Honduras Mission and Ministry

Despite the well-documented political instability in the country, our ministry partnership with Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras (ICLH) experienced significant growth in the past year. Although a fall theological workshop with ICLH had to be cancelled for security reasons, we were able to share in important Liturgy and Homiletics workshops in the spring. We also participated in the first ICLH Summit in Michigan, as the leaders of ICLH met with their three ELCA companion synods for a time of visioning, worship and planning.

"Pentecost" was the theme of a series of workshops and teaching opportunities in April and May. This was our sixth shared ministry event with ICLH. We are humbled with how the accompaniment partnership is developing. In this series of workshops all of the leadership roles were taken by Hondurans. Our team of Kathe Peterson, Jan Mehlhoff, Audrey Zimmerman and Dave Mesner experienced opportunities to both equip and learn from the leaders of ICLH. On April 29 we taught a Confirmation class in Tegucigalpa to the staff of ICLH on the Third Article of the Creed. Later that day we worshiped with the Luz del Mundo ("Light of the World") community in La Canada.

We traveled to La Ceiba on the north coast for a Liturgy Workshop, attended by 40 pastors and lay leaders of ICLH. This workshop featured worship experiences using the propers of Pentecost; teaching sessions on the theology of the Holy Spirit and the preaching texts of Pentecost; training sessions on worship space, preparing prayers, reading lessons and presiding at worship. We had the privilege of participating in worship services in the remote communities of Bufalo and Bonitillo.

We then returned to Tegucigalpa for a Homiletics Workshop with 15 of the pastors and lay leaders of ICLH. The focus of this workshop was the preaching texts for the Day of Pentecost. Participants prepared, practiced and gave sermons on each of the lectionary texts. Our time together concluded with a wonderful Fellowship Dinner on our final night in Tegucigalpa.

The ICLH Summit in Lansing, Michigan was hosted by the Latin American leaders of the Division of Global Mission of the ELCA. We learned the history and vision of ICLH from its leaders, and had fruitful conversation about how the Companion Synods (New England, North West Lower Michigan and Northeastern Minnesota) can cooperate effectively in accompaniment of ICLH

Thanks be to God for the door that has opened for shared ministry in Honduras! We continue to look for opportunities for sustainability projects, medical/dental teams and theological workshops with our brothers and sisters in Honduras. Plans are in place for two theological workshops this year (May and October). We give special thanks to all those who have participated in this ministry through prayer, gifts, and being part of the teams. Please prayerfully consider whether God is be leading you to share in this exciting ministry. We have an urgent need of funding for the theological workshops and for the Bibles and hymnals that are so essential for ministry. Financial gifts marked for Honduras can be sent to the Northeastern Minnesota Synod, 1105 E. Superior Street, Upper Suite, Duluth, MN 55802.

For the Honduras Leadership Team,
Pastor Dave Mesner