled the whole gym with gold confetti. There was great applause and Mariachi San Pablo played the Doxology from the balcony; everyone sang. Convention organizer Rev. Rodrigo Fernandez called out from the balcony, “Do it again – I didn’t get the video!”
Day 2 July 29, 2026
Opening worship with worship by musicians from the church in Ft. Collins, CO, was led by Rev. Miguel Sanabria (FL).
Plenary Presentation:
Deaconess Noemí Guerra (TX District and Lutheran Hour Ministries) inspired us with her energetic presentation, “Your Present in Motion”. She used the account of Jesus feeding 5,000 with a meager offering of food from a boy. She repeatedly asked, “What’s in your lunchbox?” She encouraged us to look around us and see the people who don’t know Jesus. She emphasized the importance of even the smallest gift or resource and summarized all the ways God has used a shy teenager to develop evangelism preparation in the TX District. There have been 401 people sent, 259 who are still active, 93 in training, and 105 faith communities. She described how nervous and inadequate she felt when Lutheran Hour Ministries enlisted her to do the podcast with her father, an LCMS pastor. They have a following of 5,967,855 and reach about 497,321every month, and 124,330 every week. The online daily devotions she writes for Para el Camino (Lutheran Hour) are reached by 643,072 people, 53, 581 per month, with 34,000+ regular readers.
Rev. Tardeli Voss presented The Present in Motion. His emphasis was “the present should compete with the past or the future.”
God’s Movement: God moves and His Word runs. God had internal movement before creation. God moved His people from place to place – Jesus was always moving. The source of the river is God. The direction is a basic force. The growth is supernatural. Wherever the river flows there is change. Luther: “I do nothing; the Word does everything.” The Gospel is always moving. It never changes; it runs. It orients us in our place. The growth is God’s, not ours. Things don’t depend on us.
Movement of Times and Places: The mission field changes. Gabriel Ochoa: “I don’t know what happened. I have the answers, but the questions have changed.” The mission field has changed: immigrant to multinational; Spanish to bilingual; Catholic/Christian to pluralistic secularism; one identity to many identities; local community to networks, transitions. Tardeli referenced the children of Isachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32. We need to be experts in knowing our people.
Movement of People: The different cultures in the church can “be married and live happily ever after.” We adjust, we learn, we adjust the focus. The church moves (in tension). We need more stewards, more doctrine. We need:
Less time in the office and more discipling people; more mission by the baptized; more sacrifice and less concern for reward; more collaboration and les silos; more relationships and less events.
He gave thanks to Pr. Karl Heimer and Dr Marcos Kempff, not for the past, but for the present.
Get out of the office and be with people!
There was a presentation by Mission Nation Publishing by Dr. Bob Scudieri.
Acts 17:26: God created all people and determined the exact times and places where they would live. He referenced former Synod President Ralph Bohlmann as a forward thinker in ministry to all cultures. “God brings people from other countries to strengthen the church in America.”
Comparing a list of top surnames from 1970 and 2020, the 2020 list included Hispanic names. God is preparing nations to reach people in the US.
Mission Nation seeks to:
To inspire the church to see the gifts God is giving the church in the US. Mission Nation publishes biographies of missionaries to the US. Together we are more valuable.
To Equip churches. Six Districts are working to inspire and equip congregations to welcome.
Matthew 28:17: the disciples worshiped Him but doubted. The Greek word means to stand in two places at once. They doubted how to carry on without Jesus being with them. Then He said, “I will be with you always.” We are never alone.
Rev. Jim Tino presented about the work of Global Lutheran Outreach in South America. He and his wife Liisa have worked there for more than 30 years.
Rev. Zabdi Lopez presented on the efforts to recruit workers in the church.
There was mention of an Army of Volunteers.
Business Meeting:
Three resolutions were presented:
Dr. Leopoldo Sánchez put forward the resolution to honor and give thanks to God for the work of the Rev. Dr. Alberto Garcia (recently departed) for his 52 years of ministry and to establish a scholarship of $500/year for a seminary student. The movement was amended to raise the amount to $1,000. The amendment was approved and the resolution was adopted.
It was decided that the offering from Thursday’s memorial service (celebrating the lives of all ministers and workers in Hispanic ministry who have passed away) will go to the scholarship fund. People will be welcome to donate to the scholarship fund.
A resolution to recognize and lift up Hispanic Ministries during Epiphany every year was approved. We are encouraged to reach out to at least one other ministry in another region and lift them up in prayer during worship. Prof. Marcos Kempff offered to prepare materials for three Sundays in Epiphany that will include Bible study and liturgies. That resource will be added to those available on the seminary SCHOLAR* web site.
*https://scholar.csl.edu/recursos/ is an online cache of thousands of resources including service templates, history, etc.
As resolution to change the date of the Convention from 2029 to 2030 to avoid overlaps with the Synodical Convention and others, and then to resume the cycle of meeting every three years was brought before the Convention. The matter was tabled and referred to the Convention Board of Directors due to schedule constraints.
The afternoon was free. Our families chose to enjoy the free time with a trip to nearby Disneyland. They had a great time!
Day 3 – July 30, 2026
Opening devotion: Rev. Sanabria urges us to keep focused on Christ and His gifts, all received by grace. We pray in the peace God gives us every day; He knows all. With Christ there is victory – He lives! He reigns! “. . .we have prayed with thanksgiving.”
Election of Officers:
After two ballots Rev. Rodrigo Fernandez was elected President. Also, after two ballots Rev. Zabdi Lopez was elected Vice President. Deaconess Intern Kati Sanabria was elected Secretary, Deaconess Perla Gil de Rodriguez was re-elected Treasurer and Deaconess Ligia Borges was elected Director at large.
While votes were being counted President Rev. Stephen Heimer called on various pastors and ministers to entertain with humor.
I was able to speak briefly to the Convocation about the history of Lutheran Latino Ministries. My presentation was cut short when election results returned.
Plenary Presentation: Past, Present, and Future
Rev. Nelson Rodriguez and Rev Rodrigo Fernandez spoke about the Future of the Church.
Pr. Rodriguez emphasized the need for adaptation; characteristics and foundation of the Church, the need to focus on future leaders, and the Hispanic tension between monoculturalism and multiculturalism.
It was noted that more than 12 different Hispanic cultures were represented at the Convention – multiculturalistic, yet all are one in Christ.
Rev. Fernandez addressed the future of the Church. We are in different times. We are faced with the challenge of how to preserve and pass on the faith to future generations.
Following the Plenary Presentation Rev Jim McDaniels, head of the LCMS Black Ministry Coalition spoke on the history of Black ministry in the LCMS. While we are celebrating 100 years of Hispanic ministry, they are celebrating 150 years of Black ministry. He noted that Immanuel Seminary was established to train Black and Native Americans for ministry. Hundreds of workers were trained until the seminary closed in 1963. They are looking for funds to continue raising up leaders.
Breakout Sessions:
I attended the session by Ted Kober entitled “Unforgiveable?” based on his book by the same name. It was an outstanding presentation.
At 6:00 pm there was a memorial service where the lives of departed pastors, missionaries, and workers were remembered and celebrated. Rev. Roberto Federico, President of the Lutheran Church Mexico, was the preacher. The service concluded with installation of the new officers.
After the memorial service there was a semi-formal dinner with music by Mariachi San Pablo and presentations by Lutheran Hour Ministries. There was a video about the history of Andres Melendez, the first speaker of the Spanish language Lutheran Hour, and teacher of many Hispanic pastors and workers. His ministry with LCMS began in 1926. His two grandchildren were present and gave their reactions to learning all the details of their grandfather’s ministry. His granddaughter works at the university.
The evening ended with a dance.
July 31, 2026
Opening Devotion:
Rev. Sanabria spoke: Before we were able to teach, we were taught; before we prayed, someone prayed for us. One generation testifies; one generation confesses; one generation teaches.
The mission of the church is greater than conserving a culture; the mission is what Jesus continues doing in His Church. Our children may speak Spanish or other languages. The important this is that they know Jesus.
We are not alone; we are not orphans.
Looking to the future is scary and makes us anxious. We can see big realities: kids leaving rhw church; people not having time for church; we see lies turning into ‘truths’. We lack pastors and leaders. What will happen to the Church? Jesus says, “I will build my church.”
We need to support people, leaders and development. Jesus works through the Church. He cited Deuteronomy 6:6-7.
Your house is the Church 24-7.
Pray for our children and the next generations.
It was announced that the offering received at the Memorial Service was $1,476.70. It will go to the Alberto Garcia Scholarship.
Closing Session:
Pr. Stephen Heimer: “How can we say we love Christ if we don’t love what He is deoing?”
I was able to speak again to the Convention. I summarized the mission and vision of LLM and drew attention to the size of the Northwest District compared with other districts and emphasized that in all the District we have only one Hispanic pastor. I told the Convention that if anyone might consider a call, “Listen to God and talk to me.” I was approached later by Rev. Martín Ureñas, currently serving in northern CA. He is mission oriented and is willing to serve in the Northwest District. He is able to preach in English and is willing to travel and provide baptism, 1st Communion, Quinceañeras, etc.
The wife of another pastor contacted me and gave me information about her husband. His limited English would be a problem.
We are grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the Convention. LLM is known and appreciated by Hispanic leaders and workers throughout the US and other countries.
A photo summary is provided. Each participant received a bag that included books from the various exhibitors, and a copy of the new Himnario Latino 2nd edition. Pr. Ruberto brought home a box of about 20.
July 28-31, 2026 Concordia University, Irvine, CA
Report by Pam Bridgehouse
Theme: 100 Años CelebraZión Salmo 145:4
Todas las generaciones celebrarán tus obras,
y darán a conocer tus grandes proezas.
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
I am grateful to the Northwest District for providing my travel expenses for attending the Convention. I received the registration at no cost in appreciation of Lutheran Latino Ministries’ sponsorship.
Generous donations from Trinity, Oregon City, Trinity, Portland, Fred Kramer, Wayne Tonack, and a fundraiser by the Latino people of Trinity, Portland, helped cover the cost of the nine people from Portland and Deaconess Marta Luna to attend. Attending were: Pr. Ruberto Ek Yah, his wife Colleen and children Ian (9) and Jaire (7); Natalia Sánchez, Jonathan Hernández, and their son Joan (2), Steven Burgos and his brother Jesse (12). LLM’s Pastoral Advisor Rev. Mark Hoelter attended at his own expense.
As an exhibitor I arrived July 27 so I would have time to prepare and set up LLM’s display. Pr. Mark did us the great favor of bringing all our display materials so I wouldn’t have to ship them or bring them as extra luggage on the plane. Following the Convention he also brought back all the books and heavy items we collected.
Day 1 July 28, 2026
Pr. Mark and I arrived and set up our display. The morning was spent greeting other exhibitors and renewing some old friendships while tending to registration and check-in details.
The group from Portland arrived about 2:00 and got checked in.
The Convention was attended by people from 22 states and five countries. There were 78 voting delegates among approximately 250 participants.
The convention opened with a Divine Service with approximately 300 people in attendance. The procession included some 30 robed pastors and 10 deaconesses in uniform.
Plenary Presentation:
After the service the service was followed by a presentation by Dr. Marcos Kempff and translator Rev. Stephen Heimer on Shouts from the Past, in which they reviewed the history of Hispanic ministry in the LCMS. It was a celebration of the many past blessings. At the end of the presentation Marcos said, “One more shout – let’s celebrate!” at which moment several people throughout the audience set off giant crackers that filled the whole gym with gold confetti. There was great applause and Mariachi San Pablo played the Doxology from the balcony; everyone sang. Convention organizer Rev. Rodrigo Fernandez called out from the balcony, “Do it again – I didn’t get the video!”
Day 2 July 29, 2026
Opening worship with worship by musicians from the church in Ft. Collins, CO, was led by Rev. Miguel Sanabria (FL).
Plenary Presentation:
Deaconess Noemí Guerra (TX District and Lutheran Hour Ministries) inspired us with her energetic presentation, “Your Present in Motion”. She used the account of Jesus feeding 5,000 with a meager offering of food from a boy. She repeatedly asked, “What’s in your lunchbox?” She encouraged us to look around us and see the people who don’t know Jesus. She emphasized the importance of even the smallest gift or resource and summarized all the ways God has used a shy teenager to develop evangelism preparation in the TX District. There have been 401 people sent, 259 who are still active, 93 in training, and 105 faith communities. She described how nervous and inadequate she felt when Lutheran Hour Ministries enlisted her to do the podcast with her father, an LCMS pastor. They have a following of 5,967,855 and reach about 497,321every month, and 124,330 every week. The online daily devotions she writes for Para el Camino (Lutheran Hour) are reached by 643,072 people, 53, 581 per month, with 34,000+ regular readers.
Rev. Tardeli Voss presented The Present in Motion. His emphasis was “the present should compete with the past or the future.”
God’s Movement: God moves and His Word runs. God had internal movement before creation. God moved His people from place to place – Jesus was always moving. The source of the river is God. The direction is a basic force. The growth is supernatural. Wherever the river flows there is change. Luther: “I do nothing; the Word does everything.” The Gospel is always moving. It never changes; it runs. It orients us in our place. The growth is God’s, not ours. Things don’t depend on us.
Movement of Times and Places: The mission field changes. Gabriel Ochoa: “I don’t know what happened. I have the answers, but the questions have changed.” The mission field has changed: immigrant to multinational; Spanish to bilingual; Catholic/Christian to pluralistic secularism; one identity to many identities; local community to networks, transitions. Tardeli referenced the children of Isachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32. We need to be experts in knowing our people.
Movement of People: The different cultures in the church can “be married and live happily ever after.” We adjust, we learn, we adjust the focus. The church moves (in tension). We need more stewards, more doctrine. We need:
Less time in the office and more discipling people; more mission by the baptized; more sacrifice and less concern for reward; more collaboration and les silos; more relationships and less events.
He gave thanks to Pr. Karl Heimer and Dr Marcos Kempff, not for the past, but for the present.
Get out of the office and be with people!
There was a presentation by Mission Nation Publishing by Dr. Bob Scudieri.
Acts 17:26: God created all people and determined the exact times and places where they would live. He referenced former Synod President Ralph Bohlmann as a forward thinker in ministry to all cultures. “God brings people from other countries to strengthen the church in America.”
Comparing a list of top surnames from 1970 and 2020, the 2020 list included Hispanic names. God is preparing nations to reach people in the US.
Mission Nation seeks to:
To inspire the church to see the gifts God is giving the church in the US. Mission Nation publishes biographies of missionaries to the US. Together we are more valuable.
To Equip churches. Six Districts are working to inspire and equip congregations to welcome.
Matthew 28:17: the disciples worshiped Him but doubted. The Greek word means to stand in two places at once. They doubted how to carry on without Jesus being with them. Then He said, “I will be with you always.” We are never alone.
Rev. Jim Tino presented about the work of Global Lutheran Outreach in South America. He and his wife Liisa have worked there for more than 30 years.
Rev. Zabdi Lopez presented on the efforts to recruit workers in the church.
There was mention of an Army of Volunteers.
Business Meeting:
Three resolutions were presented:
Dr. Leopoldo Sánchez put forward the resolution to honor and give thanks to God for the work of the Rev. Dr. Alberto Garcia (recently departed) for his 52 years of ministry and to establish a scholarship of $500/year for a seminary student. The movement was amended to raise the amount to $1,000. The amendment was approved and the resolution was adopted.
It was decided that the offering from Thursday’s memorial service (celebrating the lives of all ministers and workers in Hispanic ministry who have passed away) will go to the scholarship fund. People will be welcome to donate to the scholarship fund.
A resolution to recognize and lift up Hispanic Ministries during Epiphany every year was approved. We are encouraged to reach out to at least one other ministry in another region and lift them up in prayer during worship. Prof. Marcos Kempff offered to prepare materials for three Sundays in Epiphany that will include Bible study and liturgies. That resource will be added to those available on the seminary SCHOLAR* web site.
*https://scholar.csl.edu/recursos/ is an online cache of thousands of resources including service templates, history, etc.
As resolution to change the date of the Convention from 2029 to 2030 to avoid overlaps with the Synodical Convention and others, and then to resume the cycle of meeting every three years was brought before the Convention. The matter was tabled and referred to the Convention Board of Directors due to schedule constraints.
The afternoon was free. Our families chose to enjoy the free time with a trip to nearby Disneyland. They had a great time!
Day 3 – July 30, 2026
Opening devotion: Rev. Sanabria urges us to keep focused on Christ and His gifts, all received by grace. We pray in the peace God gives us every day; He knows all. With Christ there is victory – He lives! He reigns! “. . .we have prayed with thanksgiving.”
Election of Officers:
After two ballots Rev. Rodrigo Fernandez was elected President. Also, after two ballots Rev. Zabdi Lopez was elected Vice President. Deaconess Intern Kati Sanabria was elected Secretary, Deaconess Perla Gil de Rodriguez was re-elected Treasurer and Deaconess Ligia Borges was elected Director at large.
While votes were being counted President Rev. Stephen Heimer called on various pastors and ministers to entertain with humor.
I was able to speak briefly to the Convocation about the history of Lutheran Latino Ministries. My presentation was cut short when election results returned.
Plenary Presentation: Past, Present, and Future
Rev. Nelson Rodriguez and Rev Rodrigo Fernandez spoke about the Future of the Church.
Pr. Rodriguez emphasized the need for adaptation; characteristics and foundation of the Church, the need to focus on future leaders, and the Hispanic tension between monoculturalism and multiculturalism.
It was noted that more than 12 different Hispanic cultures were represented at the Convention – multiculturalistic, yet all are one in Christ.
Rev. Fernandez addressed the future of the Church. We are in different times. We are faced with the challenge of how to preserve and pass on the faith to future generations.
Following the Plenary Presentation Rev Jim McDaniels, head of the LCMS Black Ministry Coalition spoke on the history of Black ministry in the LCMS. While we are celebrating 100 years of Hispanic ministry, they are celebrating 150 years of Black ministry. He noted that Immanuel Seminary was established to train Black and Native Americans for ministry. Hundreds of workers were trained until the seminary closed in 1963. They are looking for funds to continue raising up leaders.
Breakout Sessions:
I attended the session by Ted Kober entitled “Unforgiveable?” based on his book by the same name. It was an outstanding presentation.
At 6:00 pm there was a memorial service where the lives of departed pastors, missionaries, and workers were remembered and celebrated. Rev. Roberto Federico, President of the Lutheran Church Mexico, was the preacher. The service concluded with installation of the new officers.
After the memorial service there was a semi-formal dinner with music by Mariachi San Pablo and presentations by Lutheran Hour Ministries. There was a video about the history of Andres Melendez, the first speaker of the Spanish language Lutheran Hour, and teacher of many Hispanic pastors and workers. His ministry with LCMS began in 1926. His two grandchildren were present and gave their reactions to learning all the details of their grandfather’s ministry. His granddaughter works at the university.
The evening ended with a dance.
July 31, 2026
Opening Devotion:
Rev. Sanabria spoke: Before we were able to teach, we were taught; before we prayed, someone prayed for us. One generation testifies; one generation confesses; one generation teaches.
The mission of the church is greater than conserving a culture; the mission is what Jesus continues doing in His Church. Our children may speak Spanish or other languages. The important this is that they know Jesus.
We are not alone; we are not orphans.
Looking to the future is scary and makes us anxious. We can see big realities: kids leaving rhw church; people not having time for church; we see lies turning into ‘truths’. We lack pastors and leaders. What will happen to the Church? Jesus says, “I will build my church.”
We need to support people, leaders and development. Jesus works through the Church. He cited Deuteronomy 6:6-7.
Your house is the Church 24-7.
Pray for our children and the next generations.
It was announced that the offering received at the Memorial Service was $1,476.70. It will go to the Alberto Garcia Scholarship.
Closing Session:
Pr. Stephen Heimer: “How can we say we love Christ if we don’t love what He is deoing?”
I was able to speak again to the Convention. I summarized the mission and vision of LLM and drew attention to the size of the Northwest District compared with other districts and emphasized that in all the District we have only one Hispanic pastor. I told the Convention that if anyone might consider a call, “Listen to God and talk to me.” I was approached later by Rev. Martín Ureñas, currently serving in northern CA. He is mission oriented and is willing to serve in the Northwest District. He is able to preach in English and is willing to travel and provide baptism, 1st Communion, Quinceañeras, etc.
The wife of another pastor contacted me and gave me information about her husband. His limited English would be a problem.
We are grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the Convention. LLM is known and appreciated by Hispanic leaders and workers throughout the US and other countries.
A photo summary is provided. Each participant received a bag that included books from the various exhibitors, and a copy of the new Himnario Latino 2nd edition. Pr. Ruberto brought home a box of about 20.
