Sponsor of PalmCon



Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute

PalmCon is an engaging conference for the Lutheran Hispanic community focused on collaboration and learning. Sponsored by the Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute, it provides an interactive format featuring guest speakers with feedback opportunities, table conversations, and fellowship with others in Hispanic Ministry.

PALMCON: A Short Hisory

Overview. The national triennial PArtners in Latino Ministries CONference (PALMCON) has been hosted by The Lutheran Hispanic Missionary Institute (LHMI) since 2013. Four conferences have been held to date: 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022. Each gathering brings together Anglo and Hispanic ministry workers, from experienced leaders to those just beginning to explore Hispanic ministry. PALMCON creates a setting where specialists in missionary fields and active ministry workers can exchange experience, test ideas, and apply practical insights. LHMI supports continued collaboration after each conference by providing a participant network and a library of materials that encourage the real-world implementation of conference ideas. Conference Themes and Speakers Each PALMCON conference was organized around a central theme. Keynote speakers were asked to focus attendees on that theme and encourage discussion that could continue beyond the conference itself. PALMCON I: Theme: Reaching Multi-Generations of Hispanics with the Gospel • Rev. Tardelli Voss, then a missionary church planter for the LCMS Mid-South District, addressed outreach to first-generation Hispanics. • Dr. Daniel A. Rodriguez, author of A Future for the Latino Church: Models for Multilingual, Multigenerational Hispanic Congregations and professor of Religion and Hispanic Studies at Pepperdine University, focused on methods for reaching first- and second-generation Hispanics. PALMCON II: Theme: Following Jesus — Serving Latinos Where They Live • Dr. Juan Francisco Martínez, Vice-Provost of Fuller Theological Seminary, served as the speaker throughout the conference. • His presentations, “Being a Christian Leader in the Midst of Disruptive Change” and “Opportunities and Challenges of Latino Ministry in the U.S.,” emphasized making ministry relevant by “meeting the people where they are.” PALMCON III: Theme: The Latino Family — Our First Mission Challenge • Dr. David Hormachea, founder and president of “Regreso al Hogar”, brought extensive experience addressing family disruption through books, teaching, and a radio program broadcast across Latin America. • Mr. Mark Kempff, who served for 33 years as an LCMS missionary in Latin America, drew on this and his work with the Center for Hispanic Studies of Concordia Seminary and his leadership in family ministry workshops and retreats. • Together, the speakers approached the theme from different angles while emphasizing the need for biblical awareness in ministry to Latino families facing cultural disintegration. PALMCON IV: Theme: Building Bridges to and from Hispanic Ministries • PALMCON IV differed from previous conferences by using a multi-topic, multi-speaker format. • Presenters were asked to provoke discussion around the theme of bridge-building and the place of Hispanic ministry within the broader work of the Christian church. • Conferees challenged and encouraged one another to be intentional bridge builders, contributing to and drawing strength from the wider missionary enterprise. Overall Emphasis Across its first four conferences, PALMCON has moved from generational outreach to contextual ministry, to family ministry, and finally to bridge-building across the wider missionary community. Together, these themes show LHMI’s continuing effort to equip workers for faithful, practical, and connected Hispanic ministry.