Lutheran Mission Society San Diego

Lutheran Mission Society San Diego Connecting local missionaries to local churches in San Diego

Sometimes leadership development looks very simple: give someone the room, the trust, and the opportunity to lead.That i...
08/28/2026

Sometimes leadership development looks very simple: give someone the room, the trust, and the opportunity to lead.

That is what happened Sunday morning at University Lutheran Church in La Jolla.

Charles Wu, one of our Lutheran Mission Society San Diego missionaries, taught the adult Bible class in English under the mentorship of Pastor Peter Alexander. Charles already leads and serves faithfully in the congregation’s Taiwanese ministry, teaching God’s Word and helping care for that community in its own language.

But Sunday was another small and important step.

Charles is preparing for Lutheran pastoral ministry and is walking through the process that he hopes will lead, in time, to serving as a Lutheran pastor. That means learning, being mentored, teaching, serving, being known by a congregation, and slowly growing into greater responsibility.

University Lutheran is giving him that space.

And the congregation already knows what a gift Charles and his wife, Amy, are. Their love for them is easy to see.

What is happening in La Jolla matters beyond one Sunday Bible class. Charles is becoming an increasingly important leader for Lutheran mission not only in one congregation, but across San Diego County.

Sometimes the next pastor does not arrive from somewhere else.

Sometimes he is already among us, serving, learning, and being given the chance to grow.

Last night, our Lutheran Mission Society San Diego family gathered for our 22nd Missionary Dinner, and for the first tim...
08/26/2026

Last night, our Lutheran Mission Society San Diego family gathered for our 22nd Missionary Dinner, and for the first time, we were graciously hosted by Grace Lutheran Church in Escondido.

We are deeply thankful to Pastor Aaron Smith and the leaders of Grace for opening their doors and welcoming us with such generosity and hospitality.

We were also blessed to have Pastor Jim Henkell, Ministry Executive for the Pacific Southwest District, with us. Pastor Jim brought us God’s Word and shared encouragement and resources for those serving and developing new ministries throughout our region.

What a joy to see a wonderful group from our growing family of missionaries, including several who joined one of our dinners for the very first time! Every 40 days, we gather around the table to pray, encourage one another, share what God is doing, build friendships, and explore new opportunities for collaboration in His mission.

Different people. Different communities. Different ministries. One mission and one Lord.

Thank you, Grace Lutheran Church, for making Missionary Dinner #22 such a special evening. We look forward to seeing where God leads this family next!

🎉 Celebrating Deaconess Karen Swift!With great joy, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego celebrates the commissioning ...
08/24/2026

🎉 Celebrating Deaconess Karen Swift!

With great joy, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego celebrates the commissioning of Deaconess Karen Swift, who has been called to serve Hope Lutheran Church in the Linda Vista.

The commissioning service took place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach, where Karen and her family have been members for the past 15 years and where she has faithfully served the church and the surrounding community.

Karen is also one of our Lutheran Mission Society San Diego missionaries, serving especially among Spanish-speaking communities and Hispanic women through Bible study, discipleship, and personal relationships.

We give thanks to God for Karen’s faithful preparation, her heart for people, and her willingness to go wherever the Lord opens doors for service. While this new call begins an exciting new chapter, we are especially grateful for the many ways God has already used her here in San Diego.

Please join us in celebrating Deaconess Karen and praying for God’s richest blessings upon her ministry and this new season of service!

To God be the glory!

One of the great gifts of a summer internship is getting out of the office and into the life of the Church.This week I h...
08/23/2026

One of the great gifts of a summer internship is getting out of the office and into the life of the Church.

This week I had the opportunity to take our summer intern, Carl Stafford, to visit Christ Lutheran Church in La Mesa. The goal was simple: observe, listen, ask questions, and learn.

Every congregation has something to teach us. Christ Lutheran has been serving its community for generations, bringing together worship, Christian education, ministry to families, and a strong commitment to forming disciples of Jesus. Its school ministry alone has been part of the La Mesa community since 1958. (Christ Lutheran Church⁠)

Part of preparing future church workers and mission leaders is helping them see that ministry does not happen in only one way or one setting. We learn by visiting faithful congregations, watching how pastors and leaders serve, noticing how churches connect with their communities, and asking what we can carry into our own places of service.

Grateful to our friends at Christ Lutheran La Mesa for welcoming us and giving Carl another opportunity to learn from the wider Lutheran family.

Formation happens in the classroom, but also on the road, around tables, inside churches, and alongside people faithfully doing the work of ministry.

Another good day of learning and investing in the next generation of church workers!

Tomorrow, August 23, at 3:00 p.m., we have the joy of celebrating the commissioning of Deaconess Karen Swift at St. Paul...
08/22/2026

Tomorrow, August 23, at 3:00 p.m., we have the joy of celebrating the commissioning of Deaconess Karen Swift at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach!

Karen has been a wonderful friend and partner in mission, serving faithfully and with a heart for sharing Christ and caring for His people.

Come join us for this special moment as we give thanks to God, pray for Karen, and celebrate her commissioning and continued service to Christ and His Church.

📅 Sunday, August 23
⏰ 3:00 p.m.
📍 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Pacific Beach

All are welcome! Please come celebrate with us!

This week, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego had the privilege of participating in the Board of Directors meeting o...
08/06/2026

This week, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego had the privilege of participating in the Board of Directors meeting of KIMA (Koinoneo Independent Mission Agency).

KIMA has faithfully served for many years alongside the Lutheran Synod of Mexico, supporting church planting, leadership development, pastoral education, evangelism, and mercy work throughout Mexico and along the U.S.–Mexico border.

Our participation reflects the growing partnership and shared commitment between LMSSD and KIMA, especially as we continue working together to strengthen Lutheran ministry in Tijuana. We are grateful for the opportunity to build greater alignment, deepen relationships, and explore new ways to serve Christ's mission together across the border.

Thank you to Rev. Leigh-Garrett Hart and the KIMA Board for the invitation, your warm hospitality, and your faithful leadership. We look forward to continuing this partnership as we proclaim the Gospel and support the growth of Christ's Church in our border region.

"So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5)

Today, missionaries and friends of the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego gathered at Community Lutheran Church in Escon...
08/02/2026

Today, missionaries and friends of the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego gathered at Community Lutheran Church in Escondido to participate with the broader community in the Joining Jesus on His Mission workshop led by Pastor Greg Finke.

It was a meaningful time of encouragement, practical learning, and conversation about how God is already at work in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and relationships. Rather than asking people to join our mission, we are continually reminded that Jesus is already on His mission, and He graciously invites us to join Him.

We are thankful for opportunities like these that strengthen everyday missionaries to live with confidence, build authentic relationships, and naturally share the hope of Christ wherever God has placed them.

Thank you to Pastor Greg Finke and Community Lutheran Church for your hospitality and faithful encouragement. May the Lord continue to equip His Church to join Him in His mission!

This week, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego had the joy of participating in the VIII National Lutheran Hispanic Co...
07/31/2026

This week, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego had the joy of participating in the VIII National Lutheran Hispanic Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, held at Concordia University, Irvine, California.

As we celebrated 100 years of Hispanic ministry in the LCMS, leaders from across the country gathered to reflect on God’s faithfulness in the past, engage the opportunities of the present, and look with hope toward the future of Hispanic ministry.

Because one of our mission priorities is to nurture and connect leaders serving in Spanish-speaking ministries on both sides of the border, we were grateful to bring a group of 15 leaders from San Diego and Tijuana. Pastors, vicars, deaconesses, and lay leaders shared in worship, learning, and fellowship while building relationships with fellow servants from across the United States. These connections strengthen partnerships, encourage one another in ministry, and remind us that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves.

We are also thankful that our Missionary Director, Rev. Dr. Tardelli Voss, had the opportunity to serve as one of the convention speakers, contributing to the conversations about the present and future of mission in our churches.

We return home encouraged, inspired, and even more committed to walking alongside local churches as we equip everyday missionaries and develop leaders for Gospel ministry in San Diego, Tijuana, and beyond.

To God alone be the glory!

This week we had the privilege of meeting with Charles and Annie Vu, together with Pastor Peter Alexander from Universit...
07/30/2026

This week we had the privilege of meeting with Charles and Annie Vu, together with Pastor Peter Alexander from University Lutheran Church, to pray, dream, and explore ways to strengthen our partnership in reaching the Taiwanese community in San Diego and international students at UC San Diego.

Meetings like this are at the heart of the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego. By bringing together local missionaries, congregations, and pastors, we help cultivate partnerships that expand the reach of the Gospel and strengthen the Church’s mission throughout our communities.

Grateful for the faithful partnership of University Lutheran Church and excited to see how God continues to open new doors for His mission.

Last night, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego had the joy of gathering Brazilian ministry leaders from across San D...
07/14/2026

Last night, the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego had the joy of gathering Brazilian ministry leaders from across San Diego County for the first session of an intensive course on biblical hermeneutics, taught in Portuguese.

Teaching courses or offering programs is not the primary strategy of our Mission Society. We believe one of the best ways to equip missionaries and leaders is by connecting them with the excellent people, programs, and resources already available throughout our church. Good stewardship means building bridges, not duplicating ministries.

Sometimes, however, a specific need calls for a different response.

These leaders serve in different churches, neighborhoods, and ministries. They come from diverse backgrounds, yet they share a common desire: to grow in their understanding of God’s Word and to learn how to teach the Bible faithfully in their small groups and communities. Because opportunities for this kind of theological training in Portuguese are so limited in the United States, we felt it was the right time to offer this course ourselves.

We are grateful for a wonderful first evening together and look forward to the weeks ahead as these leaders continue to be formed for faithful service.

Our sincere thanks to Grace Lutheran Church in San Diego and Pastor Brian Thomas for generously hosting this training and partnering with us in the mission.

Please keep these leaders in your prayers as they continue to grow in God’s Word and serve His people.

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7929 La Mesa Blvd
La Mesa, CA
91942

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