Mirad cual amor nos ha dado el Padre

“Mirad cual amor nos ha dado el Padre al hacernos hijos de Dios. Para ser llamados hijos de Dios. Para ser llamados hijos de Dios.”

That’s the refrain from a favorite song here based on 1 John 3:1. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”

The third Sunday in June this year was not only the third Sunday after Trinity Sunday, but Father’s Day as well. So the appointed Gospel reading, the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) was particularly fitting. It offers a portrait of God as Father. The father in the parable is longsuffering and merciful; he grieves at the loss of his rebellious son, but rejoices in reconciliation with him. Likewise, our heavenly Father does not desire our condemnation, but restoration of a right relationship with Himself. We may pray to God as our Father, not only because He gave us the gift of life by means of our earthly parents, but also reclaims us in baptism as reconciled children through the atoning death of Jesus.Our earthly father is not the template for understanding God; rather, God is the model for understanding what a father should be. Our Lord commanded us to pray this way in the Lord's Prayer: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name."

Our earthly fathers are human beings—sinners, not perfect. Families and marriages often face many problems, so we may not have an ideal father figure, yet every father remains a gift from God to us. We should give thanks if we have a father figure in our lives, for this, too, is a gift from God. Paul tells us to honor our father and mother; it is the first commandment with a promise—that if we honor our parents, we will live a long life on this earth.

I also dealt with this theme in the opening devotion for our Father’s Day activity June 18 with Luz Maria´s afterschool tutoring students, before the games and gift-giving. As Scripture references I cited Matthew 7:7-12 and Ephesians 6:2-4. The students were invited to bring their fathers. Of those who attended, four brought their biological fathers and the rest brought their closest male relatives or their mothers. Of the biological fathers, only two were actually living with their children.

Lack of a strong paternal figure in the home is the source of many of Venezuela’s societal problems and a major challenge for our mission. Luz Maria and I began our educational project to try and help young people break the generational cycle of poverty in which many in the surrounding community have been trapped: The young women dropping out of school after sixth grade because of pregnancy before they are ready physically or emotionally to be mother and the young men drifting into alcohol and drug abuse and petty crime because of the lack of skills to find decent jobs. This situation has only gotten worse because of the political and economic problems that have gripped the country over the last 20 years and the availability of smartphones which make young people even more vulnerable to sex traffickers.And we have learned from experience that family formation is essential to church growth. That is, when believers marry, have children and bring raise the children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The book of Acts informs us that entire households being baptized was typical in the early church (Acts 16: 14-15; 23-32). Having only his mother and grandmother to teach him the Scriptures may have worked for Timothy (1:5), but most young people find it difficult to persevere in the faith without the support of an intact family.

Sociological studies show that fathers set the trajectory for their children's religious participation, a cross-cultural phenomenon observed in western Europe, North America, and parts of the Middle East. A Swiss government study (conducted in the 1990s, published around 2000) established the baseline for western Europe: A child is much more likely to regularly attend church as an adult if the father attends regularly, compared to the mother’s influence alone. A smaller-scale US study found nearly identical results to the Swiss data, reinforcing that when only the father attends regularly, roughly 67% of children attend as adults, compared to a sharp drop when only the mother attends. A 2025 analysis of the Global Flourishing Study (covering 22 diverse countries) confirmed that father-child relations and early-life religious attendance are robust predictors of adult religious practice (prayer/meditation) across geographically and economically diverse nations. The study noted that while national contexts affect the strength of transmission, the link between early paternal involvement and adult faith is a "near universal aspect of religious socialization."

Therefore, we continue with our goals of involving both parents in Christian education as much as possible, encouraging home Bible study and prayer as well as regular public worship attendance, and teaching youth to look for a faithful spouse (in both senses of the term).

From celebration to tragedy

According to our historic church calendar, June 24 is the day to remember the birth of John the Baptist. It is six months before December 25, and Luke 1:36 says that John’s mother and Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, was six months pregnant when the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke than recounts how Mary went to visit Elizabeth and the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped in joy at the presence of the child in Mary’s womb (Luke 1:39-45, a powerful pro-life passage). Luke 1:56 says that Mary stayed with Elizabeth three months and then John the Baptist was born, which would imply he was born later in the fall. But the martyrdom of John the Baptist is celebrated on August 29, so perhaps the earlier date was chosen to avoid confusion.

At any rate, since the 18th Century in Venezuela, the Nativity of John the Baptist has been linked with popular festivals in areas where people of African descent are concentrated. This is because on that date, African slaves would be given a holiday. The traditional festivities include music and dancing that have little to do with the Biblical John the Baptist, and rites that are thinly disguised survivals of African tribal religions. These festivities are most closely associated with the states of Miranda, Vargas, Aragua, Carabobo, Guárico y Yaracuy. Except for Guárico, all of these states are located along the Caribbean coast.

The annual celebrations turned to tragedy at 6:04 p.m., June 24, 2026. Two major earthquakes, 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude respectively, occurred 39 seconds and five kilometers apart. Because the John the Baptist events are tourist attractions, there were even more people than usual gathered in areas that are among the most heavily populated in Venezuela. The epicenters of both earthquakes were in Veroes, a municipality of Yaracuy state. The two earthquakes caused widespread damage across north central and northwestern Venezuela, particularly in the metro areas La Guaira (Vargas state) and Caracas (Miranda state).

According to the American Geographical Society: “At least 1,450 people have died since last week’s devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela, with international rescue teams and local volunteers still digging through the rubble as part of frantic rescue efforts. Up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to initial estimates by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The projections, based on the available population and damage analysis, include up to 2 million people in Caracas alone. There are currently over 70,000 people reported missing, over 3,150 people are injured, and 774 buildings have collapsed.”

La Caramuca is closer to the Colombian border than to Caracas in a country that has roughly the same surface area as Oklahoma and Texas combined or twice that of California. We were aware of the earthquakes, first of all because Luz Maria discovered, along with many other Venezuelans, that her Android cellphone has a earthquake alert feature. She received a text message just before the events. Some people with Android phones, including those in the affected areas, received the same messages, but others didn’t. Apparently it has to do with whether the phone has GPS activated or not. We also saw hanging objects sway without any wind, but there was no sensation of the earth moving under our feet (apologies to Carole King). There was not damage to persons or property in Barinas.

We thank God for the fact that, based on what we have heard, none of the scattered congregations of our national church, the Lutheran Church of Venezuela, were directly affected. There were reports of cracks in the walls of some church buildings, but these may have be pre-existing damage. Two of our largest congregations, Fuente de Vida (Fountain of Life) in Puerto Ordaz and Ascension in San Felix de Guayana, organized the collection of bottled water, foodstuffs and clothing to be sent to the affected areas. Members of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod may donate to earthquake relief efforts at this Web site (the Synod recommends not trying to directly ship supplies):

https://www.lcms.org/give/earthquake

On Sunday, June 28, I covered the "second table of the Law" in Luther's Large Catechism with members of Corpus Christi Lutheran Church in Barinas.

Why three times holy?

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

“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

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)

“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

“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

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

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

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.