Two new pastors arrived in northern Mexico last week and this Monday, stepping into their calls with joy, humility, and deep gratitude. Rev. Oscar Saavedra and Rev. Guillermo Leyva have accepted the call to serve at Iglesia Luterana La Santa Biblia in Anapra and Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey in Ciudad Juárez, respectively, marking a hopeful new chapter for both congregations.
Pastor Saavedra arrived last Wednesday and immediately experienced the warmth of his new congregation. La Santa Biblia was filled with more than 200 children, youth, and adults gathered for Vacation Bible School, coordinated and led by the YLM Servant Event team.
In the middle of all the activity, the members of La Santa Biblia had prepared a surprise welcome celebration for Pastor Saavedra, his wife Mayra, and their daughter Mia. Balloons, streamers, and cake filled the sanctuary with color and joy as the congregation embraced their new pastoral family with heartfelt greetings and excitement. It was clear how deeply they had been waiting for a shepherd.
On Friday, Pastor Saavedra and his family joined the Servant Event teams at the house dedications for two families receiving their homes. Prayers, music, and fellowship filled the moment, as they always do, with tears, hugs, and laughter close behind. Witnessing this gift of grace in person for the first time moved Pastor Saavedra deeply.
As he shared his message, he broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the reality of what it means when the Gospel takes shape in the form of a home. He and his family have already fallen in love with their congregation, looking around their community and seeing countless opportunities to share Christ with people in need.
Rev. Guillermo Leyva arrived from Mexico City on the last Monday of July. Meeting the small congregation of Cristo Rey was a blessing to him, but an even greater blessing was reuniting with Pastor Saavedra. Several years ago, it was Pastor Leyva who encouraged Oscar Saavedra to leave a comfortable life as a lawyer in Mexico City, where Mayra served as a university director, and move his family to the Dominican Republic for seminary.
While Oscar worked through his seminary classes, Mayra enrolled in deaconess classes, with both completing their studies, graduating, and finishing vicarage earlier this year. Now, they are back in Mexico, serving alongside the pastor who first guided Oscar into ministry. Their reunion is a testament to how God weaves together relationships and callings across years, countries, and seasons of life.
Both Pastor Saavedra and Pastor Leyva are eager to begin the ministry they have been called to, stepping into their communities with hope, readiness, and a shared commitment to proclaim Christ. Their arrival is a blessing to La Santa Biblia and Cristo Rey, and a reminder of how God continues to raise up workers for His harvest.
YLM is blessed to see the fruits of years of labor coming to life and has committed to sustaining these pastors with the help of generous donors and supporters. You can be part of this eternal impact today.
