Four Concordia Seminary, St. Louis deaconess students will be venturing to Peru over winter break for a special mission trip, being offered through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) International Center. According to Deaconess Dr. Gillian Bond, director of the deaconess program, the trip is intended to encourage more young women to consider this type of diaconal ministry. It also will provide the students with a wonderful opportunity to join with current missionaries in sharing Christ’s love through a combination of spiritual and mercy care within a very different cultural setting.

Ninety-five percent of the students’ costs will be funded by the LCMS. According to Deaconess Grace Rao, director of LCMS Deaconess Ministry, the group will work at the Diaconia Centre in Lima with some of its mission activities, including a day center for street children, an after-school children center, orphanages and women’s centers. According to the LCMS, the trip will serve as part of a pilot mission to test the feasibility of doing similar trips in the future, both for the Seminary and other deaconess programs within the LCMS.

Learn more about the Seminary’s Deaconess Studies program here.