Guatemala Mission
The relationship between Saint John and The Iglesia Luterana Augustina de Guatemala (ILAG) began in the early 1990’S. It came to be out of attendance at a Global Mission Event sponsored by the ELCA at Lenoir Rhyne University. The founder of ILAG, Bishop Horacio Castillo, was a speaker at the three-day event and was featured at a seminar on the program. The young ELCA was urging all synods to partner with a church in another country, to walk together in a companion relationship. Subsequently the Southeastern Synod partnered with The ILAG among others.
Saint John was represented on a visit to The ILAG in 2007 when members of five SE Synod churches made the trip. We visited the Lutheran Center, Iglesia La Resurreccion, Escuela El Mirador, and The Nueva Guatemala Community in the northern region of Guatemala.
Saint John and our sister congregation, The Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Decatur, GA, now have a four-part relationship with our Lutheran Companions in Guatemala. First, we relate to The ILAG Synod office and its officers. We rely on them for all communications within their church body. They arrange for all visit itineraries and accommodations. We are completely in their charge when we visit. Second, we have a covenant agreement with Iglesia La Resurreccion Congregation now in its third year of our walking together in a companion relationship. Each year we visit their membership at their church and worship with them and spend time in fellowship and small group gatherings. We have come to know and appreciate each other as individuals and friends. We visit many in their homes each time we come together and we pray for our respective needs. La Resurreccion is one of the original congregations of ILAG. Third, we relate to El Mirador Christian Day School each time we visit Guatemala either at the school where we work through a planned activity with the 90+ students or at The Lutheran Center when a portion of the children are brought to spend time with us. Fourth. The newest ministry of ILAG is MILAGRO. A women’s education center that focuses on the young women of the ILAG church communities. A new facility has been built for their use this past year on the ILAG Synod campus where they live and study. The young ladies shall continue their education there and develop a wide range of skills vital to a future of improved daily living. Utilizing these skills, the women will be empowered to return to their communities to start sustainable business, to serve as leaders and examples to be followed in their church, community, and family.
ILAG has not wavered from its original vision; To make Christ known among the communities that were living in exile in their own and neighbor countries; To assist the people in reestablishing themselves in their own country in communities with churches, schools, health care, public services, and work. Each of these necessities and more have been addressed. They have been and continue to be very resourceful in making meager means go a very long way. They shared with those of us that have visited that our presence and promise to continue to walk with them makes all the difference. In their last letter to us the last paragraph says “God bless you and multiply what you have given us. Especially for your visit we thank you and that will push us to continue going forward with the Lord’s work.”
Team Guatemala
Saint John was represented on a visit to The ILAG in 2007 when members of five SE Synod churches made the trip. We visited the Lutheran Center, Iglesia La Resurreccion, Escuela El Mirador, and The Nueva Guatemala Community in the northern region of Guatemala.
Saint John and our sister congregation, The Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Decatur, GA, now have a four-part relationship with our Lutheran Companions in Guatemala. First, we relate to The ILAG Synod office and its officers. We rely on them for all communications within their church body. They arrange for all visit itineraries and accommodations. We are completely in their charge when we visit. Second, we have a covenant agreement with Iglesia La Resurreccion Congregation now in its third year of our walking together in a companion relationship. Each year we visit their membership at their church and worship with them and spend time in fellowship and small group gatherings. We have come to know and appreciate each other as individuals and friends. We visit many in their homes each time we come together and we pray for our respective needs. La Resurreccion is one of the original congregations of ILAG. Third, we relate to El Mirador Christian Day School each time we visit Guatemala either at the school where we work through a planned activity with the 90+ students or at The Lutheran Center when a portion of the children are brought to spend time with us. Fourth. The newest ministry of ILAG is MILAGRO. A women’s education center that focuses on the young women of the ILAG church communities. A new facility has been built for their use this past year on the ILAG Synod campus where they live and study. The young ladies shall continue their education there and develop a wide range of skills vital to a future of improved daily living. Utilizing these skills, the women will be empowered to return to their communities to start sustainable business, to serve as leaders and examples to be followed in their church, community, and family.
ILAG has not wavered from its original vision; To make Christ known among the communities that were living in exile in their own and neighbor countries; To assist the people in reestablishing themselves in their own country in communities with churches, schools, health care, public services, and work. Each of these necessities and more have been addressed. They have been and continue to be very resourceful in making meager means go a very long way. They shared with those of us that have visited that our presence and promise to continue to walk with them makes all the difference. In their last letter to us the last paragraph says “God bless you and multiply what you have given us. Especially for your visit we thank you and that will push us to continue going forward with the Lord’s work.”
Team Guatemala