Like wind in ripe grain

Why three times holy?

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 14:22:19 -0400

We celebrated the Feast of the Holy Trinity on May 30 at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas on May 30 and in La Caramuca on May 31The sermon emphasized the evidence for the Trinity in the Old Testament, especially the appointed Old Testament lesson, Isaiah 6:1-7. In the prophet’s vision, the seraphim around God’s throne sing, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts.” We have a hymn here that asks the question, “Why three times holy?” And why, in the Aaronic benediction of Numbers 6:24-26, is the Old Testament name of God (Yahweh or Jehovah) repeated three times? Then, in Genesis 1:26 and 11:7, God speaks of Himself in the plural, as Jesus does of Himself and the Holy Spirit in the Gospel appointed for Trinity Sunday (John 3:1-15). “Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness” (John 3:11)

The Great Commission on Ascension.

We observed Ascension Day on Sunday, May 17, 2026, and we were pleased to have as visitors, Luz Maria’s brother, Robert Henriquez and his wife, Fanny Yamilet Ibarra Vielma.
St. Matthew does not describe the Ascension of Christ, but Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-49; and Acts 1:1-11 link the Great Commission with the Ascension. So I emphasized this missional imperative by explaining the symbolism of the Jerusalem Cross, a large Greek cross flanked by four smaller crosses: First in Jerusalem, then to the four corners of the earth. (The Jerusalem Cross is the emblem of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela’s Juan de Frías Theological Institute.)

donation of study Bibles
We received a donation of eight needed study Bibles from an unexpected source: The Roman Catholic diocese of Barinas. The Bibles were published by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation and are bound together with Luther’s Small Catecism! Also included are a biblical glossary, maps and lists of suggested Bible verses for daily reading and special occasions. Luz Maria’s nephew, Roamird Castillo, learned the diocese was doing some housecleaning and wanted to get rid of them. So he obtained permission to take them for us.

Remember in prayer Rita Zapata

We continue to pray for Rita Zapata, who was taken to Barquisimeto (about three hours north of here) for cancer treatment. Rita joined our mission by affirmation of faith on January 11, 2020. She attends our Sunday morning service when staying with her sister, Sotera, in La Caramuca, and Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas with her son, Eliezer Montoya. Rita is the grandmother of Aaron, Oriana and Elias Montoya who were all confirmed at our mission, but now live with their mother, Yepci, in Lima, Peru.

Venezuelans graduate from seminary

Concordia El Reformador Seminary was opened in 2017 in the Dominican Republic, and serves Spanish speakers in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Commencement ceremonies were held May 29, 2026, and several Venezuelans received diplomas. Jesús Barceló of Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela, graduated from the residential seminary program and is eligible for a call. Edgar Coronado, pastor of La Fortaleza (Fortress) Lutheran Church and Mission Cagua in Maracay, Venezuela, completed the Formación Pastoral Hispanoamérica program, which provides continuing education for ordained pastors. Two Venezuelan women completed the deaconess training program and received certificates in absentia. These were Etamarys Rengifo of Cristo Vencedor (Christus Victor) Lutheran Church in La Pica, Monagas state, who was mentored by Luz Maria; and Yepci Santana, Luz Maria’s daughter, who once taught in our preschool. Oriana Montoya, Yepci’s daughter, already graduated from the deaconess program and both mother and daughter teach in the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod-sponsored preschool program in Lima, Peru.

Baptized members in the afterschool program
Luz Maria’s afterschool tutoring program continues to advance. We purchased a new electric fan for better ventilation and maintenance work done on the plumbing. All the student have shown improvement in their grades, but two that have shown notable progress in the last few months are Sandro Deonel Pérez and Juan Diego Rodriquez. Sandro Deonel was baptized at our mission on December 15, 2019, while his father, Sandro Pérez, was confirmed here on October 31, 2008. Juan Diego was baptized at our mission on December 15, 2019.

Precious in His sight is the death of His saints

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Wed, 6 May 2026 22:26:00 -0400

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. O LORD, I am truly Your servant, the son of Your maidservant, You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call upon the name of the LORD” Psalm 116:15-17.

My mother, Jeanette Anne Hemmingson Ernst, died April 30, 2026, during Eastertide like my father did on May 9, 2000. I chose Psalm 116 for memorial services on May 3, the fifth Sunday of Easter, at our mission in La Caramuca and at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas. The sermon text was 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."

During the Easter season, we celebrate our Lord’s victory over sin, death and the power of the devil by His atoning death on the cross and resurrection on the third day, as He promised. We rejoice that as we have been baptized with water and the Word, as He was, we will share in His resurrection (Romans 6:3-8; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26). This is the great gift that we receive from Christian parents when we are baptized as infants. But not only do we have the promise of resurrection for ourselves, but also the consolation that our parents will be among the great multitude gathered around the throne of Christ, our Paschal Lamb, they that “shall neither hunger anymore, nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them anymore, nor any heat...and God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:16-17). They already are among that “great cloud of witnesses” whose testimony inspires us and they will be with us in the true rapture, which which occur after (not before) the great tribulation when the Lord returns for the once and final time.

The promise is for you and your children

I returned to the theme of Christian families for the opening devotion of a special meeting on May 5 with Luz Maria's afterschool students and their mothers. The occasion was in anticipation of Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, and to celebrate Luz Maria's birthday. I read from Acts 2:37-47. First, I emphasized the real manifestation of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was not so much the speaking in tongues and the preaching of Peter and the baptism of 3,000 souls. Then I focused on verse 39: "This promise is for you and your children," citing examples of how entire households, including children, were baptized (Acts 16:14-15; 22:22-34). Nevertheless, although parents have the privilege and responsibility to bring infants and children forward for baptism, there also is the reponsibility to bring children up in the teaching and admonition of the Lord. This is the basis of Christian education: Not simply the formal instruction, but also the formation of living faith through the power of the Holy Spirit which has become active in their lives through baptism.

After the opening devotion, Luz Maria review with the students and their mothers what the children had learned so far and how it was helping them in their public school classes. Then the children sang a lengthy Venezuelan birthday song to Luz Maria before she cut into two cakes, one donated by her daughter, Sarai, and the other by her brother, Robert Henriquez. It is customary in Venezuela to not only a Spanish version of the brief "Happy Birthday to you" as in the United States, but also to sing one or more longer melodies. These may go on as long as five minutes, or, at least, so it seems. That evening, after a videoconference with women enrolled in the diaconess training program of Concordia Seminary "El Reformador" and Amy Rast, associate director of deaconess formation at Concordia Theoogical Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Venezuelan women sang another long birthday song to Luz Maria.

On April 13, we celebrated the sixteenth birthday of Anyi Garrido, Luz Maria's granddaughter. Anyi assists Luz Maria with the afterschool tutoring program. She has the highest academic profile of any student in her high school and is taking an extracurricular course in graphic design.

On April 12, the second Sunday of Easter, Ana Andreina Cabello Gomez, a member of "Fuente de Vida" (Fountain of Life) Lutheran Church in Puerto Ordaz and her sister, Milade, of the city of Guanare, brought an offering of packaged foodstuffs. Puerto Ordaz is in eastern Venezuela, while Guanare is about an hour and a half drive to the north of us.

As a mentor of Venezuelan women in the deaconess training program, Luz Maria was invited to hear annual program reports from Concordia Seminary "El Reformador" online April 24. We were pleased to learn the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod-sponsored seminary in the Dominican Republic is continuing in partnership with one of our sponsoring mission societies, LeadaChild of Olathe, Kansas.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 23:33:00 -0400

We began Holy Week with the procession of palm branches and the adult confirmation of Josehp Manuel Sala Díaz on Palm Sunday, March 24. Josehp is a contract maintenance worker. We welcome him as a member of our congregation.

In Venezuela, real palm branches are easy to find. We have observed the Palm Sunday processional every year except for the two years of the COVID-19 lockdown. The reenactment of our Lord’s triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem is ancient. Perhaps the earliest account is that of Egeria, a woman who lived in northern Spain, in a region now known as Galicia (many Venezuelans can trace their ancestry to this region). From 381 to 384 A.D., Egeria went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She kept a journal in which she gives firsthand testimony about how Holy Week was celebrated in Jerusalem in the fourth century. On the Sunday before Easter, people would gather on the Mount of Olives and march into the city with palm and olive branches. Participants sang psalms and proclaimed blessings as they moved toward the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This year, because of the war with Iran, this procession was cancelled for the first time in centuries as the Israeli government prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After the Reformation, the tradition of a Palm Sunday procession was preserved, especially at certain locations like Magdeburg. In April 2003, I spent the entire month in Venezuela (yes, that was during the U.S. invasion of Iraq) and was privileged to witness that year’s Palm Sunday procession at Fuente de Vida (Fountain of Life) Lutheran Church in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela.

Disciples for life

On March 23, I had the opportunity to visit Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas and teach a session in “Discípulos de por vida,” a catechetical course based as much on Luther’s Large Catechism, as much as the Small Catechism. The course was developed as a unit in the deaconess training program of Seminario Concordia El Reformador in the Dominican Republic. The Lutheran Church of Venezuela’s Juan de Frias Theological Institute is now offering the course to all interested members and and all catechumens. Since Corpus Christi has not called a full-time pastor, I will be taking turns every three months with Eliezer Mendoza, pastor of Cristo es Amor (Christ is Love) Lutheran Church in Barquesimeto (about three to four hours north of Barinas) and his assistant pastor, Juan Carlos Silva. Pastor Mendoza also is director of the Juan de Frias Theological Institute. The congregations in Barinas and Barquesimeto comprise the entire Western Zone of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela, which is all the territory between Valencia (an hour and a half west of Caracas) and the Colombian border.The theme was the “first tablet of the Law”, by which is meant the first three commandments. These deal with what constitutes a right relationship with God. “ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). The other seven commandments comprise the “second tablet”, right relationship with other people. “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8). These commandments constitute the universal moral law, that is, God’s will for how all people should live. We also discussed the other types of law contained in the covenant of Mount Sinai: Civil laws for the governing of the ancient nation of Israel, many of which did not apply outside the land of Israel, even at the time; and ceremonial laws governing private and public worship, which distinguished the worship of the true God from idolatry and pointed to the first coming of the Messiah, and why these types of rules and regulations were not intended for all people for all time. Then we discussed the three uses of the moral law: as a brake to keep the evil impulses of men from getting out of hand in the social order; as a mirror, to convict people of their sins and show them the need for a Savior; and as a guide for Christian in making life decisions.

Maximiliano reading the story of Jonah.

Learning in our library
Before the schools closed, Luz Maria had her afterschool students do activities in preparation for Holy Week. The afterschool program continues with 10 to 12 students attending regularly, Monday through Thursday. There are also always five to six in attendance who are not involved with the program full-time, but who are using our books and other study resources for specific projects. We have made our educational space into something of a public library (which the community does not have). It is a place for older students to drop in and study in quiet area with books and no distractions. Two of Luz Maria’s more outstanding students are Mateo and Maximiliano. Maxi is in third grade and came to us not even knowing the complete alphabet or how to write his name. It had been recommended that he receive psychological evaluation to treat his incapacity to learn. Now he reads and writes at a level appropriate to a boy his age. Mateo was delighted to discover that he was named after an apostle and evangelist, and is most enthusiastic about Bible study, in addition to improving his grades at his public school.

Consecrate a fast (Joel 2:15)

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 14:25:00 -0400

“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matthew 6:16-18).

At first glance, this might seem an odd Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday. Making the sign of the cross on one’s forehead with ashes is what this verse forbids. Or, is it? In Matthew 6:5-15, our Lord gives similar instructions on prayer: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” This is followed by Matthew’s account of Jesus teaching His disciples the Lord’s Prayer, which Christians all over the world and for hundreds of years have prayed in public as well as in private. There are other verses in Scripture to meet regularly to pray and worship God regularly and as openly as possible (Hebrews 10:23-25: 1 Timothy 2:1-7).

In fact, St. Matthew begins the entire section by saying, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). “Charitable deeds” is a translation of δικαιοσύνην (dikaiosynēn: righteousness, justice) which refers to good works in general. Yet in 1 Peter 2:12 we are told, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Then Matthew 6:2 reads, “Thus, when you give to the needy (ἐλεημοσύνην, eleēmosynēn) sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” Yet 2 Corinthians 9:13 describes the gathering of offerings for the poor and for the work of the kingdom as “proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and with all men.” From the earliest days of the church, offerings have been brought forward and placed on the altar as sacrifices of thanksgiving during public worship.

Our Lord is addressing what we would today call “virtue signaling”, ostentatious displays of piety without genuine faith in God. “Sees in secret (κρυπτῷ; kryptō)” implies seeing that which is hidden, or within the heart.

The outward acts, even giving away all one’s possessions to the poor avail nothing if not done in sincere faith and love (1 Corinthians 13:3). They do not gain for us salvation, nor blessing from the Lord. But if done in faith and love, and in common confession with others, not drawing attention to ourselves as individuals, they testify to God’s love and mercy.

One suggested Old Testament lesson for Ash Wednesday, Jonah 3:1-10, illustrates the ancient association of sackcloth and ashes with a fast, or time of repentance, and the other, Joel 2:12-19, speaks of the entire people of God declaring a season of fasting.

We began our observance of Lent on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, with a vespers service of public confession and absolution with the imposition of ashes. Our catechism teaches that we may confess our sins before the congregation as part of the liturgy, or to the pastor in private. Either way we have the assurance that the word of absolution are as sure as if we heard them directly from the Lord Himself.

The imposition of ashes is a more elaborate form of making the sign of the cross, which Lutherans have done since the 16th Century. Martin Luther strongly encouraged Christians to make the sign of the cross as a daily devotional practice. He also retained the practice at the beginning of the service as Trinitarin invocation, during baptism, confession and absolution, during the Lord’s Supper and the closing benediction. Luther viewed the sign not as superstition but as a spiritual weapon against the devil and a proclamation of faith in Christ’s victory on the cross. He believed it strengthened the conscience and reminded believers of God’s promises. Ashes remind us of our sinful nature that will not pass away until we die physically. “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

Third cycle of deaconess program

Luz Maria has again been asked to mentor deaconess students in the third cycle of the diaconal program offered by Concordia Seminary "El Reformador" in the Dominican Republic. On Tuesday, March 3, we partipicated in an online orientation meeting for "Practical Diaconal Guidance I". Exis Freites and Mineida García, ladies of "Prince of Peace" Lutheran Church, Sierra Caroní, represented Venezuela among the more than 50 women from other Latin American countries. Concordia Seminary "El Reformador", established in 2017 by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, serves Spanish -speaking Lutherans from all over Central and South America by training pastors and deaconesses .

Pray for victims of tragedy in Chile
We received word from our fellow Global Lutheran Outreach (GLO) missionary, Pastor Adrian Ventura, that on Thursday, February 19, a truck carrying liquefied gas overturned, spilling its entire cargo onto an avenue in the Renca district of Santiago, Chile. Following the spill, a raging fire engulfed several cars, including their occupants; four people died at the scene, and several others suffered burns over 90 percent of their bodies. One of the young men caught in the flames was Luis Miguel Gómez, a Venezuelan and son of Belkis Mendoza, a member of “Cristo es Amor” (Christ is Love) Lutheran Church in Barquisimeto. Luis passed away on Wednesday, February 25, at the Workers' Hospital. Belkis was able to obtain a humanitarian visa and spend her son Luis's final days with him. We ask for your prayers for the Gómez Mendoza family, who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

Our citizenship is in heaven

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Sun, 1 Feb 2026 20:43:00 -0400

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

I would like to begin 2026 by assuring all our family, friends and supporters that Luz Maria and I are safe and sound and continuing our ministry in Venezuela. My resident visa has been renewed until 2030, a necessary first step toward naturalization, a course I intend to pursue this year. I meet all the requirements for dual citizenship, although I really had not thought about applying until I read about the new Pope being a citizen of both the USA and Ecuador. Dual citizenship represents the best option for me in view of travel restrictions and political instability throughout the world, and it better reflects the commitment I have made to Luz Maria and our work together. About 76% of nations now permit dual citizenship (vs. 33% in 1960), which has become a strategic tool for mobility, security, and diversification.

Always bearing in mind Philippians 3:20, in which St. Paul reminds the Christians of Philippi, a prominent Roman colony whose inhabitants enjoyed the prized status of Roman citizenship, that our highest allegiance is to Jesus as members of the kingdom of God’s grace through baptism. Nevertheless, this citizenship (πολίτευμα) does not make Christians laws unto themselves (Roman 13:1-7). Rather, we live in accord with the laws of whatever land where are placed, whether by birth or adoption, to the extent that those conform with the revealed will of God.

Join our online Mission Circle

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us and for Venezuela. I have created a WhatsApp group, CÍrculo de Misión "La Epífanía", where can leave your prayers and peitions. You can leave an audio message if you like, as I intend to incorporate these into a periodic devotional podcast.

Strategic planning for Barinas

On Saturday, January 24, 2026, we received a vist from Pastor Eliezer Mendoza, our counselor for the Western Zone of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela (which consists of three congregations). Eliezer is the head pastor of "Cristo es Amor" (Christ is Love) Lutheran Church in Barquisimeto, a city three to four hours north of us. (By the way, the "Cristo es Amor" congregation was planted by James Tino, executive director of Global Lutheran Outreach when he was a Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod missionary to Venezuela.) We discussed the strategic plan for the Lutheran Church of Venezuela. This includes dividing up the responsibility for preaching at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas among myself, Pastor Eliezer and Juan Carlos Silva, assistant pastor at "Cristo es Amor." There is at present no candidate for full-time pastor at Corpus Christi.

New Creation in Christ

Our first service of the new year was Sunday, January 4, 2026, when we celebrated the circumcision and naming of Jesus. Afterward, we began our “New Creation in Christ” vacation Bible school with a study of the creation of the world by the triune God with emphasis on the first chapter of the gospel according to Saint John. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-2). “In the beginning” are the same words that begin the first chapter of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. The similarity between Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 is intentional. Referring to the first creation, John maintains that God made everything with the Logos, a Greek word that can be translated as “Verb” or “Word.” God created heaven and earth only with his creative Word. “And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.” This creative Word, the instrument of the first creation, was also God Himself. This Word, the second person of the Holy Trinity, “was made flesh” (John 1:14) in Jesus Christ as the agent of the new creation redeemed from death and evil (Romans 8:19-23). Also the Holy Spirit who “moved on the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2) and made Adam, the first man, “a living being” (Genesis 2:7) brought about the conception of Jesus Christ as the second Adam and creates faith and new life in the waters of baptism.

Monday, January 5, 2026, the topic was the Law and the Gospel. The Law is God's holy will for us to live as his children. However, because of the total corruption of human nature that we have inherited from Adam and Eve, none of us can perfectly fulfill the will of God. This will is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “You shall love your neighbor yourself” (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Every Sunday we confess to God, "We have not loved you with all our heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the love of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us." The Gospel (good news) is “Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in his great mercy has given us his Son and through him, forgives us all our sins.” We are not saved by works of the Law, but by faith in the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ, which bears fruit in works of love for God and our neighbor.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, we concluded the vacation Bible school with the study of the means of grace: the preaching of the Word of God; Baptism; and the Holy Supper. In preaching, the Word is broadcast to all who can hear; In the sacraments, through his Word and visible elements, God calls each person by name and gives them his gifts of forgiveness, salvation and eternal life.

In the evening service of Epiphany, we heard the words of St. Paul in Ephesians 3:1-12: “That the Gentiles may be fellow heirs of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ through the gospel.” We celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem, who represented that the Gospel would reach all nations after Jesus preached it to the Jews. Just as God's Law was first revealed to the people of Israel through Moses and the prophets, the Gospel was revealed first to the Jews by Jesus, then to the entire world by the apostles. Both the Law and the Gospel are “the mystery of Christ” that Saint Paul speaks of in Ephesians.

The dark side of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Fri, 2 Jan 2026 23:04:00 -0400

For our afternoon Bible study on December, we had the youth and children color a picture of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. The Scriptures provide no descriptions of Mary riding a donkey, either to Bethlehem or Egypt, but it only makes sense that she would, given the distances involved and that, in one instance she was nearly ready to give birth and cradling a small child on way to Egypt.

In Venezuela, as in most Spanish-speaking countries, December 28 rather than April 1 is the day for pranks, practical jokes and hoaxes. In Caucagua, Venezuela, there is every year an elaborate festival based on the fact that, before slavery was abolished, African slaves would be given that day off. During that time, they would be free to mock their masters. The Monkey Dance of Caicara de Maturín, based on indigenous traditions, takes place on December 28 and has become a major tourist attraction.

According to our historic church calendar, December 28 is the day we remember the Holy Innocents, the male babies of Bethlehem who were massacred by order of King Herod the Great. The rationale for the jesting and tomfoolery is that the Magi made a fool of King Herod by telling him they would lead him to the Christ Child, but departing by a different route (Matthew 2:7-12).

So, why do our churches remember the Holy Innocents two days after Christmas when we celebrate Epiphany, the visit of the Magi, on January 6? Chronologically, the Magi arrived in Bethlehem about two years after the shepherds on the night of the Savior’s birth. That is why Herod asks the Magi when they first saw the star (Matthew 2:7). The star appeared to them on the night of Christ’s birth and it took them two years to travel to Jerusalem (the Magi probably lived in what is nowadays Iran or Iraq). The massacre of the infants definitely took place after the Magi left.

But the purpose of the church calendar is not simply to teach the chronology of our Lord’s life, but also to highlight certain themes when most appropriate. The festival of the Holy Innocents is the dark side of Christmas, a counterpoint to all the love, peace and good will.

The light of Christ first shone, and continues to shine, in a very dark world. Like Herod, there still are those who say they want to find the light, but only want to put it out.

But there is comfort in the story of the Holy Innocents. We know that every human life, no matter how brief, serves God’s purpose, although we may not understand that purpose. That is true for the children of Bethlehem, also for the stillborn, the aborted and all who die before growing old enough to have children of their own. It’s also true of all those who outlive their own children, other family and friends, wondering why God has left them in this world of trouble and strife.

'Tis the season for hallacas

It would not be Christmas in Venezuela without the traditional holiday meal of hallacas, pan de jamón (bread filled with ham, raisins and olives) and potato salad. Hallacas resemble Mexican tamales, but do not say that out loud. Tamales are more corn dough than filling, while the hallaca's rich filling is surrounded by a very thin layer of dough. Hallacas are made by stuffing a mixture of seasoned meats (chicken, beef and pork), olives, raisins, and capers into a masa (corn dough) made from a blend of cornmeal and various spices, then boiling it while wrapped in banana leaves. The filling can vary from region to region and even from family to family. Hallacas are not only served for Christmas dinner, but given as gifts. After our Christmas Eve service on December 24, we served all who attended a dinner of hallacas, pan de jamón and salad. We sent packages of hallacas to shut-ins around the neighborhood. And we had enough left over to have potato salad and pan de jamón for our breakfast on Christmas Day!

We were able to celebrate the second Sunday of Advent (Populus Zion) with the members of Corpus Christi Lutheran Church. The service was held in their roofed patio because of the breakdown of the electrical system in the church building. Due to car trouble, we were not able to attend their annual Christmas dinner. But they sent Eliezer Montoya with a care package of cake and hallacas, plus a bottle of sangria wine. Luz Maria and I used the sangria to toast the New Year.

LeadaChild: In it for the long haul

Once again, we would like to thank LeadaChild, a mission society based in Olathe, Kansas, for supporting our Christian education initiative. Because of LeadaChild's support, not only our afterschool tutoring students, but Luz María's teaching assistants (all high school students and communicant members of the mission) continue to get good grades.

Here are some thoughts from Dr. Phil Frusti, executive director of LeadaChild:

"Some fruit of our Christian labor can be seen quickly, especially when we provide human care and acts of mercy and service to those in need or experiencing great hardships. However, the fruit of our labor in Christian education may not be revealed for many years… sometimes generations. Educational ministry and mission is an 'in it for the long haul' commitment. Children attend school for many years; discipleship is an ongoing and drawn-out process. For many educators, they may not experience the fruit in the lives of many of the children that they helped develop through their teaching, correction, encouragement…. and especially prayer."

At home with the Advent wreath

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Sat, 6 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0400

The lighting of an Advent wreath as a countdown to Christmas has become so globally popular that Venezuelan newspapers run articles explaining it as a “Catholic custom.” This is a matter of some debate, as many sources trace it back to the Lutheran Reformation. Roman Catholic apologists agree that it began in Germany, but claim it originated earlier in the Middle Ages. The mystery arises from the fact that the Advent wreath originated as a form of family devotion, not as a rite of public worship. Lighting the wreath as we know it today did not become a widespread practice outside of Germany until the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the tide of Germans fleeing political conflicts and economic difficulties in their homeland. Only then was it incorporated into Advent services in churches of nearly every denomination. That is how I explained it to our afterschool students and youth of our congregation, drawing a comparison of how the migration of Venezuelans is dispersing Venezuelan customs throughout the world. Also, I emphasized the importance of Bible reading and prayer in the home, not just in the building designated as a house of worship.

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 is a classic verse that illustrates the importance of family devotions in the Christian life. So is Ephesians 6:4, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Although the parental duty is set forth in terms of the father’s obligation, yet the mother’s rule and responsibility, being included in that of the husband, is just as strongly enjoined. St. Paul, in 1 Timothy 1:5, commends Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, for raising Timothy in the faith despite the lack of a faithful father. In Timothy 2:15, the apostle says again that Timothy is fortunate in “that from childhood known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

With the assistance of Luz Maria’s sister, Rosaura, we presented a special workshop for all the young people in making Advent wreaths for the home.

A tradition of Christian education

Luz Maria and I are grateful for the opportunity to speak via Zoom on December 4, 2025, to the students of Deshler Lutheran School, Deshler, Nebraska. Our special thanks to principal Todd Voss; Brian Francik, pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Deshler; and José Flores, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Friedensau, Nebraska. Deshler Lutheran School is one part of the ministry conducted by St. Peter-Deshler and TrinityFriedensau. Both congregations have a rich tradition of providing Christ-centered education. Trinity Lutheran at Freidensau called the first teacher to the Nebraska District in 1879. St. Peter's Lutheran School was established in 1889. In 1966, Trinity-Friedensau and Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Kiowa joined with St. Peter's-Deshler to form the Deshler Lutheran School Association using the 1953 building and grounds in Deshler for its campus. Trinity-Friedensau celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. I attended the centennial anniversary in 1974 which featured my father’s older brother, the Rev. Alfred Ernst, as guest speaker. My great-grandfather, Henry Schabacker, so far holds the longest tenure as pastor of Trinity-Friedensau, having served for more than 30 years. His daughter, Theodora Amanda, married my grandfather, David Julius Ernst, who was the sole teacher in the parochial school and also church organist.

Like grandmother, like granddaughter

While we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent in La Caramuca on November 30, 2025, Oriana Montoya, Luz Maria's granddaughter, was consecrated as a deaconess at Jesus of Los Olivos Lutheran Church in Lima, Peru. Oriana was baptized February 15, 2003, at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church, Barinas, and took first communion October 28, 2012, at Epiphany Lutheran Church of La Caramuca. She graduated from our preschool and was active in the Epiphany youth group. She represented our mission at the national youth gathering of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela in 2016. After moving to Peru in 2017, Oriana enrolled in and graduated from the deaconess program offered by Concordia El Reformador in the Dominican Republic.

Door opens just a crack

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Thu, 6 Nov 2025 22:31:00 -0400

While Luz Maria and I can no longer operate our preschool in the same cooperative relationship with public educational agencies, the door is not completely shut. It opened a crack on October 27, when I led a closing devotion for Early Education Week at Rafael Urdaneta public preschool in La Caramuca. In recent years, Venezuela has faced severe economic challenges, which have affected the operation of public and private education. The government’s ability to allocate resources has diminished, leading to overcrowded public classrooms, a lack of essential teaching materials, and deteriorating infrastructure in many public schools. Additionally, salary cuts and inflation have prompted many qualified educators to leave the profession or seek opportunities abroad. Families who once could afford private schooling have found their options limited as economic hardships continue. Furthermore, changing government regulations on tuition fees and operational standards create additional obstacles for private institutions, ultimately affecting their sustainability.

Religious freedom is written into Venezuela’s Constitution. Various faiths can hold regular rites and services. But although there is no declared policy of discrimination against faith-based organizations, those whose beliefs do not completely conform to current public policy, may face challenges. Yet, unlike in the United States, there is no ban on prayer in public schools. Thus our opportunity to continue influencing education beyond the walls of our mission.

I walked the children through the Apostle’s Creed, especially the Second Article. This, I said, is the reason why we have Christmas and Easter. (Because public Christmas displays are already being set up and the merchandising of decorations and gifts for the home is underway.)

Communion of the saints

We celebrated one long festival of the Reformation and All Saints from Sunday, October 26, when we distributed medicines sent by Global Lutheran Outreach Chile and studied the 95 Theses at our afternoon youth Bible study, to Sunday, November 2, when we celebrate the Reformation and All Saints Day in the morning at Epiphany Lutheran Church of La Caramuca, and in the afternoon at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas. In La Caramuca, we not only distributed the medicine to those who needed it, but also homemade soap and food items that we had collected as part of the regular Sunday offering to everyone who attended.

The feasts of the Reformation and All Saints are closely linked. Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, All Saints Eve, on the doors of All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany. In his theses, Luther raised questions about Roman ideas of penance, purgatory, the value of good works, the authority of the Pope over the souls of the departed, and the definition of a “saint.” These questions resonate to this day, for we celebrated the Reformation in the midst of a national celebration across Venezuela of the canonization of the first two Venezuelan “saints”: José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros and María del Carmen Rendiles Martínez.

On Sunday, October 19 (which happens to be my birthday) Pope Leo XIV proclaimed seven new saints on before an estimated 70,000 people in St. Peter’s Square, including the first saints from Papua New Guinea as well as Venezuela. The canonization Mass unfolded with Venezuelan flags waving across the square. The canonization was followed in real time from different parts of Venezuela, with gatherings in squares, temples, and homes.

It was an opportunity for us to celebrate the true “communion of the saints”, which is the whole church on earth and heaven. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (as it says in the epistle for Reformation Day, Romans 3:19-28. But we are all saints who have been clothed with the righteiousness of Christ in baptism. We all have the promise of eternal life with HIm immediately upon leaving this world.

Celebrating our 34th baptism

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Wed, 1 Oct 2025 19:33:00 -0400

At a Matins service on September 20, 2025, Eidan Andrés Garrido Albarrán was baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-6). This was the 34th baptism at our mission. The first was Elias Isaac Montoya Santana on June 26, 2005.

“Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? If I wash in them, shall I not also be clean?” (2 Kings 5:12).

“Without the Word of God, water is mere water, it is not baptism; but with the Word of God, it is baptism, that is, it is the water of life, full of grace, and a washing of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as Saint Paul says to Titus.” (The Small Catechism and Titus 4:4-6).

When Naaman did as the Lord commanded, he was healed. “Then he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:14).

Grand opening of “Mi Pequeña Lucecita” House of Study

On September 15, 20205, we opened “Mi Pequeña Lucecita” (“My Little Light”) House of Study with an orientation meeting for the families involved. The expanded afterschool tutoring program is from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Sixteen students are enrolled, from first to sixth grade, all of whom have academic knowledge below the level they should have for their grade level. There are third-graders who do not know their numbers, and sixth graders who read at a first grade level. There are other families who would like to enroll their children in the program, but Luz Maria feels that those who are enrolled need the most help that she and her assistants can give. We share God's love in Christ by improving literacy, language, math and vocational skills.

Our program remains the only one in our entire region that integrates instruction for Christian living with basic skills for learning.

Although circumstances have forced to shift our emphasis from preschool education to a more diverse group of students, remains unchanged:

• Encourage academic performance by addressing academic needs with fun and motivating resources to develop learning skills and abilities.

• Promote the comprehensive development of each student in accordance with the values of Christian education established in the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.

• To guide parents on the importance of the family's leading role in raising children in the reality of the Venezuelan context.

In addition to Luz Maria as chief teacher, there are three young ladies who help tutor students: Diana Torres, Yusmelvis Salas and Anyi Garrido. All who came up through our preschool program and are now communicant members and high school students.

We would like to develop more intensive seminars in mathematics and other topics; more instruction for adults; support and advice for high school students on projects to be completed for graduation; training sessions in home economics; hosting of group sessions for online courses, such as those provided by Seminario Concordia El Reformador in the Dominican Republic.

To further improve our learning and worship spaces, we are seeking funds for two more study tables with six chairs each; 20 additional plastic chairs; printer ink and a new computer monitor; additional educational materials; four wall-mounted ventilation fans; and a water purifier for the kitchen area of the former preschool. Perhaps our biggest capital improvement project for the near future is the repair of public sanitary facilities built 10 years ago to host large groups in our open patio/playground. These have not been used since the COVID-19 lockdown, but we think there soon will be use for them again.

You may donate to our mission online at Global Lutheran Outreach.

How shall they hear without a preacher?

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” Romans 10:14-15.

Corpus Christi congregation gives
baptismal gifts to Eidan Garrido.

As the only called and ordained pastor of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela within a tri-state area, I continue to preach and administer the sacrament of the altar at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas. As of the last census, Barinas has a population of approximately 350,000 people. Besides being a regional trade center and the headquarters of state government, the city is home to an important agricultural research and teacher training university. La Caramuca is a town of around 8,000 people, located 20 to 30 minutes drive from the city of Barinas, depending on the traffic. There is plenty of work for another pastor in Barinas, but Corpus Christi has not been able to call a full-time pastor in nearly two years.

At the 2025 World Conference of the International Lutheran Council in the Philippines, Eduardo Flores, president of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela, outlined the serious problems that still face the nation of Venezuela, resulting in “profound social, economic, and cultural implications,” including for the Lutheran church. There has been a significant decrease in the number of members in Lutheran congregations, mostly among young people and their families. This not only impacts the spiritual life of those who leave, but it also causes serious issues with paying pastors and the financial sustainability of congregations.

Finally I felt the earth move

One fond memory of my youth is listening to Carole King sing “I Feel The Earth Move”, one of the most popular cuts from her milestone 1971 album, “Tapestry”. But I never really knew the sensation until September 24, 2025. There was a minor tremor in Caracas while I was there in 2007, but I was taking a nap and slept through it. At 11:51 p.m. on September 24, my chair began vibrating and the teacup on the table rattled. That was the impact in La Caramuca of a 6.0 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter near Bachaquero, Zulia, 178 kilometers or 111 miles northwest of us. This was only one of 10 distinct tremors and 21 aftershocks that shook western Venezuela that evening. But its magnitude made it not only the main feature of the night, but one of the three strongest earthquakes to rock the country in the 21st Century. The others were in Carabobo state in 2009 (6.4) and Sucre state in 2018 (6.9). None of these three claimed any lives, although there was property damage in the areas most affected. Perhaps the worst ever in loss of life was the Maundy Thursday earthquake of 1812 (between 7 and 8 magnitude with its epicenter in Caracas) which claimed from 15,000 to 26,000 lives. A 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Caracas in 1967 claimed 256 lives. In years past, the mission has hosted workshops on how to avoid injury during an earthquake. Thank you, Carlos Teran!

Earthquake safety seminar in 2014.

Counting the cost of discipleship

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Tue, 2 Sep 2025 16:59:00 -0400

We learn from Luke 14:28-33 that God has given us the ability to calculate the resources we have to carry out a project, as well as what we can lose and what we can gain. When we weigh our own strength against the magnitude of suffering and sacrifice required by the Christian life, we must give up all hope in our own merits and place our faith in the righteousness of Christ, with which we are clothed in baptism. But this faith, which we receive as a gift from God in Christ, also gives us the confidence to measure and plan good works in this life. God also wants us to "count the cost" of what we would do for him here on earth. That's why basic education is important, especially reading, writing, and math. Therefore, we are pleased to organize a math workshop, primarily for young people starting high school next school year. The workshop was led by Eliezer Montoya, a member of Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas, who holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and is a teacher by profession. Professor Montoya covered addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers and fractions, and even a little algebra.

Renovation continues

The renovation of our former preschool space continues. Mi Pequeña Lucecita (My Little Light) House of Study is the new name of our educational program. We are preparing for an older group of students, from first grade up to sixth grade, with some of our communicant members who are attending high school as Luz Maria’s teacher’s aides. Our vision for the future includes more Bible studies and workshop in specific subjects for adolescents and adults. A new study table for taller people is nearly ready. Bookshelves are in place. What we still need: more chairs, a gas stove for the kitchen, a ceiling fan for better air circulation, and a water filter and cooler. Also, we would like to recondition an outbuilding with public restrooms that we closed during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Let us pray together

Global Lutheran Outreach recommends a “Mission Circle” model of a group of Christians who meet regularly to:
• Engage in a deeper study of God’s mission through the Word;
• Become informed and involed God’s mission in other localities through communication with a specific crosscultural missionary;
• Pray for their missionary and for God’s mission in their own surroundings.

I would like to start a monthly “Mission Circle” podcast based on a videoconference between myself and whoever else would like to participate. It would last no longer than 30 minutes. The first videoconference would be on Monday, September 15, 8 p.m. Central Standard Time. Please let me know if you would like to be involved and I will send you a user ID and password.

Lord God, heavenly Father, who has placed the nations of the world under the authority of your Son, by your Holy Spirit incline the hearts of all who govern to submit themselves to the Lord of lords and King of glory, that the peace of heaven might prevail on earth. Let there also be peace in the church, in our homes and in our hearts. Amen.

Come to Macedonia and help us

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Sat, 2 Aug 2025 14:14:00 -0400

Our focus for Sunday Bible study since Trinity Sunday has been the missionary journeys of St. Paul. What could be more fitting for summer vacation? We even had a sort of campfire song based on Acts 16:10. These are the lyrics in English:

"Come to Macedonia and help us pray, that the kingdom of God may be revealed to the lost souls in this world. Oh, come to Macedonia and help us pray!"

Our goal is not only to help the youth visualize the distant lands described in the Acts of the Apostles, but also the people whom Paul met there and his companions in his travels. Many of these people are mentioned in the Pauline epistles, which comprise a great part of the New Testament. We passed out prizes for those who could memorize the most names and places.

COVID/dengue: A one-two punch

Venezuelans expect most of their annual rainfall from May through December. But this season has brought the heaviest rains and most turbulent storms in decades. Rivers have overflowed their banks, dams have burst, landslides have destroyed homes and highways. The most affected areas are located in the western part of the country, including our state of Barinas. According to official estimates, 8,000 families have been affected, nearly 400 homes have been damaged, and at least 25 bridges have collapsed. Agricultural losses have been reported, with more than 150 hectares in Mérida state and over 6,000 hectares of crops lost in the states of Bolívar and Portuguesa. The Orinoco River's rising levels have forced evacuations in Amazonas and Bolívar, with hundreds of families taking refuge in temporary shelters. The Venezuelan government activated emergency response plan. Medical teams have attended to hundreds of affected individuals.

Although the property damage is costly, there has been relatively little loss of life. These are not flash floods, as in Texas. People have time to run away. Here in La Caramuca, we have remained relatively high and dry.

But the heavy rains and humidity create an ideal environment for Aedes aegypti, the species of mosquito which is the primary carrier of dengue fever. Dengue is endemic in over 100 tropical and subtropical countries, primarily in Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean.

But here is a new wrinkle: Co-infection of dengue and COVID-19. Individuals with a history of dengue have been found to be at an increased risk of developing COVID-19. Moreover, co-infection of dengue and COVID-19 results in worse outcomes, including a high mortality rate, more frequent admissions to intensive care units (ICUs), and prolonged hospital stays. Although the viruses enter the human body in different ways, COVID-19 and dengue share clinical symptoms, making differentiation difficult, especially in dengue-endemic regions, which increases the risk of misdiagnosis. There have been a number of people in our surrounding community diagnosed and hospitalized with this co-infection.

Blessed Lord, defend us from fire and floods, earthquakes and landslides, Let not any plague come near the dwelling of those who have made the Most High their refuge. Give your angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways. Amen.

I preached and administered the Lord's Supper at our sister church in Barinas, Corpus Christi, on July 6 and July 27. Please pray that the Corpus Christi congregation might call a full-time pastor.

Close of school year

Sandro Dionel Perez.

For the first time in 22 years, a school year ended without our preschool in operation. But Luz Maria continued with afterschool tutoring of children with learning challenges. In addition to remedial exercises in grammar and mathematics, tutoring sessions include prayer and Bible. One boy, Mateo, was pleased to discover that he was named after one of the four evangelists (Matthew). Now we are renovating the former preschool space for an expanded tutoring program for the school year which begins in September. One of our former preschool students, Sandro Dionel Perez, who was baptized December 15, 2019, graduated from the community preschool and will begin first grade next school year.

The need for creeds

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Wed, 2 Jul 2025 12:17:00 -0400

Luz Maria and I traveled north to Barquisimeto for a pastor’s conference at Cristo es Amor (Christ is Love) Lutheran Church from June 25 to 26. It was privilege to celebrate the 495th anniversary of the Presentation of the Augsburg Confession with other pastors of our national church, the Lutheran Church of Venezuela.

Argénis Hernández, pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in San Félix de Guayana, offered a meditation on Matthew 10:26-33 at the opening Matins service on June 25. I did the same for the appointed epistle, 1 Timothy 6:11-16, at Vespers.

The word “confession” is used in different ways. Perhaps most widely understood is the confession of sins. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”, 1 John 1:9. In the Lutheran church, confession of sin may be public or private. The dialogue of communal confession of sin by the congregation and absolution by the pastor as part of the Divine Service is of ancient origin. But Lutherans also retain the practice of private confession, either specific sins to a neighbor one has wronged, or sins that weigh particularly heavy on the heart to the pastor. Private confession is not a requirement, but a gift.

“Confession” as declaration of faith, or creed, is always understood as a public, not a private matter. (The word “creed” is derived from the Latin “credo” or “I believe”.) This is the essence of public worship, as shown in Nehemiah 8:1-12, the Old Testament lesson which was not read. Ezrah the priest publicly read from the books of Moses and all the people answered “Amen, Amen!”, while lifting up their hands. “And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.” God speaks to us in his infallible Scriptures, and we respond.Whether one says “I believe” or “we believe” does not matter, for what follows is not personal opinion, but an authoritative articulation of what the Scriptures say. An open proclamation of the truth and a steadfast defense of the truth, is demanded for every follower of Christ.

“Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him will I confess also before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven”, Matthew 10:33.

“Do the work of an evangelist”

St. Paul also tells his disciple in 2 Timothy 4, “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” This served as the basis for another highlight of the pastor’s conference was a presentation by Carlos Ventura on “The Pastor as Evangelist”.The word εὐαγγελιστής (euaggelistés) is used in only two passages of the New Testament. Ephesians 4:11 sets evangelists among Christ’s gifts to His church: “And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers”.Apostles and prophets are those who received direct revelation from God. Because the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments contain all we need to know for salvation, there is no need for new revelation, therefore apostles and prophets do not exist in the contemporary church.

“Pastors and teachers” describes the regular ministry of publicly preaching the Word and administering the sacrament, which in all periods of the church has been and remained the same. The expression “teachers” probably refers chiefly to the public activity, while the other, “pastors,” to the application of the pastoral office to the individual members of the congregation. “Evangelists” is placed on the list in between apostles and prophets, and pastors and teachers.
In Acts 21:8, the title of evangelist is given to Philip, one of the original deacons of the church selected by the congregation at Jerusalem in Acts 6, but driven from the city by later persecution. Philip’s activities in Acts 8 are the only description given of “the work of an evangelist”.

He travels as an itinerant missionary, preaching and baptizing, performing miracles in Christ’s name, but under the authority of the apostles. Peter and John had to travel to Samaria to confirm the validity of Philip’s baptisms (Acts 8:14-17).

So what of Paul’s admonition to Timothy, a pastor and bishop, to do the work of an evangelist? We may conclude that even as the apostolic mission of the church continues without the apostles (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-16; Lucas 24:47-48; Acts 1:8), the work of an evangelist is not limited to the pastoral office. For Acts 8:4 says all who fled Jerusalem “went everywhere announcing the good news” (literally, εὐαγγελιζόμενοι, euangelizomenoi, evangelizing). It is highly desirable for all members of a local congregation to share the Gospel with family, friends and co-workers, pray for them and invite them to church. But the pastor also has an important rose to play in evangelism, as a teacher, guide and planner of intentional strategies.

Pastor Carlos Ventura and his wife, Berkis, with Meduardo Aparismo, the youngest of the five children of Rafael and Sabrina Aparismo, one of the founding families of El Redentor Lutheran Church.

A pioneer pastor

This month El Redentor (Redeemer) Lutheran Church of San Antonio de Capayacuar, Monagas state, will celebrate its 70th anniversary. During our spare moments in Barquisimeto, its current pastor, Carlos Ventura, talked with me about Heinrich Zeuch, its first pastor, installed in 1955. Zeuch was ordained as a deacon in Germany. During World War II, his home in Berlin was destroyed by Allied bombing, leaving his family without a place to live. After the war, the Zeuchs arrived in Venezuela in refugees on an Italian ship, thanks to Gerhard Zeuch, Heinrich's son, who already had a job as an agronomist on a tobacco plantation. After many struggles and difficulties, they settled in San Antonio. At that time, San Antonio did not have electricity, a hospital or paved roads. Heinrich taught adult Bible classes and vacation Bible schools in the area, and was colloquized as Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod missionary before being called to serve El Redentor. San Antonio de Maturín became for many years in the center of a growing Lutheran presence in the state of Monagas and the southern zone of Sucre state.

Wind, rain and a wild ride

We returned from Barquisimeto on Friday. Day after day of heavy rains and strong winds in northwestern Venezuela made the rivers overflow, the dams explode, landslides and closed roads. The government quickly declared an emergency state in the mountain states of Trujillo, Tachira and Mérida, and eight of the 12 municipalities in the state of Barinas. In the afternoon Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the intense rainfall affected the state of Portuguesa, leaving the overflow of several rivers and the flooding of communities near the road that leads to the city of Guanare. Flooding of the Ospino River and overflow of a dam caused the collapse of the La Trinidad bridge on the José Antonio Páez highway, between Barquisimeto and Barinas. A detour around the collapsed bridge took us on a wild ride on a old, two-lane road as heavy traffic continued to flow as if on four lanes and roadside crews removed debris. We are now high and dry on our hilltop, but we ask you to please pray for those left homeless and otherwise affected by the inclement weather (200,000 families in Barinas state alone).

Caught up in the clouds

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Thu, 29 May 2025 12:23:00 -0400

The celebration of the Ascension brings to a close our annual reprise of the earthly ministry of Jesus. He walked among his disciples for forty days to testify to His resurrection. But it was necessary for Him to return to the Father so that His exaltation was complete (John 16: 5-15) . As we confess in the creed, Jesus "ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from there he will come to judge the living and the dead." We have no difficulty seeing in the ascension and enthronement of Jesus to the right hand of God the fulfillment of the prophetic words of Psalm 110. That Jesus is to the right of the Father, as a mediator and lawyer, means that forgiveness and sanctification are possible (Acts 5:30-31).

resurrection of Our Lord was not simply the miraculous revival of a single man. The Scriptures contain other similar stories: the resurrection of mothers’ sons by Elijah and Elisha; the son of Nain's widow; the daughter of Jairus; Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha; and more. God, in His mercy, restored these people to their families, but in the end they were taken from this world. There are also stories in the Old Testament of men who did not die physically, but were taken to heaven. In particular, Enoch, descendant of Adam (Genesis 5: 21-24), and Elijah, in the Old Testament lesson appointed for the Ascension (2 Kings 2:5-15).

But even these miracles of God did not change the common fate of human beings, which is the eternal separation of God because of original sin. Both the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus changed everything for all. They were signs and stamps of His victory, a victory that He won when He died on the cross. It was a victory over sin, the power of the devil and death itself. Those who believe in Jesus Christ may die physically, like everyone else. But for those who believe in Jesus Christ, there is the promise that we also will be raised to life on the last day, not only to see Him return in the clouds as He was taken up (Acts 1:9-11), but also to be "caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Education program continues

On Sunday, May 11, 2025, we presented seven students and three assistant teachers with scholarships from LeadaChild. The assistant teachers who help Luz Maria with afterschool tutoring are all confirmed members of the mission: Anyi Garrido, Yusmelvis Salas and Diana Torres. The students who brought their mothers for Mother's Day also received packages of school supplies. God's providence, the Gospel reading for the fourth Sunday after Easter is John 16:16-22 and the sermon was based on verses 16 to 21: "A woman when she is in labor has sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man will take from you."

Luz Maria's students are advancing in their studies and have shown distinct improvement in their grades. We have reopened what had been our preschool classroom before its forced closure for afterschool tutoring. We plan to remodel the preschool so that it is more of library and study center for older students.

We were pleased to learn of the high school graduation of Frenyerlin Naleska, a former recipient of LeadaChild scholarships. She was one of Luz Maria´s afterschool tutoring students, attended Sunday afternoon Bible class, and took first communion at our mission on January 8, 2017. Frenyerlin now lives in the city of Coro, Falcon state.

Frenyerlin Naleska, Escarleth Ruíz and Elias Montoya with LeadaChild scholarships.

Ready to serve as deaconesses

From May 1 to 3, 2025, Luz María served as an instructor at the final in-person seminar of the second cycle of the deaconess program sponsored by Concordia El Reformador Seminary and the Juan de Frías Theological Institute in Barquisimeto, Lara state. Other instructors were Deaconess Ginnatriz Vera de Mendoza, and Pastor Eliezer Mendoza, director of the Institute. On Sunday, May 5, eight women graduated from the program and are ready to serve as deaconesses.

The women who graduated from the deaconess program are: Matilde Castillo, Cristo es el Camino Lutheran Church, Barcelona, Anzoátegui state; Cinthia Moreno and Ysaela Cedeño de Lozano of Fuente de Vida Lutheran Church, Puerto Ordaz, Bolívar state; Migdalia Veliz, Cristo el Vencedor Lutheran Church, La Pica, Monagas state; María Ramírez de Coronado, La Fortaleza Lutheran Church, Maracay, Aragua state; Ana Gómez, Belkys Castellanos and Graciela Peraza de Coronado of Fuente de Vida Lutheran Church.

Trabajad, luchad y orad, No. 1037 in Himnario Luterano, is a hymn written by Stephen Starke and translated by Antonio Schimpf.

Three pastors reunited before the altar

On Sunday, May 4, five pastors celebrated the divine service together. Eduardo Flores, Sergio Maita, and I were ordained together at El Salvador Lutheran Church in Caracas on December 8, 2008. The three of us were together once more before the altar. Sergio is now missionary pastor of Cordero de Dios Lutheran Church in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, and professor at Concordia El Reformador Seminary, while Eduardo is the pastor of La Santa Trinidad Lutheran Church in Caracas and president of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela.

Pastor Maita preached the sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter on the Gospel (John 10:11-16) and the Introit (Psalm 33:5-6; 33:1; 33:18-20). The Hebrew word translated "mercy" in Psalm 33:5 is חֵסֵד (hesed). It can also be translated as steadfast love, loyalty, faithfulness, or kindness. But in the same verse, the psalmist says that the Lord loves justice and judgment. This blend of attributes is seen in the figure of the Good Shepherd, who does what is right for his sheep because he loves them.

The other pastors present were Eliézer Mendoza, pastor of Cristo es Amor Lutheran Church in Barquisimeto and director of the “Juan de Frías” Institute; and Juan Carlos Silva, assistant pastor of Cristo es Amor Lutheran Church.

Luz Maria's granddaughter graduates

On the same Sunday in Lima, Peru, Oriana Montoya, the granddaughter of Luz María, graduated from the same diaconal program. Oriana was born February 7, 2003, baptized that same month at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas; and took first communion October 28, 2012, at our mission. On May 7, 2021 we said goodbye to Oriana; her mother, Yepci; and Aaron and Elias, her brothers. Like many Venezuelans, they sought a brighter future in another country. We give thanks that they were found by the LCMS Mission in Peru.

Bookending birthdays

On the evening before the deaconess seminar started, we celebrated Pastor Eliezer Mendoza's birthday with Pastor Eliezer, his wife, Ginnatriz, their two daughters and the deaconess students. The day after the graduation ceremony, we celebrated Luz Maria's birthday.

Our time in Barquisimeto also included outiings to local attractions, including Tintorero, a village known as a center for folk art and crafts, especially colorfully dyed hammocks. Luz Maria purchased a traditional Venezuelan coffee maker (see below).

How we celebrated Holy Week 2025

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:56:00 -0400

Reaffirmation of Alfonso Torres.

"But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15.

On Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, we received into membership Alfonso Torres. We have known him and his family for 23 years. Five of his children were among the first to be baptized at our mission on March 25, 2007:

Psalm 37:4

• Yexi Karina;

• Deisy Yovana;

• Yaneth Andreina;

• Yovanny Javier;

• Jhonny Alexander.

Yaneth was the youngest at 18 months. Deisy brought Yaneth to our Sunday school classes and, from 2 to 6 years of age, Yaneth was a

in our preschool. Deisy and Yovanny received first communion on October 25, 2009 (Reformation Sunday). Jhonny received first communion on October 31, 2010 (again Reformation Sunday).

Alfonso and his wife, Maria Cecilia, welcomed another daughter, Diana Carolina, and she was baptized on January 8, 2017 (the dedication of our current sanctuary). Diana also would attend our Sunday school and preschool. She received first communion on October 31, 2021.
Deisy’s daughter, Emely Antonella Estrada Torres, was baptized on December 24, 2017. Two more of Alfonso and Maria Cecilia's grandchildren, Jesuly and Josué Fernández Torres, were baptized on January 6, 2019. We received Maria Cecilia into membership by reaffirmation of faith on September 15, 2024.

Reaffirmation of Maria Cecilia.

The Torres are an example of how family can strengthen the faith and faith can strengthen the family. The great outflow of people from Venezuela has had a devastating effect on many marriages, which have not survived lengthy separations. Of the Torres children, only Yaneth and Diana remain in La Caramuca, but we give thanks to God that they have a home with both parents present and a church home in our mission.

Second part of the Sanctus

Of course, we began our observance of Holy Week seven days earlier, on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025.

According to John 12:1, six days before the Feast of Passover Jesus arrived in Bethany, where He had raised Lazarus from the dead. When he left for Jerusalem the next morning, a large crowd came out of the city to greet him. Having heard of Lazarus's resurrection and Jesus' other signs, both the residents of Jerusalem and Passover pilgrims came out to greet him as the multitude had welcomed Simon Maccabeus when he entered to drive the Gentiles from the holy city (1 Maccabees 13:51). But Jesus did not approach Jerusalem as a conqueror coming to free Jerusalem from its oppressors and establish his kingdom by force. He was not mounted on a white charger, but on a donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9.

He entered Jerusalem as the true King of Kings whose “dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river, the Euphrates, even to the ends of the earth”, but not to make war but to “speak peace to the nations” (Zechariah 9:10).

We remembered this mission with our annual procession of palms and, as we do every Sunday, sang with joy, “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" in the second part of the Sanctus in our Holy Communion liturgy. As on the first Palm Sunday, the words are drawn from Psalm 118:25-26. The first part of the Sanctus is based on the prophet Isaiah 6:1-5.

The vocation of womanhood

April 13 also was the fifteenth birthday of Luz Maria’s granddaughter, Anyi Vanesa Garrido Santana. We celebrated her quinceañera that afternoon. The quinceañera is celebrated across Latin America as a religious and a social event that emphasizes the importance of family and society in the life of a young woman as she passes from childhood into adulthood. The Roman Catholic version includes a mass and vows to the Virgin Mary,

But in our Lutheran quinceañera reaffirmed her baptismal vows. She was baptized here on June 19, 2010. Her parents, along with the entire congregation, spoke the vows for her. Why repeat the baptismal vows at this time? Truly, we should remember our baptism daily, every time we pray in the name of the Trinity. Dr. Martin Luther said to remember your baptism every time you wash your face. But it was a special moment for Anyi to reaffirm her identity as a child of God as she contemplated her future direction in life. Especially because, as a woman, that might involve carrying new life in her womb, something no man will ever experience.

Nor did we forget that most blessed among women, the mother of our Lord (Luke 1:28). When the angel told Mary heard that the fruit of her womb would be the Word made flesh, she simply said, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word.” (verse 38). When she heard nearly same words from her relative, Elizabeth, “Blessed are you among and blessed is the fruit of your womb”, Mary broke out into the song of praise we call the Magnificat (Luke 1:47-55). We sang it at Anyi’s quinceañera.

Come, Tell the Story of Salvation
After Palm Sunday, we began a vacation Bible school with the theme, "Come, Tell the Story of Salvation." There are many Pentecostal sects in our area that don't celebrate Holy Week. Their pastors tell them it's a pagan holiday. From Monday to Wednesday, we explained the biblical basis of Holy Week to 20 children. We encouraged them to use the chronology of Holy Week to tell their parents the story of Christ's death and resurrection. It also was the occasion to celebrate the seventh birthday of Emmanuel David Sanchez, Luz Maria’s grandson.

Maundy Thursday in Barinas

We celebrated Maundy Thursday with divine service at the Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barrio El Cambio, Barinas. The epistle designated for Maundy Thursday (1 Corinthians 11:23-32) contains the same words of institution of the Lord's Supper as in the three synoptic gospels. For Matthew, Mark, and Luke, it is part of their account of the Passover meal that Jesus shared with the apostles before his crucifixion. However, in John's gospel, we do not find these words, but rather the story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet. In the ancient world, footwashing helped prepare people for specific tasks.

In the Old Testament ritual context, footwashing was a symbol of purification. Priests were required to wash their hands and feet before entering the Holy Place and offering the sacrifice on the altar (Exodus 30:17-21; 40:30-32; 2 Chronicles 4:6). In Exodus 29:4 and Leviticus 8:6, footwashing is part of the priestly consecration rite. There are parallels in Greco-Roman literature. In the works of Homer and Strabo, people routinely wash their feet before entering a sacred place.

We observed Good Friday at La Caramuca with a Tenebrae service. This liturgical ceremony originated seven or eight centuries after Christ. The purpose of this service was to remember the dark moments that occurred in Jesus' life, from his euphoric entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday until the night of Jesus' burial on Good Friday. The most notable aspect of the service is several lit candlesextinguished one by one while Scripture readings are shared to tell the story of Holy Week.

Training for spiritual warfare

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:50:00 -0400

Jesus began His earthly ministry by fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in the Judean desert as preparation for being tempted by the devil. Matthew’s account of this (Matthew 4:1-11) was our appointed Gospel lesson for the first Sunday in Lent and the topic of our youth Bible study that afternoon. To many of us, the notion of fasting as a way of training for spiritual warfare may sound strange, but it has support in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. The theme of spiritual warfare continues in the readings for the second Sunday (Matthew 15:21-28) and the third Sunday (Luke 11:14-28) in Lent.

Our Lord never despised the blessings of food and drink as sinful in themselves. He performed his first miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-12). Because he accepted the hospitality of many, he was falsely accused of gluttony and drunkenness (Matthew 11:19). But Jesus recognized that there was a time for fasting as well as a time for feasting. In Matthew 9:14-15, Jesus was asked why his disciples did not fast, even though the Pharisees and the disciples of John the Baptist fasted often. “And Jesus said unto them, Can the bridegrooms mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast.” In Matthew 16:1-21, he tells his disciples, “When you give alms,” “when you pray,” and “when you fast.” He never says “if.”

In both the Old and New Testaments, fasting oftern accompanies intercessory prayer. When we are full of food and drink, we usually want to sleep. By curbing our consumption of food and drink, we can stay alert for prayer.

King David fasted and prayed for the life of his sick child. Although he fasted, God denied his request for the child's life (2 Samuel 12:16-23). Anna the prophetess “did not depart from the temple courts, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying” (Luke 2:37). Paul was blind and did not eat or drink for three days after his conversion (Acts 9:9). The Holy Spirit told the believers worshipping and fasting in Antioch, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). After fasting a little longer and praying, they laid hands on them and sent them away. Paul and Barnabas also fasted and prayed when they appointed elders (pastors) for the young churches in Asia Minor (Acts 14:23).

Saint Paul speaks of the need for corporal discipline in the Christian life (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). To clarify his meaning to the Corinthians, Paul uses the figure of the athletic games, with which they were familiar because the Isthmian Games were held near their city every three years. All athletes at the Greek games did not indulge in anything that might weaken their muscles or their endurance; they practiced such severe severity that they abstained from the slightest concession in food or drink that might one day set them back in their training.

Many of the post-apostolic Church Fathers encouraged fasting. As early as 200 AD, it had become customary to fast on the Saturday before Easter. Later, a 40-hour fast (believed to be the length of Christ's tomb) became popular. In the third century, the Easter Fast was extended to the six days of Holy Week, and by the fourth century, many were observing a 40-day Lenten fast (the length of which was similar to Jesus' 40-day fast). We may see a reflection of the Easter Fast tradition in the Small Catechism, where Luther writes of “The Sacrament of the Altar,” “Fasting and preparing oneself bodily is, indeed, a good external discipline; but truly worthy and well-prepared is he who has faith in the words: ‘given for you’ and ‘shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’”

However, from the largely individual and voluntary observance of fasting in the days of the early church, a complex system of mandatory fast days gradually emerged. The medieval church was believed to have received the authority to issue such commands to God's people. Fasting was considered a work of merit. Excommunication was inflicted on those who violated the laws of fasting.

That is why Article XII of the Augsburg Confession warns that “although we are convinced that repentance must produce good fruits for the glory and commandment of God, and good fruits, such as true fasting, true prayer, true almsgiving, etc., have a commandment from God, nevertheless, we will never find in the Holy Scriptures any text that says that eternal punishments are not forgiven except because of the punishment of purgatory or canonical satisfactions, that is, by virtue of certain non-obligatory works, or that the power of the keys has the commandment to commute punishments or to forgive part of them."

Farewell to the flesh

The mandatory Lenten fast of the Middle Ages led to an equal and opposite reaction: The practice of throwing a big fit of conspicuous consumption in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, which marked the beginning of Lent. The object was to make sure everyone knew that you were not hoarding alcohol, red meat, eggs, dairy products and other forbidden foods in your house during the fast. This was known as Mardi Gras in France, Shrove Tuesday in England, and Carnaval in Italy and Spain. Carnaval (or Carnival as it is rendered in English) is derived from the medieval Latin phrase, “carnem levare” and means “farewell to the flesh”.

Masquerade balls and parades were a later addition to the festivities. Because of the forced closure of our preschool, 2025 was the first time in 21 years that we have not celebrated Carnaval with a masquerade party and parade through the community for the preschool children. For our children of the 21st Century, Carnaval meant, for the most part, girls dressing up as the Disney princess of their choice and boys putting on Spider Man, Batman or Superman costumes. We also got a fair share of pirates, probably because of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies and not because of the real history of pirates and privateers attacking Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, or the fact that piracy is again a problem in Venezuelan waters.

Our objective was not to endorse the excesses associated with Carnaval, but to give the children the opportunity to laugh, play and exercise their imaginations in anticipation of the solemnity of Lent.

But we did not forget the Ash Wednesday service of prayer and repentance with the imposition of ashes. As with fasting, the imposition of ashes is not obligatory for Christians, but it is not prohibited as an expression of humility and dependence on God. Sackcloth and ashes are associated with public fasting in the Old Testament (Jonah 3:1-10) and it seems to be implied in Matthew 6:16-17, “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.” The Greek word translated as “disfigure” is the opposite of the verb translated as “appear”, so the hypocrites are trying to obscure or “disappear” their faces, presumably by covering them in ashes. But our Lord did not criticize external acts in Matthew 6, but rather the false motives the Pharisees had, not only for fasting, but also prayer and almsgiving. The imposition of ashes is useful as an expression of sincere repentance and faith.

Afterschool tutoring program expands
Luz Maria's afterschool tutoring program continues to thrive with the assistance of two young ladies as her assistants, Yusmelvis Salas and Anyi Garrido (both confirmed members of our congregation). There are now 11 students in the program, ranging from first to fifth grades. Daily sessions focus on mathematics and language skills. Venezuela faces an educational crisis because of a shortage of qualified schoolteachers. From 2018 to 2021, approximately 25% of teachers left the education system. Moreover, students are no longer atracted to pursue a career in educaton. The primary causes identfed for these challenges include extremely low salaries, a lack of teaching resources, insufcient professional development, a feeling of being underappreciated, and the loss of benefts they previously enjoyed. Many school-age children attend classes at the public school only two or three days per week and have fall far behind on their educational progress for their ages. As well, some of Luz Maria's students have special learning difficulties.

Every tutoring session includes prayer and Bible reading. The most recent topic was Genesis 28:10-22, Jacob's vision of the ladder to heaven at Bethel.

Taking it to the next level
Two former preschool students, Esteban Alzate (right) and Diego Montilla Farias (left), let us know that they graduated from elementary school and are ready for high school.

Pray to the Lord of the harvest

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Wed, 5 Mar 2025 15:36:00 -0400

On February 22, 2026, we celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of our sister congregation, Corpus Christi Lutheran Church, at its current location in the city of Barinas. Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod missionaries began evangelistic work in Barinas began in 1983. The Lutheran Mission in Barinas, as it was known, congregated in various places, including the house of Luz María's mother, Carmen Rivero de Henríquez, and alternately at Luz María's house in La Caramuca, approximately 12.8 kilometers east of the center of the city of Barinas. With the help of missionary Pastor Rudolph Blank, the congregation obtained its own premises, inaugurated on February 19, 1995.

Three of Luz María's children, Pedro, Charli and Sarai, were baptized in the Corpus Christi sanctuary. Two of her grandchildren, Aaron and Oriana Montoya, children of Yepci, her eldest daughter, and Eliezer Montoya, were also baptized there. The Corpus Christi congregation supported my pastoral formation through my ordination in 2008. Regrettably, since Pastor Raimundo Brito left the country in 2024, Corpus Christi does not have a full-time pastor. That is why it was an honor for me to lead the Divine Service on this important occasion.

The leaders of Corpus Christi are waiting to meet with the pastoral counselor of our Western Zone to decide who they might call as pastor. The Lutheran Church of Venezuela as a whole does not have enough pastors to fill all existing pulpits, much less establish new missions in unreached parts of the country. Let us pray that the Lord of the harvest raises up a pastor for the Lutheran Church “Corpus Christi” and faithful pastors who will preach and teach the Gospel throughout Venezuela.

The Word gives life

I read and preached on the appointed Scripture readings for Sexagesima Sunday (that means “60 days before Easter”). The common theme is this: The Word of God is filled with His omnipotent power, and the Holy Spirit is active in it and through it. We must understand this to be true for the divinely inspired Scripture read privately or preached publicly. Hebrews 4:9-14 says that the word of God is living and active and also sharp, penetrating, and judging. To the believer these are comforting words, but to the unbeliever, terrifying words. The image in Isaiah 55:10-13 is the Word of God as life-giving rain that causes crops to grow and bear fruit. In the parable of Luke 8:4-15, a sower went out to sow his seed. In this case, the Word of God is the seed that gives life. The image is that of a farmer who scatters seed upon the earth every year with new diligence and hope, just as the patience and kindness of the heavenly sower does not tire despite much seemingly wasted labor.

Giving thanks for life and loved ones

On Sunday, February 23, we celebrated together with our youth group the birthday of one of the most faithful members of our mission, Sotera del Carmen Zapata. She is now 84 years old, the same age as my mother. Her sister, Rita, is the other grandmother to Aaron, Oriana and also Elias Montoya. Elias was the first child to be baptized at our mission on June 25, 2005. The other two siblings of Sotera and Rita were present for the birthday party, but Aaron, Oriana and Elias live with their mother in Lima, Peru. I told Luz Maria how in our family, not only the siblings of our parents, but also the siblings of our grandparents were known to us as “Aunt” or “Uncle”. Luz Maria replied that because of the exodus of 7.7 million Venezuelans to other countries, many young Venezuelans may not have the blessing of being that familar with their extended families.

A window on the New Testament
Luz Maria continues to mentor Venezuelan women enrolled in the deaconess training program developed by Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic and presented here by the Juan de Frias Theological Institute. The current online course, “Luke-Acts: A window on the New Testament”, looks at two central books that articulate the narrative of the redemptive work of Christ and the beginning of the Christian church. The study of these two books will help to understand the main doctrines of the New Testament. At the same time, the course provides the opportunity to practice fundamental principles of the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. About 50 women are enrolled in the course.

Widening our circles of mission

Since 2003 we have relied on a small circle of individuals and congregations who have supported Epiphany Lutheran Mission through prayer and donations. Most of our partners continue with us to this day and we thank God for them. As we face a future filled with opportunities as well as challenges, we would like to include more people in our circle. We would love to answer questions about our mission in person, but it is uncertain when we might be able to travel outside Venezuela (the last time was in 2019). However, there are many videoconferencing options (well, except for Skype, as of the end of May).

You can partner with us in a variety of ways. Either one-time or regular donations are welcome. One approach that works for many Global Lutheran Outreach missionaries is the formation of local groups who meet regularly to combine prayer, Bible study on cross-cultural missions and fundraising. GLO has developed a guide to forming such a group that I would be happy to send by e-mail upon request.

You also may help us widen our circle of mission by sharing information about our work. Anyone may subscribe to this newsletter. We also have a Spanish-language Web site and Facebook page, as well as an English-language blog. My sermons (in Spanish) are published weekly on Spotify and YouTube. Anyone may donate to our mission online at Global Lutheran Outreach.

Celebrating light and love

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Tue, 4 Feb 2025 21:13:00 -0400

My weekly readings on line from the Greek New Testament with Dr. Roberto Bustamante and seminarians from Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic are now synchronized with the appointed Gospel texts for the following Sunday. I find this very helpful.

For the last week in January we read Luke 2:22-32. This is part of Luke’s last story of Jesus as a baby. Chronologically it took place before the visit of the Magi and the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, all of which is recounted in Matthew’s Gospel, but not by Luke. Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary took Him to the Temple of Jerusalem to fulfill two requirements of the Old Testament ceremonial law: Mary’s ritual purification after childbirth (Leviticus 12:1-8) and the redemption of Mary’s firstborn son from service in the Temple (Exodus 13:1-2; 11-16; Numbers 18:15-16). As the epistle reading (Hebrews 2:14-18) emphasizes, Jesus was born not simply as true man, but also as a descendant of Abraham. Even as an infant, he lived a life of perfect obedience to the moral law (10 Commandments), but also to all the ceremonial laws established by Moses.

But that’s not all. The Gospel lesson also includes the story of Simeon. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Simeon finds the Christ Child among all the children that must have been present in the Temple that day. The words of his blessing are the Nunc Dimittis (“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word...”), which we sing every Sunday after receiving the Lord’s Supper. Here are the key words for this day: “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people; A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” This is followed by the account of Anna the prophetess (Lucas 2:33-40), but that may be read separately on the first Sunday after December 25, because it’s thematically a little different.

The Feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of Our Lord is a mouthful for a minor festival. Because of the focus on Christ as the Light of the world, this festival is often known simply as Candlemas in English-speaking countries and Candelaria in Latin America. Unfortunately, here the celebration of Candelaria often involves the unacceptable veneration of the Virgin Mary. Scripturally compatible traditions include candlelight processions and the blessing of candles to be used in the church in the upcoming year. We had already made new candles from last year’s used-up candles for distribution to children on Epiphany Sunday, so we did not do anything special with candles on February 2. However, we did follow another associated tradition of leaving up the Christmas decorations, then removing them by this date Another theme for the day is that fertility is a blessing from God and all children really belong to Him, which is emphasized in the Old Testament lesson, 1 Samuel 1:21-28. So we gave thanks for the birth of Brianna Gisell, grandchild of Mairelys Pereira, who had been one of our preschool teachers. We presented her daughter with infant clothes that had been sent to us by Yepci Santana, Luz Maria’s daughter, who is an active member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod mission in Lima, Peru.

Afterschool program, Bible study grows

Since our preschool was shut down, we have been working to expand our afterschool tutoring program and Sunday afternoon youth Bible study. We have met with some success and there is, in fact, some overlap between the two groups, with some of our new afterschool students attending the Bible study. Luz Maria has enlisted her granddaughter, Anyi Garrido, and Yusmelvis Salas, another young lady from the neighborhood, to help her with the afterschool classes.

The Sunday youth group continues learning to "sing" in sign language. There are 1.2 million deaf people in Venezuela, with an estimated 15,000 congenitally deaf people. There were over 3,000 deaf children in the national public school system in 2004. Sunday afternoons are devoted entirely to prayer and Bible study. Afterschool classes include remedial language skills, mathematics and other subjects as well daily Bible reading and prayer. Many of our students have basic learning disabilities as well as having to deal with a shortage of teachers and the legacy of two years of closed schools due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Shining the light of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Wed, 8 Jan 2025 09:54:00 -0400

Scented gift candles made from leftover wax from altar candles.

“For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord” (from the long-form Kyrie),

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, we celebrated the Epiphany of our Lord and the eighth anniversary of the consecration of our sanctuary. We began construction of a two-story church and school building a year earlier, thanks to a donation from Venezuela Lutheran Mission Partnership (VLMP).

It was kairos, the right time. Four years of hyperinflation would follow, emigration from Venezuela would become a stampede, and that was before COVID-19. We would not have been able to build this holy house at any point afterward.As in past years, members of our sister congregation, Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas, worshipped with us and later joined us for a meal and cake.

Luz para las naciones

The children who attended our vacation Bible school sang “Brilla, Jesús”, a Spanish version of “Shine, Jesus, shine” in sign language, their project for the week. The simple praise song, written by Graham Kendrick in 1987, is a favorite in Venezuela. It is based on Genesis 1:3; Psalm 139:23; John 1:5; John 8:12; John 8:32; 2 Corinthians 3:18; and Revelation 22:1-2.

This fit with the theme of our vacation Bible school, “Light for the nations”. This phrase appears in the messianic prophecies of Isaiah 42:6 and Isaiah 49.6. The Hebrew word translated as “nations” refers to those outside the covenant people of Israel, and thus could also be translated as “gentiles”. A form of the phrase is used with the corresponding Greek word in Luke 2:32, as part of the Nunc Dimittis or “Song of Simeon”, that we sing after the Eucharist every Sunday: “A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” In Acts 13:47, Paul and Barnabas justify preaching the Gospel to gentiles with a more direct citation of Isaiah 49:6. “For so the Lord has commanded us: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
The first day of vacation Bible school was Thursday, January 2, the day after the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus on the church calendar (because it’s eight days after Christmas). So the activity involved identifying the names (or titles) given to Jesus in the Bible and choosing a favorite. Most chose “King of Kings”, but some chose “Light of the World”, “Messiah”, “Good Shepherd” and “Emmanuel”.

On the second day of vacation Bible school, we compared the verses John 8:12 and Matthew 5:14-16. If Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world”, how could He also say, “You are the light of the world”? Because we are sent out into the world to shine the light of Christ into its darkness. The second part of John 8:12 reads, “He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Our Lord also says in Matthew 5:14-16: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see you good works and glorify you Father in heaven.” So we studied the 10 Commandments and what the Small Catechism says about the third use of the law as a guide for living the Christian life.

Keeping the Mass in Christmas

On Sunday, December 29, 2024, we celebrated the Mass of the Nativity in the morning in La Caramuca and in the afternoon at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas. This was the eucharistic service. On December 24, we marked Christmas Eve with a vespers service in La Caramuca. At both locations, worship was followed by a traditional Venezuelan Christmas dinner of hallacas, chicken salad and pan de jamón (ham-filled bread).

Creating hallacas involves wrapping a mixture of seasoned beef/pork, capers, raisins, olives, onions, garlic, peppers, and spices in masa, a corn dough. Banana leaves are used to cover the filled parcel before it’s secured with twine or string. To a gringo, the hallaca may look like a tamale, but do not call it that. With the tamale, a dish typically associated with Mexico and Central America, masa dough is filled with meats, cheese and veggies, wrapped up in corn husks and steamed. The corn husks impart a different texture and flavor.

Witnesses till the end

On St. John’s Day, December 27, 2024, we met with local coordinators of other LeadaChild projects in Venezuela in a Zoom conference. We thanked everyone for their work over the past year, including Elsy Machado, national director of LeadaChild Venezuela; Nury de Milian, director of LeadaChile Latin America; and Dr. Philip Frusti, executive director of LeadaChild in the United States.

We meditated on the fact that “martyr” means “witness” in Greek. From St. Stephen (Acts 7) to the present day, many Christians have died for faith in Jesus Christ. We give thanks for their testimony, which has been the seed of the church. Even those who die for Christ without giving voice, like the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13-23), show by their death the depth of evil and the truth of God’s Word. We also gave thanks for St. John the Evangelist, the only one among the apostles to die of old age (John 21:21-24). Some face a violent death with the help of the Holy Spirit and by their example bear witness to the truth of God’s Word. But others, like John, are blessed with a long life to teach new Christians. Those of us involved with LeadaChild are committed to seeing children grow in faith and to teaching that faith to their children.

Open for the King of glory!

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Tue, 3 Dec 2024 21:06:00 -0400

In our afternoon Bible study on November 24, we explained that we had concluded another year according the calendar of the church. The next Sunday we would start another cycle with the first Sunday of Advent, a season of preparation for the Christmas celebration. The church calendar, a useful teaching tool, covers during its first half, all the significant events in our Lord`s earthly life and ministry, from His birth to the Ascension. The second half takes us from Pentecost to the current moment, as the church carries out its mission to gather and care for the lost sheep until the Lord returns in glory. It is part of the great countdown that helps us remain alert until that day.

On Sunday, December 1, Karla Frias, one of our youth, lit the first candle of our Advent wreath during the opening hymn, “Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel”. We sang the first two stanzas in the new Spanish hymnal. Unlike earlier hymnals,

Himnario Luterano contains all seven of the original stanzas, so we can sing two for each of the four Sundays of Advent (the first and last stanzas for the fourth Sunday).

“Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel” is based on the seven “O Antiphons”, a series of prayers based on Bible passages that are, according to tradition, recited or chanted before the Magnificat in Vespers services from December 17 to 23. Each O Antiphon highlights a title for the Messiah. This is the first:

O Wisdom, who issued forth from the lips of the Most High, encompassing all things from one end to the other, and ordering all things with firmness and gentleness: Come and show us the path of salvation. (Isaiah 11:2-3; 28:29; 1 Corinthians 1:24-30; Colossians 2:1-3)

According to the Old Testament writers, wisdom in its absolute sense is an attribute of God. Isaiah identifies “the Spirit of the Lord” as “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord”, and that this Spirit will rest on the Messiah. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians brings out the foolishness of this world's wisdom when compared with the wisdom of God, embodied in Jesus and especially in His death on the cross. In Colossians, the apostle writes that there is no counsel of God for the salvation of the world which does not find its fulfillment in Christ.

In the Gospel reading for the first Sunday in Advent (Matthew 21:1-9), the multitude gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover recognized the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 62:11 and so they shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

They recognized the man seated on the donkey as the promised Messiah, who our Old Testament lesson (Jeremiah 23:5-8) says will be named “Jehovah, our righteousness”. Likewise, in the Psalm of the day, we repeated the liturgical dialogue of the faithful who wished to enter the Temple of Jerusalem. “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in” (Psalm 24:7). Then the gatekeepers of the Temple would ask, “Who is this King of glory?” and the people would respond, “Jehovah, strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle!” (Psalm 24:8). The people would enter the gates of the Lord`s house, not by their own righteousness, but by the righteous of God`s Anointed One. The name given the Messiah is the proper name of the God of Israel.

So the Messiah is true God, but some wanted His human name. To which others replied, “Jesus the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee.” These texts along with those that identify Jesus as the divine Wisdom are good for this season when, right on schedule, the Jehovah`s Witnesses are going door to door to deny that the Son is of the same substance as the Father.

"The Lord has kept me alive..."

Two years ago at this time I was hospitalized for what I can best describe (without going into excruciating detail) a stroke caused by kidney infection among other factors. Since then I have paid more attention to diet and exercise, and I seem to be in excellent condition for a 66-year-old man. I can say with Caleb, "And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive..." (Joshua 14:10).

We were able to weather the medical emergency financially thanks to health insurance provided by Global Lutheran Outreach (GLO). But now we face a different challenge. Donations to Epiphany Lutheran Mission have declined substantially over the past year and we will not be able to afford the same level of health coverage for the upcoming year. But that is not the only consequence of the drop in donations. We have plans for building back preschool program and more. But without additional support, we can only struggle to maintain the ministry that we have now. We are not in personal crisis, but Venezuela remains in national crisis. Inflation continues, and, although food, medicine and other necessities are available, many people do not have enough money to sustain a decent standard of living. Power outages still occur daily, interruptions in Internet and telephone service are frequent, and travel is laden with unnecessary risks. We are grateful to God and all of our donors for being able to serve our community and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 21 years. If you can renew your partnership with us, or convince someone else to help, our online donation page may be found at https://globallutheranoutreach.com/support-ernst.html.

Also, feelings of isolation are an occupational hazard for cross-cultural missionaries. Here is an easy way to let us and other GLO missionaries know that we are not forgotten, and make a small donation to Global Lutheran Outreach for each birthday wish (you can set the minimum donation per wish). Please head over to wishwell.ai/GLO to choose the missionaries that you would like to greet on their special day. Once you have made your selections, place your order via secure credit card or ACH payment. Remember also to pray for your missionary on their birthday!

The Word of the Lord endures forever

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Sun, 3 Nov 2024 19:48:00 -0400

On October 3, 2024, we celebrated, along with our preschool children and their families, 21 years of our Christian preschool. On October 7, local authorities shut it down. We knew we were approaching a turning point and had been hopeful that we might be able to expand our community education program this school year. But the decision went the other way.

What happened? Since mid-September we were involved in the latest round of a struggle that continued for more than a decade. To begin at the beginning, we started our preschool with the help of a non-governmental organization that existed in the early 2000s. This philanthropic enterprise, Fundación del Niño, provided foodstuffs for preparing nutritionally balanced breakfast and lunch, and certified teachers to establish neighborhood preschools in private homes that met certain standards for health and safety. Luz Maria enrolled her home in this program and we were off to the races. The foundation was quite pleased with our ability to meet the material needs of the children, and had no problem with the fact that our daily routine included prayer, Bible readings, Christian songs and Biblically oriented crafts.

As time went on, the Ministry of Education of the state of Barinas took over more and more of the funding and administration of the program. Eventually, all of the in-home preschools but ours were closed. We were able to keep ours open because of overwhelming support from the surrounding community. But every year since 2012 we have had to contend with a faction within the state bureacracy that wants to close our preschool. Every year we have won the argument with support from the families of our preschool children, although with constantly changing, at times arbitrary regulations. From 2003 to 2020, children attended our preschool from two to six years of age, with a graduation ceremony to see them off to first grade. Since 2020, the parents, although they prefer our preschool, have had to transfer their children to state-run preschools at three years of age with no farewell.

We have long suspected this oposition was ideological in nature. Luz Maria recalls how, some time ago, a representative of the school district told her that we should be prepared to be assigned a homosexual teacher. Luz Maria told the representative that was a non-negociable “No”.

This time we were told plainly that the only way our preschool could continue to operate was if a) we turned our property over to the state; and b) eliminated all the religious content from our educational program. Once again, the community rallied to our support. More than 200 people signed a petition to keep our preschool open. For awhile it seemed like the fight was in our favor, with the possibility we might even be able expand beyond the preschool level. Then came the October 7 announcement and, two days later, the confiscation of preschool furniture and equipment that had been lent to us in 2003. The families staged a protest at the preschool to which their children had been transferred. They have not given up and plan to make further appeals.

So we are considering ways to continue our ministry in a somewhat different form. One option still open to us is registering as a completely private school. This would require, first of all, that we would have to charge tuition. Since the community wants what we have to offer, at least some parents may well be willing to pay minimal tuition. Third, we would be completely responsible for paying at least one teacher with full benefits.

Otherwise, we still have Luz Maria´s afterschool tutoring. We could expand that program to include weekend workshops in remedial mathematics and English, for example. Also, there is the possibility of seminars in other subjects of interest to the community, such as gardening and food preparation. In any event, we will have to turn the page and start a new chapter in our ministry, God willing. We have walked in faith since the beginning, and, by His grace, have stayed the course for 21 years. Thanks be to the Lord for that, and we trust that the future is in His hands.

507 years of the Reformation

On Sunday, October 27, we observed Reformation Sunday at our mission in La Caramuca. It was a low-key event this year, although in the past a number of people have received first communion at our Reformation service. These include Diana Carolina Torres, Jeckson Gabriel Marquez, Kimberly Marquez, Sandro Perez, Noel Alexander Marquina, Pedro Santana, Karelis Santana, Jimmy Perez, Angi Perez, Deisi Torres, Yovanny Torres, Yhonny Torres, Jeison Manuel Arellano, Anyi Garrido and Oriana Montoya,
On October 31, we observed Reformation Day with an evening service at Corpus Christi Lutheran Church, our sister congregation in Barrio El Cambio, Barinas. Corpus Christi currently does not have a full-time pastor. After the service, we celebrated with cake and popcorn, not only the Reformation, but 25 years of marriage for Ludy and Adonay Tarazona, members of Corpus Christi.
The sermon text was the same for both services: "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth -- to ever nation, tribe, tongue, and people -- saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" (Revelation 14:6-7).
This verse teaches that evangelism involves proclamation of God's righteousness (the Law) and God's mercy (the good news or Gospel of salvation through faith in Christ). All have sinned and fallen short of God's righteous, but Jesus paid the penalty for all on the cross. But for forgiveness to be received, there must be recognition of sin, which the Law brings, and repentance which flows from faith in God's Word.

Lex orandi, lex credendi: 500 years of Lutheran hymnals

Prosper of Aquitaine, a disciple of St. Augustine, coined the Latin phrase, "Lex orandi, lex credendi". Literally it means, "Rule of prayer, rule of belief". More broadly, the structure and content of worship both reflects and shapes personal belief. This has been the guiding philosophy of 500 years of Lutheran hymnals, as we learned from the Rev. Dr. Sergio Fritzler, director of Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic. Dr. Fritzler presented an overview of the development of hymnals up until the time of Johann S. Bach in a October 30 Facebook conference.The first distinctly Lutheran hymnal was published in 1524. Although it was a complete paragraph of German text, it was more widely known as "Achtliederbuch" ("The Book of Eight Songs"). Five songs were written by Martin Luther, two by Paul Speratus and one by Justus Jonas. The Luther songs are included, in Himnario Luterano, the new Spanish-language hymnal published by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

On October 25, Luz Maria and I participated in a Zoom conference in which Dr. Douglas Rutt, professor emeritus at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Missouri, spoke on the "Reformation in its Global Contact", particulary with reference to the European colonization of the Western Hemisphere.

This is the day the Lord has made

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:35:00 -0400

On September 15, 2024, the sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, we welcomed Maria Cecilia Ortega as a communicant member. Four of her children and three grandchildren were baptized at our mission, and five children received their first communion.

Her verse of affirmation of faith was Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; we will be glad and rejoice in it.” With this verse we celebrated only that Sunday, but the entire period of grace and salvation extending to the last day of the world (Isaiah 49:8; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Revelation 19:7). In ancient Israel, Psalm 118 was sung by the faithful as they entered the Temple in procession in Jerusalem on the first day of the Jewish liturgical year. The psalm also was sung by the Jews around the Passover table and was most likely the final hymn sung by Jesus and his disciples as they celebrated their last Passover (Matthew 26:30). The multitude acclaimed Jesus as the Messiah with the words of Psalm 118:25-26 as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We sing this every Sunday as the second part of the Sanctus: “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.”

School supplies from LeadaChild

On the same Sunday, we delivered backpacks with school supplies to the children of the mission, thanks to the donations of LeadaChild, a missionary society that has supported our mission since 2006. The people of LeadaChild provide funds for scholarships, school registration, and supplies for children so they can attend Lutheran schools and educational enrichment programs. They also provide professional develop
ment for leaders and teachers, with an emphasis on effective ways to share the Gospel and teach biblical truths to children. Our young women showed the fruits of the crocheting that accompanied their Bible study during the vacation.

Messengers of God

Every Friday I participate in a reading of the Greek text of the New Testament with the Rev. Dr. Roberto Bustamante and seminarians at Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic. For September 27, the Friday before we celebrated the feast of St. Michael and All Angels on Sunday, September 29, the selection of Galatians 1:6-9 was most appropriate, especially verse 8. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”

The word “angel” (ἄγγελος) is the Greek word for “messenger”. It is used not only in the Greek New Testament, but also in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, for the word מֲלְאָךְ (malak), which means the same. In some passages of the Old Testament, “the Angel of the Lord” is clearly God Himself (Genesis 16:7; Exodus 3:2; Numbers 22:23; 1 Kings 19:7). The divine Angel of the Lord appears in the New Testament as the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:1-2).

At times the word “angel is applied to human messengers of God. In the Old Testament, prophets and priests of the Temple are called angels (Isaiah 42:19; 44:26; Malachi 2:7). In the opening chapters of the Revelation of St. John, the bishops of the seven churches in Asia Minor are called angels (“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write…” Revelation 2:1). That is why St. Paul tells the Galatians that any “angel” or messenger that preaches a gospel different than the one revealed to the prophets and apostles must be ἀνάθεμα (anathema), a word which may be translated “accursed”, but also “excomunicated”. The church must repudiate human teachers of false doctrine so that they might repent before God’s judgment falls on them.

Of course, the majority of references to angels in the Bible describe spiritual beings who are neither human nor divine. In Revelation 22:8-9, the Apostle John prostrates himself to worship one of these angels, but the angel replies, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

Peace to this house and all who dwell here

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 16:36:00 -0400

On August 29, I blessed the new house of Adonay and Ludy Tarazona, members of Corpus Christi Lutheran Church, our sister congregation in the city of Barinas. Corpus Christi currently does not have a regular pastor and since I have known the Tarazonas for 21 years, they invited me to do it. Adonay and Ludy first met in Sunday school at Corpus Christi. They have three children who all still live with them.

The Rev. Ross Johnson, a former missionary to Venezuela, points out that the speaking of a blessing, or benediction, conveys the message of God's mercy and grace in private situations as well and the Divine Service. The blessing of a home as a Christian ritual has a long history. It is often done during the Epiphany season, with customs associate with Epiphany, because of Matthew 2:11. "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him." As the Gospel lesson for the blessing of Adonay and Ludy's new home, I read Matthew 7:24-29, which is the parable of the house built on rock versus that built on sand.

More medicines from GLO, Lutherans in Chile

On Sunday, August 11, 2024, we distributed the 12th shipment of over-the-counter medications sent as part of Global Lutheran Outreach’s Venezuela Relief Project. During the project’s initial years (2017-2020), many pharmaceutical companies ceased operations in Venezuela, and medicine had almost ceased to be available at local pharmacies. We still live in an inflationary economy with chronic shortages, but medicine is more readily available although at high prices. Many Venezuelans must decide on a monthly basis between medicine and food for the family.

Since 2017, the base of operations for the Venezuela Relief Project has been Divina Providencia (Divine Providence) Lutheran Church in Santiago, Chile. This congregation is affiliated with the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile. Medicines are purchased in Chile with the cooperation of a local pharmacy. Then volunteers at the congregation, many of them Venezuelan immigrants to Chile, collate the orders and prepare them for shipment.We give thanks to God for this ministry and also pray that it might continue. As the Rev. James Tino, director of Global Lutheran Outreach (GLO), explained in a recent newsletter, the congregation rents its facilities for around US $2,000 per month, or about double the average monthly wage in Chile).

The congregation has been struggling to meet rent payments and their current rental contract will soon expire. At this point, a suitable property in Santiago will cost around US $450,000 for a basic building, or US $850,000 for one that can house the church and the pastor's family, while also having space for some income-producing activity.

The Rev. Adrian Ventura is the current pastor of Divina Providencia. I first met him in 2002 when he was the pastor of Cristo Rey (Christ the King) Lutheran Church in Maturín, Venezuela. In 2004, he began a second term as president of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela. He commissioned Luz Maria as a deaconess on the national level in 2004; in 2008 he ordained me as a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela. Since 2018, Pastor Adrian has served as a fellow GLO missionary in Chile.

The lights went out in Venezuela

For years we have to live with local and regional power outages. Typically, lights may go out at any moment of the day for perhaps 10 to 15 minutes, but sometimes for an hour or two. The country's power grid is in a poor state of maintenance and is more than 80 percent depended on a single power station. The Guri reservoir and hydroelectric facility was built on the Caroni River, near what had been the mouth of the Guri River and the village of Guri. The first stage of the facility was completed in 1969 and was designed to be enlarged in two additional stages, whose scheduling would be determined by national power needs. However, electrical demand in Venezuela grew so fast that stage two, begun in 1976, encompassed both later stages, and final work was completed in 1986. In its day the Guri power station was a marvel of engineering, but has had difficulty meeting the continually growing demand for electricity.

Finally Father's Day and rites of passage

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 20:18:00 -0400

On July 4, 2024, the last day of preschool for the 2023/2024, we celebrated a belated Father’s Day party with the children and their families. Also we highlighted the different regions of Venezuela with examples of their cuisine, music and dance. The opening devotional text for our July 4 celebration was the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The father in the parable represents God the Father, the prodigal son represents the rebel whose rejection of God is obvious, while the eldest son represents those who think they have earned God’s favor by good works. God's forgiveness is granted instantly and fully, without restriction, and with exuberant joy, to the penitent sinner. He also desires the repentance and salvation of the self-righteous. When God reveals himself to us as our heavenly Father, it is a revelation of His love and mercy. This should be considered a model for earthly parents. "And what man is there among you, to whom if his son asks for bread, he will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will give him a snake? If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children "How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?" (Matthew 7:9-11). Also, Ephesians 6:4, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

A service of thanksgiving

On July 7, the sixth Sunday after Trinity, we gave thanks for the promotion of all students in the community’s preschools, elementary school and high school. Visitors that Sunday included teachers, parents and children from Rafael Urdaneta State Initial Education Center. with teaching staff, and boys and girls. They were invited by Emmanuel David Sánchez, who with his classmates will begin first grade in September. Emmanuel, Luz Maria’s grandson, was baptized in our mission on June 5, 2018, and attended our preschool until he was three years old. The last graduation ceremony in our preschool was in 2020. The age range for our preschool had been six to six years (the year for starting first grade), but it became clear there were no early education programs in the area for children under three years of age, so we changed our age range to two to three years. The sermon text was Psalm 19:7-10. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

In addition to Emmanuel, we rejoiced with Diana Carolina Torres, who will begin her first year of high school in September. Diana was baptized in our mission on August 1, 2017, and received her first communion on October 31, 2021. Two of Luz Maria’s afterschool tutoring students, Reiner Ortega and Erick Jiménez, also will start high school in the coming school year. Emmanuel, Diana Reiner and Erick are past recipients of scholarships to continue their education from LeadaChild, one of our sponsoring organizations.

Another afterschool student, Mateo Córdoba, will begin first grade. We were pleasantly surprised when Daiyimar Aranguren, a former preschool student, sent us a photo of herself studying medicine at a university in Barinas.

Death is swallowed up in victory

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Thu, 4 Jul 2024 16:55:00 -0400

Carmen Henriquez de Rivero, celebrating her 92nd birthday with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54

Carmen Henriquez de Rivero, Luz Maria’s mother, passed to eternal life on June 2, 2024, the second Sunday after Trinity, in Barrio El Cambio, Barinas, Venezuela. She was born on September 21, 1930, in Las Bonitas, Ciudad Bolívar, a city located in southeastern Venezuela on the banks of the Orinoco River. She would later live in the Venezuelan states of Apure and Guarico (Luz Maria was born in Valle de Pascua, Guarico), but lived nearly the latter half of her life in the city of Barinas. She had eight children, of whom seven survive, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the 1980s, she became part of the nucleus of the original Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) mission in Barinas. She joined the Lutheran Church along with four of her children: Luz Maria, Rosaura, Moisés and Robert. Eventually she and Rosaura joined a Baptist congregation, although Roamird Castillo, Rosaura’s son, remains a member of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) Lutheran Church in Barrio El Cambio, and now serves as secretary and legal adviser to the national Lutheran Church of Venezuela. Señora Carmen continued to welcome LCMS missionaries in her home and always supported our mission in La Caramuca. When, in her last years, we would look after her at the mission for a few days at a time, she would insist on attending our Sunday morning service, even though she had to be carried up the stairway to our sanctuary. (Our sanctuary is on the second floor, because the civil law requires the preschool to be on ground level.) She would teach the young people and their parents some of her sewing skills, which included making dolls from whatever scraps of fabric, buttons and other household materials might be available.

As her health began to deteriorate more rapidly, the family often would call me to pray with her and anoint her with oil, according to James 5:14-16. “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” We would pray with her and sing her favorite hymns, then I would hear her confession and apply olive oil to her forehead in the sign of the cross to recall the promise of eternal life in baptism. This was always done as if it might be the last time, but she nevertheless feel much better afterward. The most dramatic occasion was on June 1, when she refused to eat or drink, or move from her bed, seeming barely conscious. After our period of prayer, she immediatel sat up and, with assistance, walked to the table to eat and drink. However, this would be the last time, as she died peacefully the following morning.

Following Venezuelan custom, the body was prepared for a wake (velorio) that lasted through the night until burial the next morning. I conducted a funeral service in the home for the Lutheran members of the family, including members of our mission in La Caramuca.

How to give shelter from the storm

With the deaconesses of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela.

On June 25, Luz Maria and I traveled to another city on the Orinoco River, Puerto Ordaz, 67 miles (108 kilometers) east of Ciudad Bolívar. In 1961, Puerto Ordaz united with San Félix de Guayana, an older port on the Caroni River, to form the metropolitan complex of Ciudad Guayana, or Guayana City. The name is derived from the Guiana Highlands, a region of forested plateau and low mountains that covers the southern half of Venezuela, nearly all of the Guianas (three nations to the east of Venezuela), the northern part of Brazil, and a portion of southeastern Colombia. Ciudad Guayana is located at the confluence of the Orinoco and Caroni, the most economically important rivers in Venezuela. Ciudad Guayana also is home to the Guri Reservoir and Power Station, a hydroelectric facility that provides electricity for the major part of Venezuela’s public power grid.

We were met at the airport in Valencia (four hours drive northeast of Barinas) by women from the cities of Barquisimeto and Maracay, and Eliezer Mendoza, pastor of Cristo es Amor (Christ is Love) Lutheran Church, Barquisimeto, and director of the Juan de Frias Theological Institute, and his wife and deaconess, Ginnatriz. Our group flew from Valencia to Puerto Ordaz, where we were hosted for the night by members of Fuente de Vida (Fountain of Life) Lutheran Church. On the morning of June 26, we boarded a bus to a secluded campground for three days of intensive coursework for both graduates and currently enrolled students of the three-year deaconess program sponsored by the Juan de Frias Institute and Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic. In addition to Barinas, Barquisimeto and Maracay, there were women who represented our congregations in Caracas, Barcelona, Maturín, and other congregations in Ciudad Guayana.

The 15 women currently enrolled in the deaconess program received instruction in the theological fundamentals of the diaconal ministry. This course was taught by Sergio Maita, who serves as the pastor “Pan de Vida” Lutheran Church in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, and who also is a faculty member at Concordia El Reformador Seminary. In Acts 6 we find the first example of the apostles delegating mercy work to responsible laymen. While the primary ministry of the church is preaching of the Word and administration of the sacraments, the fruit of this ministry is good works that demonstrate God’s grace and mercy to the world (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; James 1:27). While the pastoral office was instituted by the Lord Himself and neither its requirements nor its responsibilities may change, the auxiliary offices instituted by the church and their responsibilities may change to fit the circumstances of a particular place and time.

Sergio was born in Maturín, Venezuela, and was raised as a member of Cristo Rey (Christ the King) Lutheran Church there. Sergio and I were ordained together with Eduardo Flores, pastor of La Santa Trinidad (Holy Trinity) Lutheran Church in Caracas, and president of the Lutheran Church of Venezuela, December 13, 2008, at El Salvador (Savior) Lutheran Church in Caracas. Yoxandris, Sergio’s wife, designed and made the liturgical stoles that I wear.

Gustavo Arturo Maita, Sergio’s brother, taught the 26 deaconess program graduates in a more advanced study of responding to natural disasters. Arturo currently the pastor of Príncipe de Paz (Prince of Peace) Lutheran Church in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and is director of disaster response for the Puerto Rican Lutheran mission. Since he took the call to Puerto Rico, the island has been hammered by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017; earthquakes in late 2019 and early 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21; Hurricane Fiona in 2022; and in May 2024 Puerto Rico’s governor declared a state of emergency following heavy rains, widespread flooding and landslides.

Arturo had a little trouble getting his PowerPoint presentation projector up and running, but received some unexpected help in illustrating the desperation of people caught in natural disasters. On the afternoon of June 29, a thunderstorm brought strong winds and torrential rain, resulting in a loss of electricity to the campground. There was no backup generator and the campground’s electric water pumps were no longer able to replenish the water supply. Thanks be to God, power was restored later that evening.

Arturo brought a wealth of printed material about organized disaster response. It was translated into Spanish from material developed by LCMS Disaster Response. After the seminar, many of the women who returned to their homes near Venezuela's northeastern coast expressed their gratitude for all of the information, as Hurricane Beryl, the first storm of the 2024 hurricane season, brushed Venezuela, causing heavy rain and wind, flooding and power outages. Two deaths were reported in northern Venezuela’s Sucre state, where authorities said another five people are unaccounted for and a total of 25,000 have been affected by heavy rains, winds and river flooding from the outer bands of the storm. Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was injured after being hit by a falling tree while visiting one of the affected towns.

Good fences make good neighbors

In our case, we built a stout fence as a gesture of good will toward the civil authorities. There is the possibility that we may be allowed to expand our preschool program to allow more children to attend (there is a waiting list). But we were told fencing the steeper section of our property was a prerequisite. The property is in the shape of the letter L. The short leg of the L, parallel to the street, is where we now have our house, church/school, playground and outbuildings. The long leg slopes down toward the river, and is where we have our well and plantings of fruits and vegetables. If it was cleared off and if there was ever snow, it would be a terrific sledding hill. But not in 20 years has anyone fallen down and hurt themselves on it. But we built it, and now we have the advantage of keeping our growing chicken flock out of everyone’s way. They have a back door to their chicken house by which they come and go.

A woman clothed with the sun

noreply@blogger.com (David Ernst) — Wed, 29 May 2024 10:57:00 -0400

We also celebrated Luz Maria's
birthday on May 5.

This year, the church calendar’s “forgotten festival” of Ascension fell on Thursday, May 9, while Mother’s Day fell on Sunday, May 12. But we had our Mother’s Day party with the preschool children on Thursday and celebrated the Ascension on Sunday. The preschool children received their lesson on the Ascension on Monday, May 13.The previous Monday, May 6, the children learned about the miracle of motherhood in general, and the miracles of motherhood recorded in the Bible. That is to say, the birth of every child is a miracle, because God forms a new person in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16). But also there are several stories in the Scriptures in which God grants the gift of a child to sterile women, including some past the age of childbearing (Sarah, wife of Abraham, Genesis 18:1-15; Rachel, wife of Jacob, Genesis 30:22-24; Samson’s unnamed mother, Judges 13; Hannah, mother of Samuel, the prophet, 1 Samuel 1; and Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, Luke 1:1-25). Finally, we have the great mystery of the Incarnation, the God Himself born of Mary, a virgin, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-7). I expanded on the theme of both human life and motherhood as gifts for the opening devotion of our Mother’s Day party on Thursday, with a discussion of Lois and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy, faithful women who assumed the responsibility of teaching Timothy the Scriptures from his childhood (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).

The gift of motherhood.

Of course, that Sunday we remembered all mothers in the prayer of the church. Furthermore, instead of the straightforward Ascension narrative in Acts 1:1-11, I read the more symbolic account in Revelation 12:1-6. It is clear in John’s vision that the “Child caught up to God and His throne” is Jesus, and the dragon is “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world”. But, who is the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head, a garland of twelve stars”? She is not sim ply Mary; the twelve stars indicate that, in the first verses, she represents the Old Testament people of God, with the twelve sons of Jacob as their patriarchs. In the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), Mary not only names herself the Lord’s maidservant, but says that with the conception of Jesus, God has remembered His servant, Israel, “as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed, forever.”

Celebration Mother's Day.

The “war in heaven” described in Revelation 12:7-12, does not represent the primeval rebellion of Satan and his angels, but the victory of Christ on the cross. For the Devil loses his power to accuse us of our sin in the court of heaven (as in the book of Job).
But the woman remains on earth, where she is pursued by the dragon and his angels for a short time (until Christ returns in glory). Here she symbolizes the New Testament people of God, with the twelve apostles as the patriarchs.

So in the Revelation account, we have the complete cycle of the earthly ministry of Jesus, from the Incarnation to the AscLension, followed by the age of the church and its mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. God the Son leaves to one side the fullness of His divine power, but honors motherhood and our human nature by being born of a woman, then exalts humanity further by ascending not only as true God, but as true man.

Trinity of Friedensau.

Conviction rather than convenience

My grandparents on their wedding day.

My grandparent' s grave.

In 1974, I attended the centennial anniversary celebration of Trinity Lutheran Church of Friedensau, Nebraska. Recently I was invited to the 150th anniversary on Sunday, June 9, 2024, by the current pastor, José Flores. I thanked Pastor Flores for the invitation, but said I would not be able to attend due the difficulties of travel to and from Venezuela.

What does this small congregation in rural Nebraska mean to me and my family? Henry F. Schabacker, my great-grandfather, served the church as pastor from the late 1890s to the late 1920s, the longest tenure of any pastor to date. He and his wife, Frederika, lived in the first parsonage, and raised 10 children at Friedensau.

One of their daughters, Theodora Amanda, married a young man from Texas who was the teacher in the parochial school and the church organist, despite being paralyzed on one side of his body by polio. His name was David Julius Ernst. My grandparents also raised 10 children at Friedensau and their earthly remains are buried side by side in the church cemetery. Alfred H. Ernst, my father’s older brother, was one of the featured speakers at the centennial. At the time, he was the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska. I do not remember his speech word for word, but according to a local newspaper clipping, “Rev. Ernst praised the church for the record it had made during the past century as it had produced 12 pastors, 27 parish teachers and one parish worker. He said the church had strengthened the faith so that it became a conviction rather than a convenience.”

Spanish Bible from LHF.

During my interesting correspondence with Pastor Flores, he told me how he had been the director of Russian Lutheran Hour Ministries shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. “ On Christmas 1992 I stood on Red Square in Moscow singing Christian carols with other Christians for the first time in 75 years,” he wrote. While in Russia, Pastor Flores met Dr. Matthew Heise,who spent 12 years as Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod missionary in former Soviet-bloc countries like Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. I replied that I also had corresponded with Dr. Heise, who is now the executive director of the

Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) and the author of a book about Lutheran churches under Soviet rule. The LHF has greatly helped our mission and the Lutheran Church of Venezuela by supplying us with Spanish Bibles, translations of the Small Catechism, and other Spanish-language materials. Although we no longer receive printed copies of the LHF magazine "Buenas Noticias" ("Good News") on a regular basis, Luz Maria and I keep our back copies as supplements for Bible studies.

The Spanish Lutheran Hour ("Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones" or CPTLN) also was of great service while it maintained operations in Venezuela. In addition to broadcasting, CPTLN maintained a large printing operation. Until CPTLN Venezuela closed its doors in 2014, we received and distributed 300 CPTLN tracts per month.

High school students distribute first aid supplies

In anticipation of their high school graduation in July, Eduar Garrido and his classmates have completed a project to distribute first aid supplies to educational institutions in our area. On May 23, they visited our preschool for this purpose. Eduar is a communicant member of our mission congregation and a past recipient of scholarships from LeadaChild, one of our sponsoring organizations. The other students are Cindy Escalona, Yandry Gómez, Tatiana Niño, Franyelis Martínez, Reinaldo Ramírez and Luisana Yañez.