Ministries we Support

Mt. Cross Ministries is a ministry located in Felton, California, which is less than an hour from our campus. It provides opportunities for youth and young adults to explore their faith.

Lutheran Campus Ministries of the Monterey Bay is a collaboration between ELCA and LCMS congregations in the Monterey Bay Area. We serve students at both Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).

Pastor Paul serves as one of the chaplains at Cal State, Monterey Bay. Chaplains host weekly interfaith midday services each Thursday in the Otter Student Union, Room 317, as well as fun events like Christmas Karaoke Party and bonfires.

Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd’s relationship with the Lutheran Church of Rwanda was started by a member who has since passed. The legacy has continued to this day, and we have supported Young Adults in Global Mission and other efforts in collaboration with our companion synod in Rwanda.

Good Shepherd has been participating in a ministry of accompaniment to rural communities in El Salvador through the organization Santa Cruz al Salvador (SCaS) since 2002. The group is supported by members of 7 area churches and has annual delegations to El Salvador in which volunteers learn about the people, history, culture and needs of the people in these communities and share the love of Christ through various projects in education, healthcare and sanitation. Currently SCaS provides scholarships and support for 120 primary and secondary school children and 15 university students and has provided funds for building more than 100 composting latrines in another ongoing project. Building Relationships for Better Lives is our motto and delegations provide great opportunities for spiritual growth and loving friendships through craft projects, shared meals and meetings with local community leaders. Dr. Tim Friederichs and Steve Barrett represent Good Shepherd and serve on the board of SCaS.

“Mission Jamaica” is an outreach ministry of LCGS. Besides helping the nurses at the Westhaven Children’s Home by feeding and socializing with disabled children and young adults, our group has time for excursions on the last two days of our visit. A favorite excursion is a visit to the Rocklands Bird Sanctuary where feeding hummingbirds is a special treat.

LCGS, in partnership with Compass Church, prepares lunches with a main dish, salad, and bread when we serve a sit-down meal. When we serve lunch-to-go, we provide burritos, along with sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and sometimes chips or other snacks to go with each type of meal. Volunteers make sandwiches and help prepare and serve other portions of the meal as well. We serve between 150-200 meals each month to unhoused and underserved people.

Monterey County is an expensive place to live, and 1 in 4 residents struggle with food insecurity.

On the fifth Sunday of the month, we take a monetary donation to support the efforts of the Monterey County Food Bank. For every dollar donated, the food bank is able to provide five dollars’ worth of food.

Iglesia El Buen Pastor is our sister congregation in Salinas that provides weekly services at 11 AM in Spanish.

They are located at 817 Beech Street, Salinas, CA.

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) is one of eight seminaries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and it is local!

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary develops leaders for the church through deepening faith in Christ; challenging the mind; expanding the heart; and energizing for mission.