Raising Iglesia Luterana de la Santa Biblia

With a look of confidence for God’s provision, Elvira Viramontes, YLM’s Program Coordinator, retold the story of how the rebuilding of Iglesia Luterana de la Santa Biblia (Lutheran Church of the Holy Bible) came about.

For ten plus years, YLM has been working with the Anapra community within the fenced in property to carry out and grow a ministry, making a huge impact on hundreds of children and adults.

“On any given Wednesday, which we call Soup Day, we have over 150 children alone, coming to La Santa Biblia for a bowl of soup,” Elvira shared, a look of compassion on her face, “Many times, for most of these children, this is the only meal they get that day. Kids who go to school in the afternoon come get their soup before spending the next few hours learning, while those who are released from morning classes stop by with the hope there’s still soup left.”

The ministry at La Santa Biblia has grown in the last ten years. Not only are there children lined up on Soup Day, but parents and elderly also come by to be fed. For the last few months, a Friday Bible study evolved into a Friday worship service followed by fellowship where everyone brings a contribution to share with others. This worship service is led by Rev. Stephen Heimer, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in El Paso and Rev. Javier Lozano, pastor at both La Santa Biblia and San Lucas, another of YLM’s partner mission churches across the border. This ministry growth has led so many to God’s Word and His promise of a Savior -in fact, just last year, over 26 baptisms took place in one day!

Throughout all this growth, of ministry and people, the original buildings of La Santa Biblia’s property have deteriorated to the point of becoming a hindrance to the ministry, instead of a help.

“The repairs were merely Band-Aids to big problems,” Elvira stated, sharing how she and Rosy Lira, Deaconess at La Santa Biblia and Cristo Rey -another Juarez mission-church YLM partners with -would discuss and dream about new buildings; a fellowship hall with functioning kitchen and bathrooms, a Sunday school wing with classrooms, and a Sanctuary. “I finally told Rosy to tear it down…tear it down and we’ll see how God will help.”

And that’s indeed what we are witnessing -God’s help in the midst of unmovable faith in a time of uncertainty.

The people of this growing church banded together and tore down buildings with sagging floors and roofs, until all that was left was a small down to the studs room. This is where Friday’s Worship Services are held; children and adults gather to praise, pray and learn, knowing with the certainty given through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, a new building will arise.

La Santa Biblia will be breaking ground this fall, and with the help of donors and volunteers, such as Family of Christ Lutheran Church from Ham Lake, Minnesota who helped with the new designs of the Fellowship Building, the raising of the church once known as Sin Paredes (Without Walls) will soon begin.

The last of the demolition has taken place, leaving behind the benches where many gather for meals and study of the Word, as well as a lone piano…it’s always interesting to see what demolition reveals!

With the process of breaking ground, or in the case of the sandy ground that makes up the property, compacting ground, having been started, leaders at La Santa Biblia are looking for ways to continue their Wednesday and Friday ministries for the many who depend from the food, both physical and spiritual.

With the use of one of YLM’s multi-passenger vans, plans are in progress to provide transportation for those living around La Santa Biblia to the nearby Iglesia Luterana San Lucas, where Soup Wednesdays and Friday Worship Services will be continued.