Tere Montoya
A Thousand Generations of Love: Tere’s Life in Mission
The Convent and the Discovery of a Calling
The bells of the Sisters of Charity convent rang at five in the morning. Their echo seeped through the cold walls, waking the young women who, half-asleep, rose to pray. Among them was Tere, or Teresa Montoya. She was just in her youth, yet she had already decided to dedicate her life to serving God.
The days were long: prayers, readings, silence, and community work. Not everyone found their place in that rhythm. But Tere discovered something precious: her heart would ignite when caring for the elderly. She spent time by their side, listening to forgotten stories, accompanying them through illness, serving with tenderness. Unbeknownst to her, a vocation was taking root that would mark her entire life.
However, outside the convent, the world was changing. News of abuse and corruption in religious life shook her parents’ trust. With heavy hearts, they decided their daughter could not remain there. It was a sudden, painful departure, like closing a chapter before its time. Tere obeyed. And although she did not know it at the moment, God was leading her out of those walls to open new paths.
Meeting Sadoc and the Freedom of the Gospel
During those years, Tere met a young Christian named Sadoc Martínez. He was the son and nephew of pastors, and when he saw her, he fell in love. But his love came with a clear condition:
—If you want to marry me, —he said— you will need to accept my faith.
Sadoc was leaving behind a Pentecostal church to join a small, newly forming Lutheran congregation in the El Florido neighborhood of Tijuana. For Tere, these words were decisive. God was showing her that her story did not end in a convent, but would intertwine with another, older and stronger.
Her path with Sadoc mirrored that of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora. Like them, they left walls that limited freedom to find a new horizon in the Gospel. Just as Katharina discovered with Luther that faith could be lived in everyday life, in marriage, and in service to the poor, Tere discovered with Sadoc that God’s true calling was not confined to cloisters, but in the real world, among families and communities in need of Christ’s message.
First Steps in the Lutheran Church
Together, they timidly joined the nascent Lutheran Church. At first, they observed with curiosity, but soon were captivated by a distinct and vibrant teaching. The Lord’s Prayer became their daily guide. Luther’s Small Catechism appeared as a simple yet profound map of faith. And the clarity between Law and Gospel opened in Tere an inner freedom she had never known. There, she understood that God’s grace is not earned through sacrifices, but is a gift that liberates and transforms.
Mission with Christ For All Nations
In 1998, a new chapter began. Tere encountered the ministry of Christ For All Nations in Mexico. There she met Melissa Solomon. Together they formed a unique team: one teaching, the other supporting; one guiding, the other sustaining. They were not the same, but they complemented each other. Between radio programs, printed materials, and workshops, Tere discovered the power of mission: God’s Word could cross borders, reach homes, and touch distant hearts. During those years, from 1998 to 2011, Tere absorbed all she could: how to organize, how to accompany, how to sow the seed of the Gospel in different fields.
Tere always had a deep desire: to be trained to serve the Lord. Alongside her hands-on mission experience with Christ For All Nations, another opportunity arose: to enroll in a Lutheran theological program for laypeople at a Bible Institute in Tijuana. There, she deepened her understanding of God’s Word, studied Lutheran doctrine, the Catechism, the distinction between Law and Gospel, and acquired practical tools to serve more effectively in the community. Tere remembers with special affection the pastors who taught her at the institute, guiding her with patience and wisdom. Among them, Pastor John Durkovich became her mentor and affectionately called her “Katharina,” a nickname that became a symbol of care, trust, and closeness. Tere treasures those memories: the friendships she formed, the biblical debates, the hours of study, and even the moments of discouragement when the workload seemed heavy or the learning difficult. But she never gave up; her passion to serve and her love for Christ kept her steadfast.
The Closure of the Office and the Birth of the Ministry “1000 Generaciones”
When the Christ For All Nations office in Tijuana closed, the blow was hard. All the accumulated work, the shared smiles, the workshops, materials, and community contacts—all seemed to vanish in an instant. There was sadness, uncertainty, and unanswered questions: what now? how to continue? For many, it would have been the end. But Tere and Melissa did not give up. Amid tears and prayer, with faith as their compass, they decided that the mission could not die; it could only be transformed.
From that decision arose the Ministry 1000 Generations, a project that took the ashes of a painful closure and turned them into life and hope. There, they continued serving, accompanying churches, training workers, and bringing the Gospel to the most unexpected corners. The office had closed, but the mission remained alive in their hands, hearts, and in the community that learned to trust them.
The name Ministerio 1000 Generaciones is no coincidence. It is inspired by Deuteronomy 7:9: “God keeps His covenant and His steadfast love to those who love Him… to a thousand generations.” For Tere, this verse speaks not only of God’s faithfulness but also of the responsibility to pass on care, teaching, and blessing to those around her, impacting lives today and tomorrow. This birthed a multifaceted ministry, where every action reflects God’s love:
Comedor Sembrando la Semilla: led by Tere in collaboration with Deaconess Irma, at Irma’s house. Here, children receive not only physical nourishment but also hear God’s Word, feeding both body and spirit.
Community Craft Workshop: a space to teach practical skills, encourage creativity, and offer spiritual guidance and life advice.
Visitation Ministry: for bereaved individuals or those in need of love and counseling, a 24/7 service requiring constant readiness and an open heart, bringing comfort and hope.
Elder Care (Podiatry Ministry): combining Tere’s early vocation of accompanying and caring, with therapeutic podiatry, offering dignity, attention, and companionship to those who came before her.
Each of these ministries reflects Tere’s commitment to serve across generations, fulfilling the promise of Deuteronomy that God’s faithfulness and love can impact lives for a thousand generations.
Growth and Consolidation: Deaconess and Leadership
In recent years, new opportunities and responsibilities have come for Tere, marking a chapter of growth and consolidation. First, she had the opportunity to enroll in and complete the Deaconess program at El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic. This stage not only represented formal recognition of her vocation but also a profound space for learning and reflection: studying God’s Word, deepening her understanding of Lutheran doctrine, and strengthening her pastoral leadership skills. Though moments of fatigue and discouragement arose, Tere persevered with the certainty that God was equipping her for a broader ministry.
At the same time, her role in the Ministry 1000 Generations became more prominent. With Melissa, her colleague and mentor, gradually passing the leadership of director to Tere, she assumed responsibility for guiding the vision, organizing programs, and overseeing ongoing ministries. This process required continuous training, support, and collaboration: guidance from Melissa, wisdom from pastors and ministry leaders, and training provided through events and gatherings organized by the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego. Each community dinner, every opportunity to participate in workshops or meetings, strengthened and encouraged her, reminding her that mission is never done alone, but in network and communion.
This support has been vital for Tere to continue learning, leading, and multiplying her service. The hope is that this collaboration will grow even more, advancing the work of 1000 Generations and bringing the Gospel to more children, families, and elders in Tijuana.
Today, Tere’s story seems to close a circle. After years of faithful and constant service, she completed her studies at El Reformador Seminary and was recognized as a Deaconess in the Lutheran Church. What began in a convent with a vocation to care for the elderly now expresses itself in her daily ministry: serving the needy, comforting the lonely, and walking alongside those who suffer, with love, patience, and dedication.
Looking back, Tere’s life does not appear as a straight line, but as a tapestry of surprises. From the convent to the church, from silence to mission, from obedience to her parents to freedom in Christ. And in every turn, one constant is evident: God took her by the hand and led her to where she could love more fully and faithfully.