MISSION AGENCY

Helping God’s people advance the Kingdom throughout the region by equipping, networking, and resourcing.

The CNH is excited to have many ministries that reach out to many people groups that would otherwise not be reached by the Lutheran Church. This involves raising leaders, advocating for their education and well-being, and helping them plant and replant churches that reach their communities. The Mission Agency supports workers and churches reaching people who have come from Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. There are currently efforts to plant churches that reach recent immigrants from India and the Middle East.

Services and outreach are conducted in at least 13 languages throughout the district.

Addis Kidan, San Francisco, CA (Ethiopian, Eritrean)
Bethlehem, Berkeley, CA (Oromo)
Church For All Nations, San Francisco, CA (Multiple)
Faith, South San Francisco, CA (Chinese)
First Immanuel, San Jose, CA (Spanish)
Good Shepherd, Hayward, CA (Eritrean, Spanish)
Good Shepherd, Honolulu, HI (Palauan)
Grace Lutheran, El Cerrito, CA (Oromo)
Grace Pittsburg, CA (Spanish)
Grace Visalia, CA (Lahu)
Holy Spirit, San Francisco, CA (Cantonese, English, Mandarin - new)
Joy of Harvest Hmong Outreach
Redeemer, Fresno, CA
St. Paul, Merced, CA

Memorial Chapel for the Deaf, Fremont, CA
Messiah, Santa Cruz, CA (Chinese)
Mt. Zion, Richmond, CA (Spanish)
Our Savior, Aiea, HI (Multiple)
Peace Lutheran, Fresno, CA (Hmong)
Prince of Peace, Fremont, CA (Multiple)
San Juan Valle de Fe, Arvin, CA (Spanish)
St. John’s Bakersfield, CA (Spanish)
St. John’s, Napa, CA (Spanish)
St. Paul, Mountain View, CA (Spanish)
Trinity Watsonville, CA (Spanish)
Trinity, San Jose, CA (Spanish)
The Mission Agency continues to support the Hispanic Circuit of Pastors by providing funds for a point person to lead and organizational support.

Virtual Enterprise Program - St. John's Bakersfield

Mission Grant Opportunities

MINI GRANTS

PURPOSE: Investing in the priesthood of believers to spark “life-on-life” Gospel connec- tions in communities throughout the CNH District. Covering the following three areas:

Spark Mini Grants: Empowering congregations to reach out to their communities (PDF APPLICATION)
Short Term Mission Trip Scholarship: Provide lay people the opportunity to be involved in a focused immersive mission experience
Lay Leadership Trainin Scholarship: Training, experiential learning, and/or other leadership development opportunities that support the learning and development of Christian Laity.

NEW MINISTRY START

PURPOSE: Planting or Replanting a Word and Sacrament LCMS Congregation (Faith Community) OR Start a New Mission and/or Ministry (Catalyst Grant)

Catalyst Grant: A new mission and/or ministry that is not immediately centered on Word and Sacrament but comes alongside Word and Sacrament ministry. May include starting a New Lutheran Pre-School, Lutheran Elementary School, Lutheran High School, Lutheran Organization, New Christ Based Social Service Mission/ Ministry (PDF APPLICATION)
Faith Community Grant: Grants will be considered for mission starts that have at their core a commitment to disciple people in the Christian (Lutheran) faith through service and witness to their neighborhood or city, always with an eye toward formation of a new Word and Sacrament community. Church plants may include church re-plants when a former congregation’s organization is replaced with new direction, purpose and leadership in order to respond evangelistically to the present and future community with the Gospel message.

MISSION CONGREGATION / WORKER SUPPORT

PURPOSE: Stability for under financed Mission Agency supported leaders and Ministries

Grants may be considered for Church Worker Support and supplemental Congregational Support when partnership occurs with the Mission Agency to reach underserved communities, or specific language, cultural, or people groups. This may include the continuation of a Faith Community Recipient, a new worker, or for the launching of a new mission in a currently underrepresented people group. These decisions will be made by the Mission Agency Team.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

PURPOSE: A strategic partnership with an organization that extends the reach of District Staff regionally and/or throughout the District

Regional Partners

Pastor Dawit Bokre: Good Shepherd, Hayward, has ministry opportunities in English, Tigrinyan (Eritean), Oromo, (an Ethiopian language), and Spanish-speaking people. Dawit Bokre, who planted the Eritrean group, now works with the 1.5 Generation at Good Shepherd. As the church grows in unity and purpose, they are developing leaders across different languages and age groups.

Hispanic Ministry: Below are churches in the CNH District that offer Spanish language ministries: Trinity (Watsonville), Grace (Gridley), San Juan Valle de Fe (Arvin), First Immanuel (San Jose), Good Shepherd (Hayward) St. Paul (Mountain View), St. John's (Napa), Peace (Sacramento), Grace (Santa Maria) and Rollingwood (San Pablo)

David Chan: Faith Lutheran Church (San Francisco, CA) is a Cantonese-speaking Chinese congregation, which began its ministry in 2014. David Chan was installed as their missionary pastor on August 30, 2014. Faith serves a perceived need in the Chinese community and provides opportunity for members’ evangelistic outreach.

Aaron Putnam: LINC Bay Area is a strategic ministry network that raises up and empowers local leaders so that our cities will know Jesus. LINC works in partnership with individuals, congregations and organizations in the CNH District to help leaders develop a unique plan, get paired with a coach, and build a network of support.

Berhanu Didanu and his wife, Mercy, are working with the Ethiopian community in Davis, California and the surrounding area. Their work has been a blessing to those in need in the greater Sacramento area.

Tesafai Tesema: Addis Kidan continues to grow in its service to the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities. They minister in three locations: Oakland (off Telegraph), in the Haight (off Buchanan), and at the former location of Bethel Lutheran Church in the North Mission. This involves three Ethiopian/Eritrean worship communities and a new English-speaking group staffed in part by Joseph and Estrella Ruiz.

Hmong Ministry is a growing ministry in the district. Pastor Doua Xiong is serving St. Paul, Merced. Other churches with Hmong ministries are Peace (Fresno), Greenhaven (Sacramento) and St. Andrew (Stockton).

International Mission Partners

The District’s Mission Agency supports international missionaries with ties to the district. These missionaries may have previously served in the district, been raised in our district, or have been supported by multiple congregations and groups here. We pray for these workers, and their families, frequently. We also share their newsletters with donors and supporters on the website and personally (when requested). Their work takes place on every continent, with the exception on Antarctica and Australia. We feel that it is an important key to our ministry to include the global reach and “ends of the earth” as a focal point of what we do and how we pray!

Melissa (Karges) Asmamaw has served for six years as an English teacher and relationship builder in Hungary. Three of those years were with the LCMS Office of International Mission before becoming a part of the inaugural Mission of Christ Network Mission Partner team. Melissa left Hungary to spend a year in the USA finishing a Masters Degree in School Counseling, which she is now using to serve the Lord at Bingham Academy, an international Christian school, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Read her latest mission update here.

Sarah Berta-Somogyi served as a missionary in Győr, Hungary, for 8 years with the LCMS Office of International Mission. She taught grades 5-12 in Péterfy Sándor Lutheran School, led a weekly Bible study, organized retreats and other large events for students. She also helped organize summer English/Bible camps and began an English-language worship service in her city. In her service with Mission of Christ Network, Sarah continues these activities so that students and adults may continue to hear the Gospel and have opportunities to grow in their faith. For more information, click here.

Ethan and Amanda Hutton along with their two children Aubree and August, serve as missionaries in Costa Rica. They live in Esterillos Oeste, where they are present in their local community. As relationships develop over time, opportunities arise to intentionally share the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Stay updated on their work here.

Josh and Coco live in East Asia, together with their children John and Sophie. Josh currently serves as executive director with Concordia Welfare & Education Foundation (CWEF), a non-profit rural development organization founded by Lutheran Christians. For more information on their work, click here.

Carol Lee Halter has been a missionary to the Chinese people in Hong Kong since 1981. Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit in San Francisco, Redeemer Lutheran Church in Redwood City, and Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Santa Maria, support Carol in her efforts. Please go to Carol’s website to find out more about the work she does in Hong Kong. Carol's latest update can be found here.

Haragewen Kinde was born and raised in Ethiopia, attended a Christian High School where she had great missionary teachers from Norway, Germany, Sweden, Finland, and the United States of America. Her assignment is to work with the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), to strengthen and build the current Mekane Yesus Management Leadership College (MY-MLC) to move towards the formation of the first Mekane Yesus (The house of Jesus) University (MYU) in Ethiopia. Read her latest update here.

Rev. Herb and Markie Burch serve the Lord as career missionaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in Belize. Herb was formerly pastor at Grace, Santa Maria, CA. Please go to thier website to find out more about the work they are doing. Read their latest mission update here.

Rev. Daniel and Kathryn Conrad, who were formerly at Zion, Terra Bella (CA), serve the Lord as career missionaries of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in the Dominican Republic. They previously served in Mexico. Read their latest mission update here.

Mindy Thews serves the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Taiwan. In this role, she teaches Bible and English classes at Concordia Middle School in ChiaYi. She also helps lead Friday Night Bible Study at Salvation Lutheran Church in ChiaYi, assists with on-campus student fellowship and serves on the curriculum committee for the Bible classes. For more information click here

How to Get Involved

CNH District Mission/Prayer Coordinator

Are you interested in being a prayer coordinator? Here is what a coordinator does:

Represent their congregation and the CNH District in their mission efforts
Develop a list of contact people in each church in their circuit who can help to publicize mission information.
Promote publications: In Mission, CNH Mission Prayer Newsletter, videos, etc. / sharing of prayer requests for congregational prayer in worship and/or with the congregation’s prayer chain.
Personally pray for and speak well of their church, District, and the interests, personnel, and ministries of the Mission Agency.
Participate in quarterly mission update, prayer, and phone meetings.

CNH District Mission Advocate

Mission Advocates are trained and equipped for the territory they are assigned. The advocates share the mission story of the CNH District, and they help people to see that they, too, can help spread the good news of the Gospel through their gifts. They are people devoted to prayer who are gifted as encouragers in Christ’s church.

For more information, please email Renee Lawrence.

Mission Conference Video Archive