Grace Lutheran in Gridley, California is hosting “Cars & Coffee” with monthly gatherings on the third Saturday. The outreach, which has been going on for the past six months, has provided Grace the platform to invite their community onto the campus and build relationships that can lead to deeper conversations. Michael Doehrman, a deacon at Grace, and his wife started the event. Along with Gold Country Street Rods, a local car club they are a part of, the event has grown with

Luther Cameron (left) and Isaiah Mudge (right) have served as vicars under Pastor Rob Weller Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, pastored by Rob Weller, and First Immanuel Lutheran Church (San Jose) entered a partnership in 2023 to apply for a vicar which would serve at both congregations. First Immanuel is vacant and the vision for the partnership was to be able to provide First Immanuel with consistent pastoral care. Shepherd of the Valley had a house that wasn't being

Ten years ago, Reverend Muluneh Taye and his wife, Liya, planted a seed. They founded Reverend Muluneh Taye Ministries, a nonprofit devoted to discipling young adults and raising up the next generation of Christian leaders. A decade later, that seed has grown into a movement spanning cities across Ethiopia. This year's outreach carried a message titled, "Beyond the Scroll: From Scrolling to Building." It was a call for young adults to set aside digital distraction and root th

It was an encouraging day at the CNH Missions Conference in Livermore this past Saturday. Pastors, church workers, and lay leaders from across the district gathered for worship, conversation, and learning together. Karl Vaters reminded attendees why small church ministry matters and why faithfulness is never measured only by size. Andy Becker challenged the group to think carefully about mission drift and the importance of staying grounded in the "why" behind what we do. It w

Dave Levy’s journey into ministry has been anything but typical. As a child, he grew up in Northern California, moving frequently before eventually settling in Crescent City. Dave was not raised as a Christian, but that changed in high school when he met his future wife, Natalie, and her family. Through their influence, he came to faith in Christ and became deeply involved at Grace Lutheran Church in Crescent City, where he volunteered as a Sunday school teacher and assisted

The 2026 Missions Conference is happening on May 16 at Our Savior Lutheran Ministries in Livermore, CA. If you haven’t registered yet (deadline is May 1), here are 10 reasons to join us! 10. It's been years and the conference is back. After several years away, the CNH Missions Conference is returning, making this a significant gathering for the district. 9. It's affordable and all-inclusive. At just $25 — covering snacks and lunch — it's an exceptional value for a full day

It was years in the making though delayed by a pandemic and postponed by the busy rhythms of congregational life, but this spring, St. John's, Napa finally uncorked a vision that had been waiting patiently for its moment. The inaugural "Wine and the Word" event brought together church members and guests for a time of spiritual reflection, community building, and pure fun. For a congregation rooted in the heart of wine country, the gathering felt long overdue. "We just felt t

What does an Elko City police officer and a Lutheran pastor have in common? In the case of Jake Eisinger, they are one and the same person. Jake Eisinger has served as a police officer for the City of Elko (Nevada) for the past 16 years. He also is now the pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Elko, Nevada. Jake grew up in Elko as a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church. His father, Alan Eisinger, was pastor at St. Mark from 1994-2003. He left Elko in 2003 after joining th

We witnessed the baptism of Randa—a woman currently battling a serious illness. Over the past few weeks, Pastor Muluneh Taye had the privilege of walking with her through conversations and basic teaching about the faith. At one point, she asked me a question I won’t forget: “Is there anything that would prevent me from being baptized?” And the answer was clear—nothing. What made this even more beautiful was how it came together. As an Ethiopian pastor serving in an Anglo cong

Messiah, Ewa Beach is growing under Pastor Uma with the recent addition of new members, baptisms, adult bible studies and children's (keike) messages. We thank God for the continued work at Messiah!

The Bay Area CNH FiveTwo Summit was a reminder of why collaborative leadership matters. Over 20 congregations and 115 leaders gathered in one room on Saturday with a shared purpose: to think boldly about the future of ministry and to discern how each congregation can faithfully proclaim the Gospel in its own corner of the world. The conversations were honest. The ideas were creative. The prayers were sincere. Pastors, lay leaders, and ministry teams were not just asking, "H

Originally from Chicago, Cassie Rivkin has spent the past two decades serving alongside her husband Rev. Dr. Dominic Rivkin in a wide range of ministry contexts—from church planting in Southern California to leadership development across the Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS. Her experience in building teams, supporting leaders, and nurturing mission-focused communities brings both depth and energy to this role. A lifelong member of the LCMS, her understanding of missi

SAVE THE DATE Reimagine Your Future Summit Led by Bill Woolsey from FiveTwo Network February 28, 2026, 9am - 3pm St. Paul's Lutheran Church 1635 Chester Dr. Tracy, CA 95376 Join us for a free 6-hour gathering that equips church teams to discover their current reality and thrive for generations to come. The Registration Deadline is February 23 . The Summit is designed for you to work with your staff and lay leaders to Reimagine the Future of your congregation, especially in

Get to Know Your Community with the Mission Insite Demographics Tools The more we understand those who live in our neighborhoods and communities, the more we increase our likelihood of succeeding with our invitation both personally and collectively as a congregation or school. As we understand who we are serving, we can tailor a ministry plan around their needs. The truth of God’s word and the Gospel message never change, however our packaging or style or approach to sharing

Imagine turning the key to your very first home—and finding it empty. No bed to sink into after a long day. No towel after a shower. No dishes to cook a first meal. For many people moving out of chronic homelessness, this is what a “fresh start” can look like without the support of a caring community. Over the next few months, Lutheran Social Services of Northern California (LSS) will welcome more than 220 of our Sacramento-area neighbors into brand-new, permanent homes—noth

In this episode of the Mission Table Podcast we join Pastor Nathan Linehan onsite at First Lutheran Church, Yuba City, CA to experience first hand their Friday morning food giveaway. Food for the Soul Friday has served thousands over the years through a simple partnership with their local food bank and a church who desires to feed people both physically and spiritually. First Lutheran Church - Yuba City, CA - https://flcyc.org/

Advent greetings from the CNH District staff! Each Wednesday during Advent, we will post a short devotion to you, written by one of our staff members. We pray that these reflections help you prepare for the coming of our newborn King! For additional Advent resources, please read Advent Reflections: Rest, Peace, Love, Joy and Hope from Jennifer Ferguson. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For BEHOLD , darkness shall cover the

The mission of the Church continues to unfold across the globe, carried forward by faithful workers who bring the Gospel to people in every corner of God’s creation. The CNH District is blessed to be connected with several LCMS missionaries serving in a variety of contexts worldwide. Alongside these long-term workers, new opportunities continue to open for both laypeople and pastors interested in serving—whether for a few weeks or for many years. Below is an overview of some

Across the CNH District, the year was shaped by a shared theme of connection—between congregations, schools, leaders, and communities—as God’s people gathered, were sent, and served together. Mission was lived out through presence, compassion, and creativity, as ministries sought to meet real needs, build trust, and form authentic relationships that reflect Christ’s love across cultures and generations. Leadership and calling were central throughout the year. Ordinations, ins

Bay Area Lutheran Young Adults, known as BALYA, began several years ago with a simple but meaningful vision: to help young adult Lutherans in the Bay Area find one another and grow together in faith and community. What started as a joint effort between First Immanuel Lutheran Church in San Jose and Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Cupertino was shaped by the leadership and collaboration of Pastor John Bestul, Pastor Isaac Schuller ( now a pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Bren