10/04/2026
THE LEGACY OF GRACE
Our History and the Path Ahead
By Deacon Andrés Almiña Negrete
1. A JOURNEY THAT BEGAN IN FAITH
Every story of service begins somewhere. Mine began at Jehovah–El Buen Pastor Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 3740 W Belden Ave., Chicago.
It was there that the Lord guided my first steps on this journey of faith, where I had the opportunity to continue my formation, grow spiritually, and understand that serving God is not simply about occupying a place within a church, but about accepting a commitment to Christ and to my neighbor—the commitment to serve, to accompany, to help, and to give thanks to God for every opportunity He gives us to fulfill His purpose.
It was there that my calling to serve as a Deacon was also born.
I hold with deep gratitude everything that God allowed me to experience there. Every teaching, every prayer, every encounter, and every experience are part of a journey that continues to this day.
I do not consider that beginning to have been simply a stage of my life. I consider it part of the purpose that God was building within me.
2. A NEW CHAPTER OF SERVICE
With that same spirit of obedience and with a fervent desire to extend the Kingdom of God, the Lord allowed me to continue my journey of service at Grace English Lutheran Church, located in the Laramie and Parker area, where I had the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with Pastor Fernando Gómez.
There, we shared an important chapter of our Christian lives and our service to the community.
Two different places form part of my journey of faith, but both are united by the same purpose: to serve God, proclaim Christ, and accompany our neighbors.
The place where I began my formation and the place where I later had the opportunity to continue serving are part of the same story.
A story that does not belong only to buildings.
It belongs to God.
3. THE IMPACT OF THE WORD AT GRACE ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH
During the time we shared in this congregation, I came to understand that the true pillars of a church were never simply made of wood, concrete, or brick.
The true temple was built every time we had the privilege of opening the Scriptures, proclaiming the Word from the altar, lifting our prayers, and working together to support our brothers and sisters in faith.
Living day by day in this neighborhood and serving at this altar has left an unforgettable mark on my life and, I am certain, on the lives of many of those who called this building our spiritual home.
Here there were prayers.
Here there were tears.
Here there was joy.
Here there were moments of difficulty and moments of hope.
Here many people found a word of encouragement when they needed it most.
And all of that is part of our story.
4. THE PAIN OF CLOSING AND FAREWELL
I cannot hide the fact that my heart is filled with deep sadness as I see the doors of Grace English Lutheran Church closing.
I deeply regret all these changes and the circumstances that have brought us to this moment. It is human to feel pain when something that has been part of our spiritual lives comes to an end.
Although I do not know the details or the administrative reasons that led to the sale of our property, I choose to embrace the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.
It is not my place to judge or dwell on what is uncertain; rather, it is my responsibility to preserve with gratitude and absolute respect the sacred memories, the prayers, and the lives that were devoted to God within these walls.
I prefer to hold on to what no one can sell, buy, or take away: the faith we shared here, the experiences we lived, and the love of Christ that united us.
5. LIFE IS UNCERTAIN, BUT GOD REMAINS
Life is completely uncertain.
Not everything turns out the way we would like it to. There are paths we imagine going one way that ultimately take another direction. There are doors we hope will remain open, and at some point, they close.
But a door that closes does not necessarily mean that God has finished His work.
Sometimes it means that a new chapter is beginning.
Therefore, although we may feel sadness today, we must also preserve our hope and our faith that many things can improve and become stronger in our Christian life.
Because regardless of where we are, God is with us.
It is not the building that determines our faith.
It is not the walls that sustain the Church.
It is God who sustains us.
And we, as a community of believers, must continue walking under His direction.
6. THE CHURCH LIVES ON
Today we find ourselves in a transition and temporarily working right next to our former church building.
This reality reminds us of something fundamental:
The Church is not merely its walls; the Church is its people, its faith, its service, and the presence of God among His people.
Grace English Lutheran Church may close its doors, but our mission does not close.
Our calling does not close.
Our faith does not close.
Our commitment to Christ remains intact.
As long as Pastor Fernando Gómez and I continue collaborating and serving alongside you, we will continue working so that God's altar remains raised within our hearts.
7. A SERVANT OF CHRIST ALWAYS HAS A PLACE TO SERVE
I want to express something that I carry deeply in my heart:
A good servant of Christ does not stop serving simply because the place changes.
It does not matter where we are.
It does not matter whether we are under a roof, outdoors, or even, metaphorically, beneath the stones.
As long as there is a person who needs to hear a word of hope, there will be an opportunity to serve God.
Our mission must continue.
We must continue proclaiming the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must continue proclaiming the Word of God.
We must continue bringing hope, faith, and encouragement to those who are going through difficult moments in their daily lives.
Because many times a person does not need only a solution; they need someone to remind them that God has not abandoned them.
And we, as servants of Christ, have the privilege and responsibility of carrying that message.
8. THE PATH AHEAD
Today we can look back with nostalgia, but we must not remain trapped in the past.
We can mourn what is ending, but we must also have the courage to walk toward what is beginning.
I know where my journey began.
I know that God allowed me to be formed and to serve at Jehovah–El Buen Pastor.
I know that He later allowed me to continue this service alongside Pastor Fernando Gómez and this community at Grace English Lutheran Church.
And I also know that God still has a purpose for us.
The building may change.
The place may change.
Circumstances may change.
But Christ remains.
And as long as Christ remains with us, we will always have a reason to continue.
To continue serving.
To continue believing.
To continue praying.
To continue proclaiming His Word.
To continue bringing hope to those who need it.
I have faith that God will continue guiding our steps and that, even in the midst of this uncertainty, we will be able to see new opportunities to strengthen our Christian life and our service to the community.
We do not know exactly what tomorrow will bring.
But we do know who walks with us.
The Good Shepherd continues to go before us.
And we must continue walking behind Him, with humility, faith, and hope, certain that our service does not depend on a building, but on the calling that God has placed in our hearts.
As the Apostle Paul reminds us:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13
9. A FAREWELL THAT IS NOT AN END
Today we close a physical door, but we do not close our story.
The walls may remain behind us, but the experiences remain.
The memories remain.
Faith remains.
The love of Christ remains.
And our calling to serve remains.
Therefore, although my heart feels sadness because of these changes, I also want to look ahead with hope.
Because I believe that God can bring something new even out of the moments we do not understand.
May God bless Pastor Fernando Gómez.
May God bless every brother and sister in our congregation.
May God bless our families and our community.
And may the Lord give us the wisdom, strength, and faith we need to face this new chapter.
Wherever there is a heart willing to serve, God will be there.
Wherever there is a person in need of hope, there we will have a mission.
And wherever Christ is, there will be His Church.
May God accompany us, strengthen us, and lead us toward the new path He has prepared for us.
Amen.
