Pastor Benito counsels twenty year old Jesus in Kilometro 30

San Pablo Lutheran Church, in partnership with Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM), is preparing to welcome Rev. John Benito Morejón as Associate Pastor.

The installation service will take place at San Pablo on October 4^th, although Pastor Benito, as many have come to know him, has jumped right into the middle of the ministry at San Pablo and YLM since he arrived over three months ago.

“I was moved by the work being done at YLM,” Pastor Benito shared with the staff, “Helping people, reaching out to them through these acts of kindness, is what intrigued me about the Lutheran church.”

Pastor Benito and Miguel present beautiful music to the San Pablo congregation

Pastor Benito experienced the life-changing joy found at YLM five years ago.  With over a thousand Cubans refugees calling El Paso, and YLM in particular, a temporary home, Pastor Heimer reached out to find some help in providing spiritual care for these men and women.  Pastor Benito, a vicar at the time, spent two weeks helping in every way he could.

“It was seeing how YLM dedicated heart and soul to serving those in need that caught my attention,” Pastor Benito explained, “I want to dedicate myself to this kind of ministry, one done through love and service.”

Pastor Benito blesses Santa Biblia before food is distributed to families of the Santa Biblia (Anapra) community

Pastor Benito has been helping at La Santa Biblia on Wednesday and Friday mornings, sharing God’s love through His Word and through music.

It is through the music ministry where YLM is partnering with San Pablo.  In conjunction with his pastoral duties at San Pablo, Pastor Benito will work alongside Miguel Muñoz and Rev. Stephen Heimer, Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in El Paso, to further develop music education, resources, and outreach for Hispanic ministries.

Pastor Benito offers prayer and information on San Pablo on Saturdays’ Food Distribution

“He’s a talented musician,” Pastor Heimer shared, “And he loves God and has a passion for serving people.  He will do good here.”

Saturday mornings, Pastor Benito greets people as they line up for the Drive-Thru Food Pantry, giving them information on San Pablo and prayer cards.  He has dedicated his early mornings to pray for those who have returned those prayer cards.

His desire is to start a Prayer Ministry at San Pablo, and he’s been working on getting to know the neighbors around the YLM campus.  He is passionate about reconciliation through Scripture, and as such, is completing a Bible study series to be offered at San Pablo soon.

With God’s blessings, Pastor Benito will be used to bring God’s love through simple acts of kindness and through the Word.  Seeing how God will work through this welcomed addition to the YLM/San Pablo family will be a joyful experience.