Deaconess Teresita Rodriguez

>Aprende más

Pastor 
Gregory 
Lorenz

>Aprende más

>Aprende más

Deaconess Teresita Rodriguez,
LATINO Director De Misiones
     Deaconess Teresita Rodriguez was born in Cuba and was brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. In Cuba , she prepared for the teaching profession.
     She came to the United States in 1967. In 1982, under the instruction of a Lutheran pastor in Miami , she embraced the Lutheran faith and was confirmed.
     From 1985-91, she played a leading role in initiating the new mission congregation Iglesia Luterana San Pablo in Miami , Florida . She was also influential in the start of the publication El Testimonio Luterano (Lutheran Witness in Spanish). During this time, she studied through the Hispanic Institute of Theology and Concordia University , River Forest , Illinois .

     From 1992-93 she served at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Miami . During her time at Mount Olive , in conjunction with Lutheran Disaster Response, she aided victims of Hurricane Andrew serving as a case manager and deaconess intern.

     From 1994-95, she received her deaconess certification and was installed at Concordia Lutheran Church , Miami . She was commissioned to work with the 33,000 immigrants being held at the military base in Guantánamo Bay , Cuba , and had the opportunity to share God’s love and His Word with her Cuban brothers and sisters.
     In 1995, she was called by Lutheran City Ministries in Michigan to reach out to the Hispanic community in Southwest Detroit . She established a Hispanic ministry, attending to the many spiritual and physical needs of the Hispanic population there.

     In 1999, she was called by the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod as a Missionary-At-Large to Hispanic people. She played a leading role in the formation of the new mission congregation Iglesia Luterana Pan de Vida (Bread of Life Lutheran Church).

     In June 2002, Deaconess Rodriguez, together with Pastor Gregory Lorenz and an action team of mission-minded individuals, and with the cooperation of the Michigan District, began the Hispanic Latino Mission Society of Michigan. It is also known as LATINO ("Lutheran Action Team Improving Native [Hispanic/Latino] Outreach"). She has served as the Mission Director of the LATINO since its inception.
     She has also served on various boards and committees of the LCMS including: Two years as a member of the Synod’s Planning Council of Mission and Ministry; two years as a member of the Urban Ministry Task Force; Pentecost 2000 Cross-Cultural Ministries effort; Secretary for the 10^th Annual National Hispanic Conference; and as a member of the Mission 21^st Century Task Force appointed by President Kieschnick of the LCMS.

Rev. Gregory M. Lorenz,
LATINO Director Ejecutivo
     Gregory M. Lorenz was born in Michigan and grew up in Clarkston and Rochester, Michigan.  He attended St. John Lutheran School in Rochester and graduated from Lutheran High School North, Macomb, Michigan.
     In 1984 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College, Ann Arbor with majors in Greek and Humanities and a minor in Hebrew.
     In 1989 Pastor Lorenz received his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.  He was ordained at St. John Lutheran Church, Rochester, Michigan on August 13, 1989.
     He received his first call to serve with LC-MS World Mission as an evangelistic missionary/church planter to the remote village of Las Pacayas in Guatemala, Central America.
     By the grace of God, Iglesia Luterana Cristo El Camino (Christ the Way Lutheran Church) was planted in Las Pacayas in October 1993.  It continues to serve the community in Word and Sacrament ministry through two local lay pastors.
     Upon the completion of his missionary service in November 1999, Pastor Lorenz served as Interim Associate Pastor at St. John Lutheran Church, Rochester, Michigan through June 2000.
     From July 2000 to December 2004, Pastor Lorenz served as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Macomb, Michigan with responsibilities in Outreach and Family Life.  He also explored opportunities for Hispanic ministry in Macomb County and throughout Michigan.
     In September 2000, Pastor Lorenz began to offer pastoral services to the congregation at the West Vernor Ministry site in Detroit, working together with the director, Deaconess Teresita Rodriguez.  He also teaches theological education classes for its lay leaders.
     In June 2002, Pastor Lorenz and Deaconess Rodriguez together with an action team of mission-minded individuals and with the cooperation of the Michigan District of the LC-MS, began the Hispanic Latino Mission Society of Michigan, also known as LATINO ("Lutheran Action Team Improving Native [Hispanic/Latino] Outreach").
     Since January of 2005, St. Peter has deployed Pastor Lorenz full-time to LATINO  to serve as Executive Director.
     Pastor Lorenz married Stephanie of Vero Beach, Florida on June 2, 1984.  Stephanie graduated from Concordia College, Ann Arbor with majors in Religious Studies and Music (organ).  She has Parish Assistant certification through the Parish Assistant program at Concordia.
     Stephanie is also a graduate of the Nursing program at Macomb Community College and is a Registered Nurse working full-time.
     Pastor and Mrs. Lorenz have four children: Gregory, Daniel, Marissa, and Matthew.