Stories of the Spirit: Building Puentes – Mutual Support After a Pandemic
They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated;
they will build again the ruined cities, they will build again the places devastated for many generations. -Isaiah 61:4
Building Puentes (Building Bridges) was created in unity by the synods of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Delaware-Maryland, and the Caribbean soon after Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean islands in 2017. Hurricane Maria left behind a sea of destruction, not all of which was visible.
After the hurricane, pastors in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean walked hand-in-hand with their communities, rebuilding their communities and offering spiritual support. Above all else, hope was needed more than ever in the church and the hearts of members. In response, Building Puentes was established to break through the chasms that divide the synods on the mainland and islands to build bridges with fellow Lutheran siblings. The first step was hosting a Bishops’ Convocation in 2018 that brought together rostered ministers from all three synods together while also providing rest, support, and sabbath time to the mentally and physically exhausted leaders from Puerto Rico.
As rostered ministers from the mainland and islands gathered together, God began to work deeper in their hearts. This time together provided the space to bond over similarities, learn about differences, and lay the groundwork for a life-long bridge between the communities. Committed to fostering these new connections, the synods discussed and planned for annual retreats and mission trips to serve the people of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Then, the pandemic changed everything in 2020.
Building Puentes was still an established ministry and fund of the synods, but the ability to connect in person had been completely dismantled. Everyone struggled with how to adjust to the new world filled with fear, uncertainties, and ever-changing policies.
After Hurricane Fiona once again devastated the Caribbean islands in September 2022, the synods moved swiftly knowing that this bridge needed some reconstruction and attention. Thanks to your generosity and those in the Delaware-Maryland synod, over $25,000 was raised to provide immediate financial aid to 30 rostered ministers in the Caribbean Synod and begin planning for a 2023 rostered ministers retreat.
Pastor David Slagle Peck, of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Burtonsville, MD, was one of the many pastors who attended the 2023 retreat. He had traveled to Puerto Rico with the synod in the past but described this retreat as being the most impactful for him. This time, rostered ministers across all synods were unified due to shared experiences as a result of the pandemic. And while each church had unique circumstances that arose from the pandemic, each church still had its challenges.
When asked about his time there, he kept mentioning “opportunity” and “shared”. The retreat gave each person an opportunity to tell their story based on personal identity through a “shared experience of trauma and navigating life together.” Meaning, each leader felt the pressure of dealing with the pandemic which was closing in on their church walls. They shared frustration, experiences, and joy in being together. Being able to openly discuss their vulnerabilities allowed them to become closer and unified. Pastor David summed Building Puentes up perfectly by stating, “There is a reliance on each other and comradery in togetherness.”
Pastor Hank Langknecht of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Great Falls, VA, had the opportunity to attend the 2018 Bishop’s Convocation as well as this most recent retreat. Some of the most impactful moments for him was feeling a sense of connectedness despite the language barrier. Even though the broken Spanish and English might not have translated as intended, the overall feeling of patience and understanding, with the occasional silence for thinking pauses and kind smiles, lent itself to the whole purpose of Building Puentes. This mission is all about building bridges—whether that be language barriers, geographical locations, or cultural backgrounds—at the end of the day, there is a unified goal to go and make disciples.
So, what was one main highlight of togetherness expressed by both Pastor David and Pastor Hank? Karaoke night.
Try to imagine a room full of rostered ministers in a hotel ballroom “forced” to partake in karaoke night. We know it’s hard to picture because it seems out of the ordinary, but that’s exactly why it was so memorable. It led to dancing, a moment of relief, a time of silliness and laughing at oneself, felt like an unforgettable experience. If anything, Pastor David said, “Karaoke should have happened on night one!”
And so, it’s not about how fluent you speak a language or how well you can carry a tune, Building Puentes is all about finding the humanity we share as siblings in Christ and using it to construct the bridge so that all of God’s people can walk alongside their community, no matter the storm they face.
Thank you to Pastor David and Pastor Hank who shared their Building Puentes experience, including so many inspiring moments. As Pastor Hank shared,“I am hopeful that we can continue this partnership. Once every five years is not often enough. In a perfect world, we’d get together every year.”
Churches in the Caribbean had only just finished rebuilding from Hurricane Maria when Hurricane Fiona devastated the islands once again. Building Puentes is made possible through gifts given by people like you. Find ways you can support Building Puentes at www.metrodcelca.org/building-puentes.
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