Luis Iván Echandía was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology, with a concentration in Archaeology, from the University of Puerto Rico; a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico; and a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Salamanca in Spain. He is also ABD (All But Dissertation) in the PhD program in History at the University of Puerto Rico.

Pastor Echandía has been an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) since 2004. Throughout his ministry, he has served both as a pastor and as a university professor. He is also the author of two published collections of short stories.

He has served congregations and ministries within the Caribbean Synod, the Southwestern Texas Synod, and the Metro New York Synod of the ELCA.

Pastor Echandía is the father of three children: one daughter who lives in Maryland and two sons who live in Rome, Italy. In August 2025, he became a grandfather for the first time. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing, teaching, cooking, and taking long walks.

Pastor Echandía is deeply excited about this new chapter of ministry and looks forward with great joy to walking together in faith, service, and community with the congregation.