Deaconess students gathered March 2022 for their last in-person intense weekend course

For many years, Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human Care (YLM) has dedicated resources to help educate, train, and support future church-workers and lay leaders within the partnering mission-churches. The history of this ministry has helped raise up many leaders within the churches, some to be pastors, others to be deaconesses, and still others to be missionaries.

The support given through many donors, these educational opportunities continue to be offered to those who are interested in becoming church-workers. At La Santa Biblia, several women began the offered deaconess program through the Seminario Concordia “El Reformador” de Republica Dominicana back in the fall of 2019, with seven of them making the trip to Tijuana for an intense weekend course on liturgy.

The in-person course was taught by Deaconess Danielle Putnam and the seminary pastors

On March of 2020, before the COVID lock-downs, several women from Mexico City, Matamoros, and the seven of La Santa Biblia attended another intense weekend course on Law and Gospel, hosted by Iglesia Luterana San Lucas in Anapra, one of the mission-churches partnering with YLM. Through YLM, renovations and repairs to their dormitory was done, and meals provided, for the group of women and a couple of pastors. Pastor Conrad, a missionary serving in Mexico City, shared how vitally important it was for churches to work in raising up future church-leaders, equipping men and women in ways to help share the Gospel.

The four deaconesses from La Santa Biblia are finishing their last assignments to graduate May 2022

With the COVID lock-downs, these women were offered the opportunity to continue their training through virtual classes. YLM’s support ensured the women had a computer and internet available, along with the materials sent via email by the Seminary. Every Wednesday afternoon, the deaconess students gathered at San Lucas for their virtual classes, to include presenting their projects and assignments as necessary.

On March, four of the seven women were able to attend another intensive weekend course in Tijuana. Their time spent there was greatly blessed with the opportunity to reunite with the other deaconess students, to meet their professors face to face, and benefit from in-person learning. These four women have completed the required courses and will be getting ready to graduate in May as deaconesses, eager to continue serving at their church, La Santa Biblia, but also to step up and help teach and guide children, teens, and adults.

Thanks to the support, encouragement, and donations of many individuals and churches, YLM continues to support these mission-churches, who in turn, seek to support men and women, young and old, who have a calling to follow Christ into the ministry field.