View reports for our 2024 assembly on our assembly mission and ministry stories page or in this collection of blog posts.

Dear Partners in Ministry,

Thank you for this opportunity to serve you throughout this past year as your Interim Director for Evangelical Mission. In this role, I have been honored to walk alongside an amazing collection of gifted leaders and a whole array of diverse programs being lived-out in and through their ministries. I have marveled at the heartfelt and transformative care being poured out into their surrounding neighborhoods and beyond in Jesus’ Name.

A couple months ago, our Synod Council asked for a listing of the various congregations and ministries which I accompany in my work as your Interim DEM. I believe this list may be of interest also to this Synod Assembly. Within these two pages, I offer an abbreviated version of it below or in this PDF.

Synodically Authorized Worshiping / Outreach Communities (SAWCs)

Agape Campus Ministry, Tempe
Originally begun in 2013 as a ministry of Crossroads, this ministry is now overseen by King of Glory where Pastor Charles Newman now currently serves as Senior Pastor.

Armenian Evangelical Church, Las Vegas
Recently celebrating their 20th year, this ministry is just one of a handful of various congregations housed at Christ Lutheran Church. Sunday afternoon worship is led by Pastor Sam Agulian.

The Station, Florence
This coffee shop is a ministry of Crossroads Lutheran Church. Worship from Crossroads is now livestreamed there. Pastor Kaila Armbruster, Interim Pastor at Crossroads, oversees this ministry.

Emmanuel Sudanese, Glendale
Designated as a one of our Mission & Ministry congregations, the Emmanuel congregation boasts 200 members and is housed at St John’s Lutheran Church, Glendale. Vicar Solomon Kuch is on track to become ordained through the TEEM program later this year.

King of Glory, Tempe
This congregation, having previously left the ELCA but now designated as a SAWC, is being led by Pastor Charles Newman as they coordinate their full return to the ELCA.

Native American Urban Ministry, Phoenix
Another one of our Mission & Ministry congregations, NAUM has been led for many years by Pastor Mary Louise Frenchman. Her daughter, Vicar Wanda Frenchman, is pursuing ordination through the TEIL program and will eventually take the lead. Currently housed at Grace Lutheran, this “hands on” ministry serves both native and marginalized persons in the central downtown area.

Santa Trinidad, Mesa
Santa Trinidad is housed at First Evangelical in Mesa. It is just one expression of a rather innovative collection of ministries known as “First Place”, coordinated by Pastor Luis Ochoa. This ministry connects to both its English and Spanish-speaking neighbors.

West Valley Young Adult Ministry, Glendale
Begun in early 2023, Mr. Casey Goslin has done a phenomenal job of assembling a rather unique and creative welcoming community for all young adults, not just those with Lutheran connections. I believe the success of this ministry could serve well as a template for similar new ventures.

Strategic Ministries

Covenant Lutheran, Quartzsite
Previously designated as a SAWC for more than 30 years, Covenant is a seasonally-driven ministry to many RV winter visitors to the desert southwest and is shepherded by Pastor Kevin Meyer.

Crossroads, San Tan Valley
Led by Interim Pastor Kaila Armbruster since late last year, Crossroads serves the far southeast corner of the Phoenix metro. Its Sunday morning worship is also livestreamed at The Station, their coffee house ministry in Florence.

Faith-La Fe, Phoenix
Another of our Mission & Ministry congregations. Both Pastora Verónica Alvarez and Pastor Jonathan Linman have built some great ministry momentum here over the past year-and-a-half, particularly with the Spanish-speaking side of the congregation.

First Evangelical, Mesa
Currently anchored by Holy Trinity in Chandler, plans are underway to bring First Evangelical, Santa Trinidad, and “First Place” (and its collection of ministries) all under the direction of Pastor Luis Ochoa.

House of Prayer, Rock Point
House of Prayer goes back many years as a Lutheran mission in this synod as well its predecessor bodies and is just one expression of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission on the Navajo Reservation. It is currently shepherded by Ms Patricia Charley and her nephew, Mr Patterson Yazzi, the very first native leaders of this ministry.

San Juan Bautista, Tucson
San Juan Bautista, our only Spanish-speaking ministry in the Tucson area, is also one of our Mission & Ministry congregations. San Juan Bautista provides a vital and caring ministry to the people throughout its surrounding area. Pastor Mateo Chavez also continually reaches out in a variety of innovative ways to grow ministry partnerships with other congregations and agencies in both Tucson and Nogales.

Trinity Lutheran, Phoenix
Trinity Lutheran has provided ministry to the Sunnyslope area for many years and is another one of our Mission and Ministry congregations. For the past couple years, Pastor Ruby Myers has brought her unique approach to the ministry of this congregation.

Vida Nueva, Glendale
Led by Pastor Joaquin Garcia on a 3⁄4 time basis and housed at St John’s, Glendale, Vida Nueva serves as one of our key Spanish- speaking ministries in the Northwest Valley. It is another of our Mission & Ministry congregations.

Others

Pan de Vida, Surprise
Following the retirement of Pastor Mitch Eickman, who served this parish for 32 years, Pastor Joaquin Garcia of Vida Nueva is presently stepping in on a 1⁄4 time interim basis as we seek the next long-term leader for this enduring Spanish-speaking ministry.

West Valley New Start
With thanksgiving for the very generous financial gift from Lord of Life, Sun City West and with growing excitement for whatever the Holy Spirit may have in store, we have been gathering with leaders from Lord of Life, Peace, and Spirit of Grace as we seek to launch some form of new ministry in the Festival area.