 | Cristo Cordero de Dios 308-389-4611 Website: http.www.cristocordero.org |
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Cristo Cordero de Dios is publishing its first newsletter. They intend to do soon on a quarterly basis, this is the April-May-June issue. If you wish to receive the newsletter online, please furnish such information on the www.cristocordero.org address, thank you.
MAKING NEW FROM SOMETHING OLD
Sometimes change is met with disappointment, yet the changes that have been made at Cristo Cordero de Dios have been a welcomed change. Their stone church building which was first dedicated in 1897 has undergone numerous changes since it was built. Restoration efforts over recent years have resulted in changes of beauty and a more worshipful atmosphere. Just nearing completion is the remodeling of the interior nave, chancel and balcony areas. The original plastered walls have been overlaid with rigid insulation for energy and sound purposes, they have also been covered with fire-code gypsum board which is textured and painted. Much of the work was realized through skilled volunteers from their own congregation as well as that from sister congregations and visiting workmen from the surrounding area. On Sunday, March 8, worship was held in the beautifully restored sanctuary. Previous improvements include restoration of the wood frame bell tower tuck-pointing, cleaning and sealing of the exterior stone, hammered glass coverings for the stained glass windows, new historical lighting and landscaping, total new heating, electrical and plumbing, new restrooms and mother's room, new carpeting throughout and ADA access for those with limited mobility. Members from Trinity Lutheran Church over a century ago would be amazed concerning the changes to the original church, but also the architecture and design which has remained constant and in excellent repair. Cristo Cordero de Dios is presently the only incorporated Spanish Lutheran Church in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Nebraska District. Praise God that He has granted opportunity to proclaim the saving Gospel to thousands of Hispanic/Latino souls in and around Grand Island , Nebraska .
NEW PASTOR –IN- TRAINING
Juan Aguilar is a missionary from Chile who served God in Argentina and is now serving God at Cristo Cordero de Dios, Grand Island . He was trained as a pastor in Chile in another Christian denomination. This may seem odd that he is coming from another Christian denomination to become a Lutheran pastor. In Hispanic culture, this is common. Pastor Santamaria, previous pastor at Cristo Cordero de Dios, came out of the Catholic Church. He studied at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Catherine's , Ontario , Canada .
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod developed the Center for Hispanic Studies allowing Hispanic men, like Juan Aguilar, to serve as a missionary at Cristo Cordero de Dios while he studies to be ordained as a Lutheran pastor.
A student needs to take 10 entrance level courses before they can enter the Seminary. These classes are usually taught by a Spanish-speaking pastor on the mission field. Since Juan has already studied as a pastor, he only need take three courses to enter the Seminary. They are:
HIS – 120 Luther & The Reformation
SYS – 101 We Witness to Our Faith (Christian Doctrine)
PRA – 110 Lutheran Liturgy
Rev. Joel Hormachea, pastor at La Trinidad, Lexington , is teaching the above classes and is also the pastoral supervisor for Juan.
Juan is on track to finish entrance level classes this summer and start taking Seminary level classes in September. He will travel to St. Louis every other month for three days taking 18 courses. It will take about three years to complete his studies at the Seminary. After his first year at the Seminary, he will be eligible to be placed as a vicar. He will continue to serve as a vicar until he has finished his studies and is ordained as pastor.
The Nebraska District – LCMS is very thankful to God for sending Juan to Grand Island . Juan, Cristo Cordero de Dios, and the Nebraska District thank you for your prayers, volunteering to serve at Cristo Cordero, and your financial contributions to this ministry
Juan's seminary education will cost a little over $12,000 a year. If you would like to financially contribute to his studies or this ministry, you may contact Cristo Cordero de Dios at 308-389-4611. If you are interested in helping ethnic men from Nebraska attend the seminary, please contact Rev. Rich Boring, Nebraska District Office, at 888-643-2961 or Richb@ndlcms.org .
FUNDING FOR THE KINGDOM
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6: 9-10 Cristo Cordero de Dios had its beginnings in 1995 as a Spanish mission in Grand Island , Nebraska , under the direction and ownership of the Nebraska District of the LCMS. The Hispanic/Latino population, according to the 2000 census of a twenty-five mile radius area surrounding Grand Island , stood at approximately ten thousand souls. Today that count could meet or exceed twelve thousand. In 2004 Cristo Cordero de Dios was granted congregational status by the Nebraska District, approximately 243 congregations or missions are included in that number. Because of the smaller size of the membership, it has not been possible to fund the congregation's ministry and property upkeep on their own. Approximately ninety-five thousand dollars in gifts and grants from the Community Redevelopment Authority of Grand Island, the Nebraska Lutheran Ministry Foundation, LWML-Nebraska South and help from sister congregation organizations, individual members, trusts and foundations have made possible some of the recent improvements. Approximately one hundred forty-eight thousand dollars in basic improvements remains as a goal to complete all areas of work to be done. Under the Lord's direction and His blessing, the congregation strives toward that end. The focused plan is to make all buildings ADA accessible, permit immediate repairs, power-wash and apply two coats of paint to all exterior areas of the church, Family Life Center and parsonage. Skilled volunteers along with donated materials could substantially reduce some of these cost projections.
THREE GENERATIONS OF LCMS ALUMNI
Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. Psalm 79: 13
Who did the Holy Spirit use to bring you to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Was it your parents, grandparents, godparents, relative, pastor, Sunday School teacher, neighbor or, friend? We may be inclined to think that it just came by coincidence or some sort of happenstance. Not so. Clearly, Romans 10:17 states : Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Some Cristo Cordero de Dios members will tell you that their faith was first formed at their baptism and then nourished through the word and sacrament at various times and places in their life. For ninety years the same gospel message has been proclaimed in the same place through a strong Lutheran confession and heritage which has touched, formed and nourished thousands of lives in the faith of our risen Savior. The same Lord who taught, lead, comforted and encouraged generations of Missouri Synod Lutherans from Trinity Lutheran Church at Second and Vine Streets in Grand Island , NE , is the same Lord who is doing exactly the same thing in the lives of His people there today. The only difference is the two languages and cultural backgrounds. It may be quite possible for some Anglo Lutherans to mentally and physically form a disconnect between the past and the present much the same as that between the living and the departed. While people who are alive in Christ will want to associate, communicate, encourage, comfort, share and celebrate a common bond of faith with each other, the opposite can also be true if the intent is to discard the past. Sometimes it can be common place to think of and support foreign missions which are oceans, and thousands of miles away, then to also recognize the mission that the Lord has placed right next door here in Grand Island. While there is a multitude of LCMS members whose parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who were baptized, confirmed and married at second and Vine Streets in Grand Island, NE, any association with that church location has long come to an end as if it had passed away, this need not or should ever happen. The same location is alive and well today functioning as the same redemption center for souls redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ just as the other fifteen LCMS congregations in the Grand Island Circuit, or the two hundred forty four Lutheran churches in the Nebraska district. Let's all rejoice, celebrate, uphold, encourage and share a common bond of faith with folks at Cristo Cordero de Dios.
COMING EVENTS
• Ethnic Kermes, Sunday, May 31, 2-5 p.m. at Cristo Cordero de Dios -- Live Christian Music–Spanish Food-Fellowship
• Vacation Bible School , June 18, 19, and 20, 2-5 p.m.
• Church Picnic, Outdoor Worship Service at Morman Island , Sunday, July 26