Missions and Evangelism
As individuals and as the Body of Christ we are salt and light. Therefore we encourage members of the congregation to participate and as a congregation we support various evangelistic efforts. The following are various societies and groups we support.
Mission Societies and Projects
Siberian Lutheran Mission Society
“The Siberian Lutheran Mission Society (SLMS) encourages, enables and supports the important work of Lutherans and The Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC) in Siberian regions of Russia.”
Tian Shan Mission Society
“In partnership with LCMS, TSMS is dedicated to wholistic ministry among Muslims in Central Asia.”
Lutheran Pastoral Education, West Africa
“The Project’s mission is to strengthen the Ministry of the Gospel within their congregations and their outreach to the people of English speaking countries in West Africa - Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, and Ghana.”
Facebook: Lutheran Pastoral Education, West Africa
Project Timothy - Kenya
This project “is dedicated specifically to providing a remedy for this crying need, equipping leaders for the dramatically growing church in Africa."
Local Congregational Work
Hispanic mission at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Mountain View, California
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The Steele Family (LCMS site) (Newsletter site)
The Rev. Dr. Walter and Robyn Steele serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Kenya. Walter teaches at Matongo Lutheran Theological College in Kenya. In addition to teaching, he preaches in the College’s chapel, counsels students and preaches in local Kenyan congregations when requested. Walter earned his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; a Master of Theology (Pastoral Care) degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J.; a Master of Sacred Theology (Old Testament) degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and a Ph.D. (Exegeting Theology and Culture) degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Walter is a 16-year United States Navy veteran, having served as a Navy and Marine Corps chaplain from 1997-2005. Before becoming a missionary, he also served as pastor at three LCMS congregations and taught for a short time at Jonathan Ekong Memorial Seminary in Nigeria. Walter’s hobbies include gardening and doing yard work, roasting coffee, reading, writing and pretending to play the ukulele. Robyn earned a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. Prior to serving in Africa, she worked as a dietitian in local hospitals and care facilities, and as a nursing home inspector. Robyn’s hobbies include sewing, gardening, quilting and lacto fermentation. Walter and Robyn have two married adult children and four grandchildren.
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The Wolf Family (LCMS site) (family blog)
John and Jenn Wolf serve the Lord as missionaries through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Kenya. As the Africa region’s project manager, John provides oversight and support for projects and grants across the region, with a particular focus on mercy work. He also trains the local people and the local church partners to develop, manage and sustain projects that support Christian growth and congregational needs across Africa. John was born in Farmington, Minn., and grew up in Baldwin, Wis. His home congregation is Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colo. He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Tech University, Houghton. He also received a master’s degree in space studies from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. John served 20 years in the United States Air Force and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2015. His professional background includes project management and working with international partners in Europe and Asia. His hobbies include gardening, historical re-enactments, hiking and camping. Jenn was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Her home congregation is also Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colo. She received a bachelor’s degree in South/Southeast Asian studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She also took graduate level courses in teaching and deaf education prior to teaching in Montana and California schools. Since 2001, she has been a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling their children and doing volunteer work. Her hobbies include fiber arts, classical violin, international folk music and reading. John and Jenn have five beautiful children — Ian, Sean, Thad, Annalise and Angus — who join them on the mission field.
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The Conrad Family (LCMS site)
Rev. Daniel and Kathy Conrad serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Mexico, based in Mexico City. In this role, Daniel serves as the coordinator of theological education for the entire country. He works with and mentors national pastors and pastors in formation who are serving throughout Mexico. With the challenges of Mexico City’s population being 25 million people and the shortage of national pastors in this country, Daniel provides assistance in sending out workers to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Daniel was born in Saginaw, Mich. He earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. (1984). He is currently working on his thesis for his doctorate in missiology from Concordia Theological Seminary. Before serving in Mexico, Daniel completed his pastoral vicarage and was a missionary for 20 years in Venezuela (1984-2003). While serving in Venezuela, he focused on the formation and mentoring of national pastors in that country. Daniel served as the pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, Terra Bella, Calif. (2003-2014) prior to receiving the call to serve in Mexico. Kathy was born in Dearborn, Mich. She also received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She worked as a teacher’s aide and served with Daniel in Venezuela before heading to the mission field. Daniel and Kathy have a beautiful daughter, Ana, who is with them in Mexico and is finishing high school. The Conrads enjoy travelling, reading and learning everything they can about the Mexican culture.
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The Bombaro Family (LCMS site)
The Rev. Dr. John and Melinda Bombaro serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as missionaries in Latvia, based in Riga. John serves as assistant to the regional director of the Eurasia region in the area of theological education. In this role, he works to plant an English-speaking congregation in Riga. He teaches Lutheran theology and mentors seminary students in a Bachelor of Divinity program at Riga Luther Academy (the Latvian Ev. Luth. Church’s seminary). He assists in the re-accreditation of the seminary, not only as a Latvian seminary but also as an English-speaking seminary accredited throughout the European Union. He builds confessional and strategic relations between regional partner churches and synods. With Melinda’s help, John also coordinates conferences around Eurasia for pastors and other church workers. John’s hometown is Stratford, N.J. He received bachelor’s degrees from Rutgers University and Columbia International University. He then received his master’s degree in theology from the University of Edinburgh and his doctorate (Ph.D.) degree from King’s College, University of London. He also has an advanced diploma in theology from the Westfield House and Cambridge Divinity School, England, and his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. Before serving in Latvia, John was the senior pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, San Diego, Calif. He also is a member of the United States Navy Reserves and is active duty working at the Pentagon with the Marine Corps. Melinda’s hometown is Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada. She received a degree from Canadian Bible College and a certificate in Scotch-Irish Studies from the University of Edinburgh. She worked at an investment company and a biotechnology company before becoming a missionary. John and Melinda enjoy family games, camping, hiking, cycling, bonfires, football and reading, all with their four beautiful children - Sophia, Marie, Anna and Luca.
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General Missions
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For more than 75 years, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to support global missions.
Support of the Word
Lutheran Bible Translators
“Lutheran Bible Translators makes God’s Word accessible to those who do not yet have it in the language of their hearts.”
Lutheran Braille Workers
This organization “exists to show the love of God to people with visual disabilities and to bring them into a growing relationship with God.”
Lutheran Deaf Ministry
“LDMS will engage in evangelism and Christian education training to help Deaf Persons and their families see Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and engage in stewardship and leadership training to help Deaf Persons serve Jesus Christ as His redeemed people.”
Lutheran Heritage Foundation
“Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven.”
Media Support
Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Christ to the Nations — Lutheran Hour Ministries develops culturally relevant programs and projects that proclaim the Gospel to the unchurched, encouraging those people who are reached through these ministry efforts to respond by contacting staff or volunteers. Nations to the Church — Lutheran Hour Ministries then cultivates relationships with those who respond to ultimately facilitate a relationship between them and a congregation, thus helping grow the kingdom of God. “
Hispanic Lutheran Hour
“Weekly message, devotions, other resources in Spanish. You can download free Lutheran Hour Ministry booklets in Spanish at: www.paraelcamino.com/booklets.asp. Titles include: Stress, Divorce, Where is God when I Suffer?, Bringing Up Children, Depression, etc.”
Benevolence
LifeMoves
With 23 shelter and service sites from Daly City to San José, we give our neighbors experiencing homelessness a temporary place to call home while providing intensive, customized case management through both shelter programs and community outreach. With these LifeMoves programs, we support 9,350 men, women, and children each year in their diligent work to return to stable housing and long-term self-sufficiency.
Palo Alto Food Closet
The congregation supports this food pantry. The InnVision/Urban Ministry Food Closet is located at All Saints’ Episcopal Church and serves more than 200 people every week; entry to the Food Closet is at 425 Hamilton Avenue. The Food Closet, open Mon - Friday 9:00am to 2:30pm, welcomes donations of food, as well as donations of time to help serve clients.
LCMS World Relief and Human Care
“The Gospel is at the heart and center of the LCMS's work of mercy throughout the world. Never an end to themselves, acts of mercy that provide relief for the body and emotions provide an entrée to proclaim the Gospel which addresses the spiritual needs of those who receive this mercy.”
Good Shepherd Home / Bethesda Lutheran Communities
The mission is “to enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through services that share the good news of Jesus Christ.”