Mission Partners
At the core of Jesus’ ministry was a deep compassion for people. He understood it was important to address their physical needs before sharing the message of salvation. Our goal is to enable individuals to break free from cycles of poverty and become self-sufficient, allowing them to experience the fullness of life that God intends for them. As a result, LCGS has partnered with the following organizations who share a similar goal:
Local Partners
Community’s Child, organized in 2005, is a nondenominational Christian program committed to providing homeless women with infants healthy alternatives to abuse, poverty, addictions, and hopelessness. The program offers homeless women and their infants a safe, compassionate, yet structured living environments. At Community’s Child, women acquire the education, skills training, employment opportunities and support services, necessary to break the patterns associated with homelessness. To learn more about this organization, please use the following link https://www.communityschild.org/.
For over 30 years, Harbor Interfaith has been working to empower the homeless and the working poor to achieve self-sufficiency. This is done by providing support services including shelter, transitional housing, food, job placement, advocacy, childcare, education, and life-skills training. In the last few years, Harbor Interfaith worked closely with the cities of Redondo Beach and Torrance to create and staff transitional housing communities where the unhoused can be placed temporarily. Once the individual is settled, Harbor Interfaith works closely with local and county officials on obtaining the services needed to transition to permanent housing.
Harbor Interfaith relies on community support as well as community participation. To learn more about this organization, please use the following link https://www.harborinterfaith.org/.
In addition to providing spiritual support, this church has become an integral part of the Compton community by giving groceries (and meals) to those in need. LCGS has been partnering with this church for over 10 years and is amazed at the work the Pastor Samuel Nieva is doing to better the lives of those in his community. To find out how to support Pastor Samuel, please contact him at 424-403-4045 or pueblodedioslutheran@gmail.com.
South Bay Village is dedicated to keeping seniors in Torrance in their home with the help of volunteers. In addition to financial support, the organization is in need volunteers to work in their office as well as assist seniors with various tasks including transportation for appointments and errands as well as minor home repairs. To find out more about this organization, please visit their website at http://www.sbvill.org/.
National Partners
Habitat for Humanity is a nationwide organization dedicated to making homeownership possible for low-income, hardworking families and individuals.
Since 1990, the Los Angeles County chapter of this organization has built, rehabilitated, or repaired over 1,000 houses in neighborhoods all across greater Los Angeles. The congregation of LCGS have been working with this organization for over 20 years and have assisted in the construction of numerous homes. For more information on the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, please visit their website at https://www.habitatla.org.
International Partners
Located in Tecate Mexico, Rancho la Paloma serves as a link between the local community, charitable organizations, and volunteers who want to improve the quality of life for those living in the Tecate area. One of their primary objectives is to build homes for impoverished families living in the area. Each Spring, LCGS volunteers spend four days in Mexico constructing a home for a family in need. LCGS has been working with Rancho la Paloma since 2012 and has built 13 homes.
Volunteers are encouraged to join us in this vital work. Whether you are an experienced builder or someone who has never swung a hammer before, there is a place for you on our team. Together, we can construct a better world, one home at a time. If you are interested in participating in one of our trips, please contact us at gwilton@lcgs.net.
For more information on other Rancho la Paloma initiatives, please visit their website at https://rancholapaloma.org.
Smile Africa Ministries (SAM) originated in 1996 as a family compassion project of Pastor Ruth Kahawa, who was concerned about those infected with HIV/AIDS. At that time there was a great stigma towards people with HIV and Pastor Ruth saw how many of them were suffering alone. She and her family started visiting the sick giving them clothes, blankets, utensils, soap, sugar, and just spending time with them.
Located in the village of Bison, near Tororo, SAM has evolved and is a safe haven for vulnerable children who receive education, nutrition, medical care, and learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ. SAM also empowers women through support groups and offers vocational training in hairdressing, welding, baking, and tailoring to young adults. Since its conception SAM has helped over 10,000 women, more than 12,000 children and thousands of families.
LCGS has been supporting SAM since 2007 and has contributed to various projects including the construction of a water tower and an administration office building. In addition, after going on a mission trip to Uganda, a member of our congregation, Michael de la Rocha, became a missionary in 2009 and moved to Uganda to support the efforts of SAM. He married his wife Sylvia in 2011 and has four children. If you are interested in supporting Michael and his family, please contact him at michaelfulcruminchrist@gmail.com.
For more information about SAM, please visit their website at https://www.smileafrica.us/.