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By Lisa Baermann
January 2010
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| Omar's youngest daughter, Andrea (4), with Criseida and Omar who were recently married. | Omar de Leon thought he had everything. He had a wife he loved, a little girl, and a great job.
When Omar and his wife began attending San Pablo Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois, they also began taking classes at the church's School for Missionaries. Omar wanted to understand Lutheran theology and the faith he now had. He took classes titled People and Events of the Old Testament, Jesus of Nazareth My Lord, and Luther and the Reformation of the Church.
Then, about two years ago, Omar's life changed forever. His wife was killed when a train hit her car because she got stuck on the railroad tracks. Miraculously, their little daughter was unharmed.
The classes from the missionary school helped Omar get through the tragic loss of his wife. “The Word of God supported me,” explains Omar. “I couldn't have made it otherwise.
“I had a lot of conversations with God, trying to figure out why this happened to me,” says Omar. “I questioned God.”
Omar searched for what God was trying to tell him. “He wanted my attention. I knew that. So, I asked him, ‘What are you looking for from me?' Then I knew. God wanted me to work for him.”
So Omar left his job and began working at San Pablo Church as the ministry coordinator. Although educated as an industrial engineer, Omar does a little bit of everything at San Pablo, including coordinating the church's English as a Second Language program.
Omar is now completing his tenth class at San Pablo's missionary school and will graduate shortly. Afterward, he plans to enroll in Concordia Seminary's Center for Hispanic Studies preparing to become an ordained pastor.
“God is showing me everyday why I have to be here. There are so many needs. Everyday I have the opportunity to share my testimony of how Jesus transformed my life.”
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| Omar de Leon, seated, is finishing his final course, Methods of Education, at San Pablo's Escuela para Misioneros. Pastor Alex Merlo leads the classes and developed the 10-course curriculum to prepare lay people to serve in Hispanic communities. | San Pablo's Escuela para Misioneros (School for Missionaries) provides theological training onsite in Aurora, Illinois, to Hispanic lay persons. The curriculum consists of 10 semester-long classes including Lutheran doctrine and practical ways to serve people in the community. The instructors are San Pablo Lutheran Church Pastor Alex Merlo and the pastor from San Juan Hispanic Mission in Elgin, Rev. Carlos Catalan.
Students have varied reasons for taking classes at the missionary school. The classes provide new members the opportunity to learn about the Lutheran faith they have embraced. Others want to learn how to bring the message of salvation to the Hispanic community often not served by a local congregation. They graduate eager to teach Bible studies and develop outreach and evangelism programs. Others, like Omar, are preparing to enter the seminary.
The School for Missionaries needs your support so that people like Omar can continue to be trained and prepared to bring Christ's love to the Hispanic community. Your gift to the missionary school through New Starts…New Believers will help to grow the school, bring professors from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis to teach classes, and help purchase text books and supplies. Your gift will help people like Omar de Leon follow the calling God has given to reach the Hispanic community with the love of God. Learn more about how to give.
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