When Mariachi San Pablo (MSP) received an invitation to participate in the 2026 Orphan Grain Train Convention in Norfolk, Nebraska, another opportunity for ministry soon followed. Rev. Pedro Lopez, Missionary at Large for the Iowa West District, learned MSP would be traveling to Nebraska and reached out with a special request.
Pastor Lopez has known members of Mariachi San Pablo for many years, having connected with them during previous tours through communities where he served. Knowing their dedication to sharing the Gospel through music, he invited the group to travel to Iowa and help lead a Sunday morning worship service bringing together members from five Hispanic congregations.
Accepting the invitation meant changing flights, adjusting travel itineraries, and extending an already busy ministry weekend. For Mariachi San Pablo, however, the opportunity to serve alongside Pastor Lopez and encourage his congregations was worth the adjustments.
On Sunday morning, members from the five congregations gathered at an amphitheater in a small Iowa town. Together, they worshiped, sang, and heard the Gospel proclaimed through Scripture and familiar Lutheran hymns played mariachi style.
For some, the gathering was an opportunity to reconnect with musicians they had known for years. For others, including members of a congregation hearing Mariachi San Pablo for the first time, it was an introduction to a different expression of Lutheran worship music.
The gathering also supported Pastor Lopez’s ongoing work of bringing the Gospel and Lutheran doctrine to Hispanic communities throughout the Iowa West District. Bringing these congregations together provided an opportunity for fellowship, strengthening relationships among believers who share the same faith while serving in different communities.
Yet, among the many moments of the morning, one conversation left a particular impression on the musicians. Following the worship service, an elderly woman approached Mariachi San Pablo to thank them for their music. She shared how she had spent the past several years battling cancer and how much joy their music had brought her that morning.
For the members of MSP, her words were a reminder of why they continue answering invitations to serve, even when doing so requires rearranging schedules and traveling additional miles.
For the members of MSP, her words were a reminder of why they continue answering invitations to serve, even when doing so requires rearranging schedules and traveling additional miles.
They may never fully know what someone is carrying when they arrive for worship. Some come celebrating God’s blessings, while others carry concerns, grief, or the weight of difficult circumstances. Through music rooted in Scripture, Mariachi San Pablo proclaims the hope found in Christ and encourages those who hear.
The woman’s expression of gratitude was one of those moments when the purpose of their ministry became especially personal.
What began as an invitation to participate in the Orphan Grain Train Convention became another opportunity to support the wider Church, renew relationships, and encourage fellow believers through music. For Pastor Lopez and the five congregations gathered in Iowa, it was a morning of worship and fellowship. For Mariachi San Pablo, it was another opportunity to witness how God uses music to bring His people together.
After more than 25 years of ministry, Mariachi San Pablo continues to find joy in sharing the Gospel wherever God opens a door. Whether before thousands gathered at a national convention or a small group of believers worshiping in an Iowa amphitheater, their purpose remains the same.
To proclaim Christ through music, bring God’s people together, and encourage hearts through the hope found in His Word.
