We knew the question would come up sooner or later. “Can you share why Academia Cristo is LWMS’ 2025–26 kids c.a.r.e. project?” inquired our mission supporters. It is a fair question given that the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) kids c.a.r.e. program sponsors mission projects that benefit children. The long answer, however, involved a plane ride to South America this past October.

And so, the journey of LWMS representatives Melissa Bender; Karrie Kirschbaum; and myself, Melinda Sims, began in Lima, Peru, with Elise Gross, director of Women’s Ministry for Academia Cristo, leading the way. Academia Cristo (Christ Academy) is a WELS Latin American ministry that helps people learn God’s Word and share it with others. Elise arranged for a home visit with a Grupo Sembrador, a church plant led by an Academia Cristo student. One of the youngest individuals there was a precocious seven-year-old named Abigail. We saw her fearlessly engage adults in conversations and answer biblical questions based on 1 Timothy chapter 1. Abigail’s face especially lit up as she heard the gospel message in her own language. As the devotion ended, I reflected on Christ’s words to his disciples in Matthew 18:3: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Each Grupo Sembrador desires to have its own church building, but for now the focus is on growing the church body one member at a time.

Our next home visit took us an hour’s plane ride northeast to Pucallpa, a central gateway to the Amazon region. Local church planter Amelia picked up the four of us in her manual car and shifted us through the bumpy and gravelly roads to get to Consuelo’s home. After all the initial saludos, Amelia unzipped her backpack and turned on her electronic devices to create an impactful devotional experience. Elise led the singing of Academia Cristo’s signature song, which can best be described as a Latinized version of “This Little Gospel Light of Mine.” Seated amidst the adults were Consuelo’s four young sons listening intently and participating fully. By God’s grace, all of them have already been baptized. Consuelo later shared accounts of difficult persecutions. Thankfully, these Iglesia Gracia de Dios members maintain a prayer circle and Bible class to spur each other on in the faith.

Our last stop of the day brought us to Amelia’s house where we met her children. The two eldest siblings serve on the church worship team. Her son operates the audio equipment, and her daughter, a one-year piano player, plays the keyboard. We also learned Amelia’s seven-year-old son already has pastoral aspirations.

So, how does the 2025–26 kids c.a.r.e. project benefit children? Church planting is a family affair in Peru. These children have a front-row seat to witness how the Holy Spirit strengthens the faith of their parents.

Saying good-bye to our South American friends came too soon. All of our Christian brothers and sisters shared their sincere gratitude for Academia Cristo. The organization’s logo is inscribed on their banners, silk screened onto the Grupo Sembrador T-shirts, and embedded in their hearts. Amelia added she would love to meet the person who came up with the idea for this Latin American mission outreach and personally thank him. So would we.

Melinda Sims, LWMS president
St. Paul’s, Columbus, Ohio

Learn more about the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. Learn more about Academia Cristo and WELS’ Latin American ministry at wels.net/latin-america.