In the two and a half years since it started, WorkingPreacher.org has faithfully provided timely, compelling and trustworthy content for today’s working preachers. Biblical content is now also available in Spanish, under the tab “Evangelio.”<\/p>\n
“WorkingPreacher.org is a very valuable resource for all preachers,” said Justo L. Gonz\u00e1lez, a leading voice in Hispanic theology. “On this site you can find commentaries about the biblical texts for each week, as well as many other ideas and suggestions for preaching. Now this site has a section in Spanish, which I enthusiastically recommend to anyone with interest in preaching that is both biblical and effective.”<\/p>\n
Weekly gospel commentary will be offered by Spanish-speaking and Latino writers on an ongoing basis. The step is an important one in both reaching out to the international community and fulfilling the stewardship role of Working Preacher.<\/p>\n
“Spanish Working Preacher is Luther Seminary’s response to what the Spirit is doing in the church all across this country,” said Richard Bliese, president of Luther Seminary. “It’s a new day for mission in North America, and that day has Pentecost written all over it.”<\/p>\n
The $3,000 in seed money to get the Spanish version of Working Preacher up and running was made possible
\nbecause of Luther Seminary students involved in the Student Endowment Laboratory. A project of Luther’s
\nCenter for Stewardship Leaders and the Lutheran Community Foundation, the laboratory helps students learn all the aspects of working with an endowment.<\/p>\n
In a letter informing the Center of its funding, Tim Wrenn, ’10, a member of the Endowment Laboratory, wrote, “I am pleased to inform you that we would like to help fund your program with a grant. Our mission statement is: ‘The Luther Seminary Endowment Lab reinforces and leverages Luther’s mission to serve in God’s world and build community through pastors and congregations with long term impact.’ We felt that your proposal of the addition of offering Working Preacher articles in another language matched
\nup nicely.”<\/p>\n
With Latino populations and their impact growing rapidly in America, this expansion of Working Preacher comes at an important time.<\/p>\n
“The next few decades are bringing a demographic and cultural wave our way,” said Eric Barreto, assistant professor of New Testament. “Working Preacher’s decision to invest in Spanish-language commentaries is both a commitment to serve this growing community but also an incredible benefit to all churches and believers. My hope is that this effort will bridge cultural and linguistic differences for the sake of the gospel and enhance the vitality of our increasingly diverse communities of faith.”<\/p>\n
Early feedback on Working Preacher’s expansion proves that the Spanish commentary is reaching those who
\nneed it most.<\/p>\n
“I just want to tell you that the Spanish commentary on the gospel this week by Alvin Padilla is excellent,” wrote a missionary from Peru in an e-mail. “What a gift to the world Working Preacher is. I am spreading the news about this new Spanish resource here in the Iglesia Luterana Evangelica Peruana. I am sharing it too with our friends in the Anglican Peruvian church. God bless you! Dios les bendiga! And thank you so much.”<\/p>\n