(LWI) – The Lutheran Costa Rican Church (ILCO) celebrated a historic day 3 April 2016, when it ordained one of its longest-serving church workers Teresa Guadamuz as a pastor of the church.

Fondly referred to as “Doña Teresa”, because of her dedicated service as an evangelist and diaconal worker, newly ordained Rev. Guadamuz expressed her gratitude to God and the ILCO community in her new role.

“For me it enhances the commitment in my relationship with God—to bring the good news full of hope and the promise of transformed lives—for the sake of the community of faith in the Lutheran Costa Rican Church,” she said.

Congratulating Guadamuz, ILCO President Rev. Gilberto Quesada noted the church ordained her based on "Merit and Maturity” after a long and sometimes difficult process, in which she always stood firm and never gave up.

“I am very pleased that the synod supported this decision and I thank God for the vocation of Doña Teresa. The church not only has a woman shepherd, but above all, it receives one who has achieved her heart’s desire after so many years.”

Guadamuz will be responsible for the church’s mission area in the indigenous community of Quitirrisí in the south east part of the country.

Bishop Timothy M. Smith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America North Carolina Synod officiated at the ordination at ILCO's headquarters in the capital San José, assisted by Pastor Gilberto and other ILCO pastors.

Guadamuz’s active engagement in the church for more than 20 years includes missionary and evangelism work among rural and indigenous populations and coordination of income-generating projects for women in the southern region of Cabagra. ILCO accompanied her through theological training at the Latin American University for Biblical Studies in San José, a process that lasted several years, alongside her regular work.

Rev. Dr Patricia Cuyatti, LWF area secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the ordination of Guadamuz affirms the important process the church began in 1995 to empower women for the church ministry. “It is the recognition of women in ordained leadership, and in her case, endorsement for outstanding service during the last two decades.”

In addition the ordination were held the confirmation of 9 people who have found at ILCO a place where to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and development of the gifts and talents for the different tasks that the church is promoting. The confirming explained to the community that they have decided to become members of the ILCO, because: "For growth opportunities, empowerment, knowledge gained, respect, Love and Inclusion that ILCO has promoted"