Led by the Heart by Angelina Gomez Some years ago, the leadership of the LWML had a vision: a women's organization representative of all women of our church-young and mature, women from rural and urban communities, homemakers and professional women, and women from the different ethnic groups that make up our church. The LWML leadership knew that to reach the vision of all women of our church being a part of the organization would take a focused and intentional effort. In 2001, recognizing the need for greater diversity, a cross-cultural program called Heart to Heart Sisters was born. It was an honor for me to participate in Heart to Heart Sisters during the 2003 convention in Oklahoma City. This multicultural gathering brought together Hispanic and African American women from all over the United States. We had the opportunity to share the joys and challenges of our ministries. The Holy Spirit was at work in each Heart to Heart Sister. We realized it doesn't matter what language you speak or what color you are. We became one group with one goal. We have been commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ to spread the Good News of His never-ending love and sacrifice to the people in the communities in which we live. But when we first arrived in Oklahoma City, we had no idea what the Heart to Heart program was about. Some of us didn't even know what LWML was all about. At a two-day pre-convention program we were introduced to the LWML and to the opportunities to develop our God-given gifts and leadership skills so that we could be more effective in our ministries back home. That was just the beginning for us, because then we were able to attend the convention, a gathering of Christian women the size of which many of us couldn't even imagine. We saw first hand how the LWML works. We sang; we prayed; and then came the selection of mission grants. One of those grants was entitled "Heart to Heart Sisters-A Cross Cultural Gathering for 2005." When the results of the voting were read and we learned that this grant to fund a future gathering at the Tampa convention was approved, we were overjoyed. Sometimes in our small ethnic churches we don't feel very important to the church at large. In this moment we knew we were loved. The first Heart to Heart Sisters gathering had such an impact on my friend Mercedes Maguiño and me. We couldn't wait to get back home. The first need we addressed was to begin a Spanish Bible class. This Bible class has given us much spiritual growth and has brought our members to a closer relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Next we gathered the women of the Spanish congregation and, with the strong support of our wonderful pastor, the Rev. Douglas Jones, planned a beautiful LWML rally with Bible study, lunch and a workshop on how to start an LWML society. Hispanic women from five local Lutheran churches in Southern California came, attended by a district LWML mentor. By June 2004 we formed a Spanish LWML society called Priscilla Guild, which was officially recognized and accepted at the Pacific Southwest District LWML convention in June 2004. The Heart to Heart experience has given me a special connection to the LWML, but we need to continue to make connections with ethnic women throughout our organization. How? On a district level: Have opportunities for ethnic women to develop their leadership skills. On the society level: Have women who will be intentional, mentoring, befriending and encouraging to ensure that women who are not familiar with this organization can find their place and serve the Lord through the LWML. The vision that the LWML had many years ago can become a reality if we join our hands and our hearts to follow the Lord's command in Acts 13:47, I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. God bless you, hermanas! Angelina Gomez graduated from Lutheran High School in Inglewood, CA. For the past 33 years she has worked for the Department of Public Social Services of Los Angeles County. A member of St. John Lutheran church in Montebello, CA, Angelina also serves as Sunday school superintendent and founder and president of the LWML Priscilla Guild.