Concordia forms pastors to spread the Gospel, plant Lutheran churches and show mercy. It also trains deaconesses to serve alongside pastors to show the mercy of God in Christ to those who are in need and facing difficulties.

Deaconess Danelle Putnam, an LCMS missionary and associate coordinator of the deaconess program at Concordia, noted that most of the graduating deaconesses will not be paid. They see their service to the church and others as their reward. “The three-year program here consists of nine main core courses that train the women and instruct them in the Bible and Lutheran doctrine. We also have fieldwork that the women do to give them practice in caring for people, in reaching out to their neighbor.”

“Being a deaconess is a wonderful area of service for the church. We work in different areas like Christian education and mercy work. We also care for people spiritually,” said Putnam. “The deaconess works alongside the pastor to help him care for the body and soul. She is the one out in the community and in the congregation looking for the needs of people, listening to the people, then taking those needs also back to the pastor so that he can attend to them spiritually.”

The graduates leave Concordia to serve the church throughout South and Central America. When asked what he learned while studying at Concordia, graduate Rev. Rafael Flores, who will serve in Chile, noted, “Without a doubt, the mercy and love of God … the most important thing is now to show mercy toward others.” Flores looks forward to serving in Chile, where the church has few pastors.