Vision for Spanish Bible with Luther’s Catechism becomes a reality
Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) executive director, Rev. Dr. Bob Rahn made a surprise visit to Panama in 2001 with emeritus pastor Rev. Thomas Petersen of Austin, Texas. There for they met Rev. Dan McMiller for the first time, who was missionary counselor and director of theological education for the mission in Panama and now serves as South Wisconsin District missions executive.
The headquarters for the Latin American office of the United Bible Society also was located in Panama. Rahn asked McMiller what printing project in Spanish could be helpful for Hispanic outreach in Panama and beyond. Since the  Catechism was the primary resource used by LCMS Missions and the National Lutheran Church in Panama, McMiller immediately thought of a locally produced, economical version of the Catechism that could be put together, in one volume, with the Spanish Bible. The Catechism with questions, answers and hundreds of proof texts, is and would continue to be the main tool or resource used by evangelists, lay leaders, national pastors and missionaries.
Rev. Dr. Robert Rahn (left), executive director for Lutheran Heritage Foundation, shows a new Spanish Bible to Rev. Dan McMiller, South Wisconsin District missions executive.
They met immediately with the United Bible Society's Panama office executive director, and received great support and encouragement for this idea. He told them that a production of 20,000 Bibles or more could have the Catechism added with minimal additional cost. The cost of the Bible and Catechism in one would be only slightly more than the cost of a Bible alone. Produced, purchased and distributed through the LHF, the cost would be even lower.
From time to time McMiller received word that the project was still in the works. A great surprise was given the week of June 8 when Rahn announced that the 11,000 Bibles and Catechisms were finished and that he would be stopping by the District office to give McMiller a few of the copies. An additional 200 copies were shipped for use in evangelism and confirmation instruction in District Hispanic ministries. The Bibles are being very well received throughout Lutheran missions and national churches of Latin America and in United States. Rahn is certain that there will be such great demand that another printing will be forthcoming.
The text of the Catechism was donated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina. Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne gave general coordination over the work in Spanish. Rutt was a missionary to Guatemala for eight years and served as regional director for Latin America missions while McMiller served in Panama.
We are very grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ that this tool has been made available through the LHF. We are certain it will lead to a firm foundation in the biblical truths that the Reformation brought to light and that continue to be our core confession of faith.
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