DeGroot -Albuquerque – October 2019

What Joy abounds here in the Desert Southwest!!!

Top: Bulletin commemorating the Constituting Sunday.
Middle Left: Reverend Doctor Steve Schave (LCMS Urban/ Inner City/ church Planting director was out liturgist.)
Middle Right: We we pleased to have 53 people for the service; 27 of whom are members of St. Andrew.
Lower left: Photo snippet from our special banner to commemorate the day.
Lower Right: Reverend Doctor Steve Schave and Missionary Pastor Adam DeGroot during Divine service on the 29th of September.

We’re constituted and yet there is so much more to do.

What a joy it was for us to gather together as a congregation on Sunday the 29th of September to officially become a constituted congregation in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

It was a warm day, with not a cloud in the sky. Fifty three souls attended the service, 27 of whom are members of St. Andrew. Reverend Doctor Steve Schave, President Roger Schlechte (Rocky Mountain District) and Reverend John Heffelfinger (Redeemer, Albuquerque) were among our distinguished guests. We were very pleased to have such an outpouring of support and it was during the sermon that I preached of the gratitude that we have for our Gracious Lords faithfulness to us through all of our supporters financial gifts and continued prayers.

I am thankful that we were able to progress so quickly in this endeavor and the next steps will include a meager congregational budget and continued work of evangelizing the neighborhood.

In an update of my previous newsletter, the scripts are written for the videos that we will put together and the hardware (microphone etc.) has been purchased so recording will begin in earnest within the next 2-3 weeks. I continue to attend to the souls at the Rio at Las Estancias, I have finalized all of my training to begin at the Metro Detention Center and weekly ‘cold’ visits to the hospitals continues as we maintain our focus of proclaiming the gospel to the people of Southwest Albuquerque.

Overall, we are off to a good start. And although the work of St. Andrew has been going for almost 4.5 years I am pleased to say that we are headed in the right direction for what we pray will be a prolonged stay in Southwest Albuquerque. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers, I look forward to being in touch again soon.

Peace to you in Christ,

Missionary DeGroot

Updates in the DeGroot’s

We have been busy with many church related activities but have also seen to providing hospitality to guests who have come to visit. We had two guests with us from St. Louis who were here to take pictures and do a write-up for Lutheran’s engage the World magazine (publication date TBA). Just this last week the Albuquerque International Balloon fiesta was held and the Lord smiled upon us with many wonderful (windless, dry and cool) days.

During the first two days of the fiesta we were blessed to have Pastor Gene Bauman and his wife Mary with us. Pastor Bauman has been a very influential man in my pastoral formation along with a man who has provided me with much direction during my five years as a missionary pastor. Later in the week we we were able to entertain some distinguished guests from Wyoming (My mother and father) through the last 4 days of the fiesta. All told we were able to get on to the Fiesta Launch grounds for two beautiful mornings. The days began early (3:45 am) and we did quite a bit of shivering but overall the fellowship and activity of the days we were out was a tremendous blessing.

Melissa continues to do well and stays very busy. Knox is doing well in school and continues to excel in swimming; which isn’t much of a surprise considering that he’s nearly 5 feet tall already (He’s 8.5 years old), Lord have mercy on us and our upcoming grocery bills.

Overall, life is going very well and we continue to covet your prayers as we fare forth.

Our mailing address is:
4351 Coors Blvd. SW, Albuquerque New Mexico 87121

St. Andrew Lutheran Church Plant · 4351 Coors Blvd. SW · Albuquerque, NM 87121 · USA