This page was last modified on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 09:10:43 PM

WELCOME TO PUEBLO DE DIOS

         LUTHERAN CHURCH                 

We are a Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
People of God Lutheran Church is a Christian congregation
that is directed to serve the poorest people in the County of Los Angeles.
We are located in the heart of the city of Compton CA.
With a population of 57% of Latinos, African Americans 40% and 3% other ethnic groups.
We serve a community with a high rate of children and youth.
Our community is suffering the ravages of violence
of gangs, drugs, alcoholism, prostitution,
dropout, coupled with the social injustices of a marginal city.
We are part of a coalition of Lutheran churches called New City Parish.

 

 Breathing new life into Compton

Starting a new congregation is time-consuming, challenging work. And no one knows that better than Samuel Nieva, pastor of Pueblo de Dios, an ELCA mission start in Compton, Calif.

When Samuel arrived in Compton eight years ago, he faced a despairing situation.

The church building was slated for demolition, and there were no other Lutheran congregations in the area to help address the community’s spiritual and social needs.

Samuel quickly took matters into his own hands.

He started repairing the church building. Neighbors reached out to help. Soon the sanctuary, auditorium, two kitchens and four bathrooms were renovated, cleaned and restored to working order.

“I felt like we had an emergency situation,” says Samuel. “We needed to start worship immediately. People kept coming to the church asking for services and baptisms. It was obvious that people in the community needed (a church) to serve them.”

A full schedule

Today Pueblo de Dios is thriving, maintaining a very full weekly schedule. There is Bible study, communion and confirmation classes, a kid’s club, food and clothing distribution services, work with the local health clinic, sewing classes to provide income-generating opportunities for families and more.

Next year the mission start hopes to begin what Samuel calls a “home restaurant,” where parishioners prepare traditional meals for the community that celebrate their cultural heritage.

“I am amazed at God’s grace in growing our mission,” says Samuel, adding that he hopes Pueblo de Dios will someday become an official ELCA congregation.

He also hopes the mission start can do more for the people of Compton, which serves as an arrival destination for people crossing the United States-Mexico border. It is a poor city with high unemployment.

“We need to continue sharing the spiritual and material bread,” says Samuel.

Because mission development work is in Samuel’s blood, he and members of Pueblo de Dios are preparing to start a new congregation in town.

A premier model

Congregations starting congregations is a premier model for new starts in the ELCA, according to Mary Frances, an ELCA pastor who assists new ELCA congregations.

She believes that this model offers a bigger success rate for new starts.

“We have many large congregations in the ELCA poised to do this work, and that’s what we want to see happen,” Mary says.

“It’s about sharing the kingdom of God, particularly among the poor and among communities desperate for spiritual care,” says Samuel.

His vision for the new congregation in Compton is to show that “the grace of God is a gift for humanity.”

“All of my life I felt called to share the good news of Jesus Christ,” says Samuel, adding that being a mission developer is a perfect fit for him.

Prior to his vocation in the church, Samuel was a photojournalist working in Latin America on behalf of “Christianity Today,” Church World Service and other organizations.

Originally from Peru, Samuel moved to the United States in the 1990s. He and his family joined Angelica Lutheran Church in Los Angeles, the family’s first membership in a Lutheran church. There Samuel made the decision to attend Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., and enter the ordained ministry.

“Serving God’s people has been the most rewarding thing in my life,” he says.

Pueblo de Dios Lutheran Church, es una iglesia Latina ubicada en la ciudad de Compton CA.
Pueblo de Dios tiene una congregación de inmigrantes mayoritariamente mexicanos y centroaméricanos. Nuestra visión y misión esta resumida en una frase que dice: “Compartiendo el Pan Espíritual y el Pan Material” Creemos que el Reino de Dios comienza por los mas pobres, dónde está encarnada la presencia de Dios. Practicamos la Misión Integral en nuestra comunidad.

Cada Domingo tenemos un servicio de adoración que expresa una mixtura entre lo litúrgico de la herencia Luterana y lo contemporáneo del mover del Espíritu de Dios. Celebramos cada Domingo los Sacramentos del Bautismo y la Santa Comunión. Desarrollamos Estudios Biblicos para todas las edades. clases Bautismales, Primera Comunión y Confirmación.

Nuestra escuela de Corte y Confección sigue formando a muchas personas para el negocio de la costura. Cada jueves compartimos alimentos y ropa para las familias mas necesitadas de nuestra comunidad.Nuestro enlace con las clínicas comunitarias nos ayuda a suplir la salud con los más pobres.

Hace 8 años iniciamos nuestra misión y estamos pronto de convertirnos en una congregación oficial de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América (ELCA). Samuel Nieva (Peruano) es un Pastor Luterano y Fotógrafo que dirige desde su inicio Pueblo de Dios.

Horarios 2011