Companion Church in Peru

IL-P stands for the Iglesia Luterana del

Perú, or the “Lutheran Church of Peru” in English. But church members in Peru, and those from our synod who have visited as delegates, just refer to the church as IL-P.

Most of the congregations and “faith communities” (mission starts) are in Lima, the capital of Peru that lies on the Pacific coast. But other congregations and faith communities are located Trujillo, Huacho, Huancayo, Iquitos and Cusco. Their names might sound a bit exotic to us, but if we translate them from Spanish into English, many of them sound very familiar to our ears. One example is Buen Pastor – “Good Shepherd”.

Gallery from 2024 Visit

  • The Children’s Festival was set up into four stations: bracelet making, Olympic-style relays, origami, and mural painting. There was also a group of women who gathered to knit and crochet. The Children’s Festival included a delicious meal of chicken (pollo), potatoes (papas), and chicha morada (a native drink made from dried purple corn, along with fruit and spices).

  • Gathered together at Belén (Bethlehem) Church, this is the group including all from the La Crosse Area Synod, the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, and the Bishop, Pastors, and laypeople involved in the planning of the Children’s Festival.

  • Bishop Mike (Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod), Pastor Ana Maria, and Nancy Solberg during a meet-and-greet when we first arrived in Peru. Along with getting to know each other, we were also working together to plan the Children’s Festival, occurring for the first time since before COVID.

  • The Children’s Festival was set up into four stations: bracelet making, Olympic-style relays, origami, and mural painting. There was also a group of women who gathered to knit and crochet. The Children’s Festival included a delicious meal of chicken (pollo), potatoes (papas), and chicha morada (a native drink made from dried purple corn, along with fruit and spices).

  • The Children’s Festival was set up into four stations: bracelet making, Olympic-style relays, origami, and mural painting. There was also a group of women who gathered to knit and crochet. The Children’s Festival included a delicious meal of chicken (pollo), potatoes (papas), and chicha morada (a native drink made from dried purple corn, along with fruit and spices).

  • The Children’s Festival was set up into four stations: bracelet making, Olympic-style relays, origami, and mural painting. There was also a group of women who gathered to knit and crochet. The Children’s Festival included a delicious meal of chicken (pollo), potatoes (papas), and chicha morada (a native drink made from dried purple corn, along with fruit and spices).

  • The Children’s Festival was set up into four stations: bracelet making, Olympic-style relays, origami, and mural painting. There was also a group of women who gathered to knit and crochet. The Children’s Festival included a delicious meal of chicken (pollo), potatoes (papas), and chicha morada (a native drink made from dried purple corn, along with fruit and spices).

  • The La Crosse and Texas-Louisiana delegates divided into groups of 3 to visit different churches in Lima on Sunday, August 4. Each of the congregations greeted and welcomed us with open arms, including us in their worship services, feeding us, and teaching us about their culture.

  • The La Crosse and Texas-Louisiana delegates divided into groups of 3 to visit different churches in Lima on Sunday, August 4. Each of the congregations greeted and welcomed us with open arms, including us in their worship services, feeding us, and teaching us about their culture.

  • The La Crosse and Texas-Louisiana delegates divided into groups of 3 to visit different churches in Lima on Sunday, August 4. Each of the congregations greeted and welcomed us with open arms, including us in their worship services, feeding us, and teaching us about their culture.

  • The parish of Buen Pastor performed traditional dances that highlighted the three regions of Peru: Coastal, Andean, and Rain Forest.

  • The parish of Buen Pastor performed traditional dances that highlighted the three regions of Peru: Coastal, Andean, and Rain Forest.

  • The parish of Buen Pastor performed traditional dances that highlighted the three regions of Peru: Coastal, Andean, and Rain Forest.

  • The congregation of Buen Pastor also is very passionate about the environment. They live in an area of severely polluted waters, both in the Río (River) Chillón and the Pacific Coast that the Chillón River flows into. They have worked to beautify their space by planting vegetation, upcycling items that have washed ashore to create fences and art, as well as painting a mural that highlights the importance of taking care of God’s earth with messages for creation care. 

  • The congregation of Buen Pastor also is very passionate about the environment. They live in an area of severely polluted waters, both in the Río (River) Chillón and the Pacific Coast that the Chillón River flows into. They have worked to beautify their space by planting vegetation, upcycling items that have washed ashore to create fences and art, as well as painting a mural that highlights the importance of taking care of God’s earth with messages for creation care. 

  • The congregation of Buen Pastor also is very passionate about the environment. They live in an area of severely polluted waters, both in the Río (River) Chillón and the Pacific Coast that the Chillón River flows into. They have worked to beautify their space by planting vegetation, upcycling items that have washed ashore to create fences and art, as well as painting a mural that highlights the importance of taking care of God’s earth with messages for creation care. 

  • The congregation of Buen Pastor also is very passionate about the environment. They live in an area of severely polluted waters, both in the Río (River) Chillón and the Pacific Coast that the Chillón River flows into. They have worked to beautify their space by planting vegetation, upcycling items that have washed ashore to create fences and art, as well as painting a mural that highlights the importance of taking care of God’s earth with messages for creation care. 

  • While in Cusco, we visited Talitha Kum, a congregation led mostly by women. The church was started by the then pastor, now IL-P President Ofelia. Through her persistence and passion, Talitha Kum grew to become a parish. During the pandemic, the President of the IL-P died, and Ofelia was lifted into the role. Talitha Kum still remains a strong congregation, despite not having a pastor. They worship via zoom and once a month a visiting pastor will come to preside over worship. 

  • While in Peru, our group was blessed to be able to visit several historical sites, including the incredible Machu Picchu, near Cusco.

Caring for God’s Creation in Peru

This trip celebrated 20 years of partnership with the IL-P. Calling it incredible is an understatement. Many know the idea of a mission trip, where volunteers go to help a specific place. This trip was about being present—spending time with our Companion partners to listen, see, and understand their joys and struggles. We aimed to learn from each other and find ways to offer support.

Accompaniment

Our trip focused on accompaniment—listening, observing, and participating in activities with our hosts in Peru to understand their lives, culture, and ministries. They welcomed us into their congregations and the Children’s Festival. Our experience was enriched by gathering with a Texas group, led by Bishop Felix J. Malpica from the La Crosse Area Synod and Bishop Mike Rinehart from Texas. Their leadership fostered collaboration, allowing us to share ideas, stories, and support, transforming us from two distinct groups into a united and interactive one.

View the Covenant between La Iglesia Luterana del Perú and the La Crosse Area Synod, ELCA, signed at the 2016 Synod Assembly by Pastor Presidente Pedro Bullón and former Bishop Jim Arends.