LCC’s Costa Rica Work Suspended

After more than a decade of Gospel outreach, Lutheran Church Canada work in Costa Rica has been suspended

Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) missionaries, Pastor Edmundo Retana and his wife Deaconess Betty Solórzano Cevallos have announced that they are resigning from the mission in Costa Rica, citing personal and family reasons. With their resignations, there are no LCC or Iglesia Luterana-Sínodo de Nicaragua (ILSN) workers in Costa Rica.

In his letter of resignation, Rev. Retana stated, “I am grateful to our Lord for allowing me to serve him for all these years. And to you, authorities of the LCC and ISLN, an additional thanks for the trust placed in me. I have learned and grown a lot in faith during these years. I know that for the faith community of Cartago it has been a beautiful process of fellowship and Christian fellowship. The seed of the Gospel has been sown with abundance in our country.”

He continued, “I am very clear at this moment that the ways and thoughts of the Lord are always higher than ours (Isaiah 55, 9). I welcome them now with faith and humility. May the Lord keep you and protect you in his mercy.”

Rev. Retana first contacted LCC after he had responded positively to a number of theological documents posted on a LCMS CTCR website. He was introduced to the LCC missionary in Costa Rica, by Rev. Pedro Adolfo Quintero. He had worked in a Lutheran Church (LWF) in San José at the time as well as teaching occasional theological courses at the University in San José.

Following completion of his colloquy program at the ILSN, Rev. Retana was examined and upon acceptance, was issued a call by ILSN and ordained in Costa Rica by ILSN President Rev. Luis Diaz. He began his work in the area in which they lived and after returning to Nicaragua, he continued that ministry in the area south of San José in addition to his own. Dea. Solórzano Cevallos formally joined the work after her consecration as an ILSN deaconess 5 years ago.

The mission’s work, which involved weekly worship and Bible study in 2 locations as well as active women’s, youth and children’s social ministries, was most recently sponsored by grants from the Concordia Lutheran Missionary Society.

LCC’s Committee for Missions & Social Ministry Services, in consultation with ILSN, is examining the future direction of mission work in Costa Rica. We pray that both missionaries, their family and the people they have cared for remain under God’s guidance and nurture.

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