Vicor Idjon Fritz of the Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission (LCMS). Photo from LCMS Missions in Latin America and the Caribbean Facebook Page.

Español | The Church is born of water and the Word, and there also is her livelihood. She is the instrument of God’s mission, as stated by Luther in his explanation of Psalm 87, where he writes: “But it is clear that this proclamation is made in churches, parishes, and assemblies of the faithful, and so they themselves are the gates of Zion, because [it is] through them that everyone who is to be saved will enter.” This Church is built on the ministry of the Word. The ministry exists, “in, with, and under” the Church, but should never be confused with the Church.

The Church does not have a mission to carry out, the mission belongs to God, who created the Church to embrace the world; therefore, it is necessary to speak in this way: that “the Church is in mission,” rather than as though she has or should have a mission, since she has been created for His mission, with Christ Himself as the head – thinking, coordinating, establishing, and guiding the whole body harmoniously for the purposes of the missio Dei. (Fritzler, Sergio. El Oficio Pastoral: Exposición Bíblica e Historica del Ministerio Público de la Iglesia, 17)