Pastor Rafael Menjívar of Iglesia Luterana Salvadoreña Visits Synod Office

Recently, Pastor Rafael Menjívar (right in photo) from the Salvadoran Lutheran Church (Iglesia Luterana Salvadoreña) visited the Sierra Pacific Synod Office and shared stories from Cordero de Dios and Santa Fe congregations, as well as insights into the broader ministry of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church — our synod’s companion synod in El Salvador.

This relationship, rooted in mutual accompaniment, has long included exchanges of visitors and shared resources. Founded as a North American mission in the 1950s, the Salvadoran Lutheran Church joined the Lutheran World Federation in 1986. Today, it includes 52 congregations and several mission sites.

What makes the Salvadoran Lutheran Church unique is its deep commitment to women and children, its building block model of equipping ministry, and its unwavering support for those most in need. Practicing a Theology of Life, the church is always on the move — going to where people are hurting. Formation is constant, and leadership is nurtured in all people, not just the ordained. Many congregations serve as community hubs throughout the week, offering space for vocational programs like baking and cosmetology.

The church is also fiercely dedicated to climate justice and is actively responding to current political challenges in the country. Pastor Rafael invites our prayers—that the church’s legacy of compassion for the earth, those who are incarcerated, and all impacted by violence and unrest may endure and grow.

As he shared during his visit: “We are not scared.”

We give thanks for this meaningful partnership and look forward to the many ways we can continue to learn from one another. May God’s presence guide and bless them always.