Welcome to
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A brief history of the lutheran church in nicaragua |
A Brief History of Team Zion |
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In 1994, mission board director Dr. Leonard Harms and Oscar Castillo- now an LCC pastor, first visited the country with the hope of starting a mission in Nicaragua. Sandor Arguello, born in Nicaragua but raised in Canada, was sent as a missionary. Being a primarily Roman Catholic country, the residents were reluctant to welcome Protestantism.
However, the ruthless tragedy of hurricane Mitch in 1998- second deadliest on record, destabilized the nation even more than the recurrent natural disasters and decades of civil war. Many North American church bodies contributed to its restoration, but Pastor Arguello shared that the Lutheran aid was most effective and well received. The people of Nicaragua testified that the previous funds were not being received by those who needed it the most, and sin in the form of corruption was leading to distrust. Our missionaries, distributed the goods provided for by Canadians who had not yet met the Nicaraguan people, but longed to care for them. Along with a message of peace, love, comfort, our merciful Lord. and the theology of the cross, the Lutheran church in Nicaragua began to grow. Though its new members were unfamiliar with our liturgical and sacramental practices. There began to be an unprecedented demand for catechisms, Bibles and Lutheran material. It became difficult to keep up with the increasing spiritual demands. Nicaragua is only one of many examples of flourishing Lutheran faith, in spite of our seemingly empty church pews in Canada. |
On Sunday April 19 2009 during Sunday morning Worship at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Pastor Robert Krestick connected with Missionary Pastor Máximo Román Urroz Espinoza over skype with the entire congregation present.. At that time, Pastor Máximo was a missionary for Leon, Telica Nicaragua and the surrounding area. Lutheran Church Canada had encouraged individual congregations to sponsor missionaries in addition to continuing their mission support to the Synod. Redeemer congregation was, and still is, supporting Pastor Máximo’s outreach ministry. On this fateful (and faithful) day- at the conclusion of the service Pastor Krestick asked Brother Máximo what else the congregation could do to support his outreach efforts. Pastor Urroz spread his arms and looking from the large screen at the assembled congregation said: “Come to us!”
Planning began and on New Years’ Day 2010, 12 newly commissioned missionaries from Redeemer embarked for Managua, Nicaragua. On Monday the morning of that first trip, 3 teams set out to serve alongside newly ordained Pastors and the local Deaconesses to San Pablo (St. Paul) La Cartonera, Dios de Gracia (God of Grace) at Marañonal and also under a large spreading tree in the community of Telica. With the Lord’s blessing hundreds of Children appeared from every direction. More than 15 years later, the teams range from 25 to 35 people, supporting 8 different communities in the León and Chinandega regions and providing support for up to 1500 children and adults each day. |
