La Iglesia Luterana De San Pablo, Tucson, Arizona: WELS First Spanish Mission

Abstract

Thomas Behnke’s historical essay chronicles the founding and development of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s (WELS) first Spanish-speaking mission congregation, La Iglesia Luterana De San Pablo in Tucson, Arizona. The mission began in 1947 under Pastor Venus H. Winter, whose lifelong interest in the Spanish language and culture led him to pioneer outreach among Mexican-Americans. Starting with no congregation and facing cultural and linguistic barriers, Winter persevered through years of slow growth, relying on radio broadcasts, personal visits, and children’s ministries. The first Spanish worship service was held in 1948, and by 1955 the congregation had its own chapel. A Christian day school was added in 1957, serving as a key outreach tool. Behnke highlights the mission’s emphasis on patience, child-centered ministry, and language immersion. The essay concludes with reflections on the broader impact of San Pablo, which laid the groundwork for WELS Spanish missions in El Paso, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and South America. —Generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)