Welcome to the first installment of our series on Mexican pastors and seminary students. We're going to kickoff the series with a dearly loved pastor here in Mexico: Pastor Eduardo Vázquez. He's pictured above with members of the congregation he serves, El Buen Pastor (Good Shepherd), in Guadalupe, a suburb of Monterrey, Mexico.
Early Years
Pastor Vázquez did not grow up in a Lutheran home. When he got married and had children, however, he found a Lutheran kindergarten nearby, and decided to send his children there. This kindergarten was run by members of El Redentor (Redeemer) in the city of Torreón.
"It was through this tie that we started coming to the Lutheran church," Pastor Vázquez notes. "Our family would go to special celebrations, like Mother's Day events, at El Redentor. Then Pastor Ibarra* invited us to church services."
Pastor Vázquez and his family started attending worship and were soon enrolled in confirmation classes. After getting confirmed in 1993, Pastor Vázquez was still intrigued. "I wanted to learn more about the Bible," he says. In 1994, he was asked by the pastor if he'd considered the possibility of become a pastor. "I hadn't, but the more I thought about it, the more I liked it."
At the time, Pastor Vázquez was working as a sales manager for a company that imported goods from the United States. He decided to leave his job and enroll in the seminary. Missionary Larry Schlomer began teaching him in 1995.
Turning Point
Pastor Vázquez notes that this time period (when he started studying for the ministry) marked a turning point for the Mexican Lutheran Church. In early years of mission work in Mexico, missionaries worked with a number of pastors who eventually left the church for various reasons. Pastor Vázquez, together with his classmate Pastor Esequiel Sánchez, paved the way for a new phase to begin in Mexico, one marked by well trained, evangelism-minded pastors (this is why you'll often hear me refer to Pastor Vázquez and Pastor Sánchez as the founding fathers of today's Mexican Lutheran Church - that's how they're seen here).
While he was studying to be a pastor, a vacancy opened in the congregation La Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) in Monterrey. Pastor Vázquez and his family moved to Monterrey, where he served as student pastor and continued his studies. He graduated from the seminary and served a total of 9 years as pastor of the congregation La Santa Cruz.
Outreach Gifts
A few years ago, Pastor Vázquez was called to start a new mission just outside of Monterrey. His work there led to the forming of a new congregation, El Buen Pastor, which is where he continues to serve. Pastor Vázquez, his wife, and their four children live in the Monterrey area.
"My wife has always been a huge support for me," says Pastor Vázquez. "And my children understand that it's more important to value spiritual things instead of material belongings."
Before entering the ministry, Pastor Vázquez had a high paying job. Leaving it for a lower salary was well worth it, he says. "I feel like a millionaire spiritually, and that's what matters."
Some of the blessings Pastor Vázquez has found from being a pastor include getting the chance to share God's Word with people in all stages of life, from kids to teenagers to adults. "I know many people who have gone on to heaven already. I was able to share the Gospel with them and help them through their final moments, watching some die with a smile on their face, fully confident of where their future lay."
Animo! (Cheer Up!)
Pastor Vázquez has the gift of encouragement, and is always ready and eager to animar (lift up) fellow Christians going through tough times. His uplifting attitude has helped strengthen the synod body here. In the same way that others appreciate him, Pastor Vázquez holds his coworkers and Lutheran friends in high esteem. "I've gained so many spiritual brothers and sisters," he says.
Thank you Pastor Vázquez for all that you do. Through your work, the church in Mexico has both grown and prospered. May God continue to bless your efforts and reach more souls through you.
Stay tuned - next week we'll look at another pastor here in Mexico.
*Pastor Juan Ibarra founded the congregation El Redentor in Torreón. You can read more about Pastor Ibarra and his wife here.
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