Global Ministries Team

OUR MISSION: The Global Ministries Team for Ascension Lutheran Church creates opportunities for people of all ages to ENGAGE, SUPPORT and LEARN to serve our neighbor globally and locally. Our involvement is based on the premise of actively caring for God’s creation, and reconciling people to each other and to God.

HOW DO WE REALIZE OUR MISSION? The Global Ministries Team looks for opportunities, inspired by Biblical mandates, and in response to God’s grace, to put our faith into action. We achieve our mission by serving others in need in our world, and God’s creation, through care, advocacy, education, reconciliation and solidarity.

Through this website you will find opportunities to ENGAGE and SUPPORT globally and locally through our engagement, advocacy and financial involvement.

You will also find links to many places where you can LEARN more about the global efforts being accomplished on our behalf through non- profit, faith- based organizations, internationally and locally.

Get Involved Now

Global Ministries Bulletin Board

Read ELCA/LIRS joint statement for World Refugee Day HERE

ENGAGE

Sharing Our Time & Talents

Global Missions: Acts 1:8

Accompaniment Trips – Peru, Mexico, Israel/Palestine
ELCA Missionary Accompaniment
Gifts of Hope
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM)

Hunger & Health: Matthew 25:35-36

Bread for the World
ELCA World Hunger
Lutheran World Relief including Kits and Quilts

Justice & Advocacy: Psalm 33:5

Ecumenical Collaboration for Asylum Seekers (ECAS)
Fair Trade, Equal Exchange
Jubilee USA
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
Matthew 25:35 Outreach Ministry;

–Conejo Valley Refugee Welcome Team;

— Women’s Interfaith Network

Peacemaking: Matthew 5:9

Creation Care: Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24

Ascension Lutheran Garden Team
Ascension Green Faith Team Team
Lutherans Restoring Creation- California
Southwest California Synod Green Faith Team

Education: Matthew 11:29, Isaiah 1:17

Adult & Youth Education classes with congregation, school & community on Global issues and involvements. (Isaiah 1:17)
Conejo Elementary School Tutoring (Matthew 11:29)

SUPPORT

Sharing Our Financial Gifts

Global Mission

ELCA Missionary Accompaniment Support
Gifts of Hope
Southwest CA Companion Synod-El Salvador
Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM)

Hunger & Health

Justice & Advocacy

Faith in Action International-PICO Rwanda, and Pastor John Rutsindintwaran
Jubilee USA Network
Matthew 25:35 Outreach Ministry Fund

Creation Care

Center for Climate, Justice and Faith, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

Lutherans Restoring Creation

ELCA Accompaniment

Pastor Kristin Engstrom, Zambia

Pastor Wal Luot Reat, South Sudan

LEARN

Gathering and Sharing Information

(NOTE: This section includes links/descriptions to various ELCA ministries, synodical teams, and other faith- based organizations the Global Ministries Team connects with.)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

-Advocacy
-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
-Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
-God’s Work. Our Hands.
-Lutheran Disaster Response
-Lutheran Office of Public Policy
-Middle East Connections
-Peace Not Walls
-World Hunger

ELCA Partners and Connections:

Southwest CA Synod of the ELCA:

SWCA Synod
Companion synods, Hong Kong & El Salvador
Green Faith Team
Global Mission Team
-Justice Team
-New City Parish

Other Faith Based Non-profit Organizations

— IMA World Health;

— Lutheran World Relief

Back

Sam's Tram Rolls Again

by Brian Festerling, SAM’s Tram Coordinator

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the SAM’s Tram service from Ascension has been pretty quiet. However, now that many of us have vaccines and feel more comfortable being out and about, it’s time to reintroduce the program! SAM’s Tram is Ascension’s Senior Adult Ministries transportation service. We match seniors from our congregation that need rides to local appointments with Ascension volunteers that are willing to drive.

RIDERS

If you’re a senior who needs a ride (or a caregiver for one), please contact me with the ride details. My contact info is at the end of the article. The more lead time you can give me -- at least a week or two is best -- the more likely I can find a driver for you. I’ll let you know either way. The service is free! If you feel compelled to give something, you can give your driver a dollar to go to Ascension’s Caring Ones to help the needy in our area.

DRIVERS

We’re always looking for more volunteer drivers to add to our roster. There is NO long-term commitment. I blast out detailed ride requests via e-mail to all of our drivers. You need only say “yes” to a ride that works for your schedule, and your only commitment is for that one ride. Many of us work and can only drive occasionally. That’s OK! The more drivers we have on our roster, the more likely we can fulfill a given request, and the workload gets spread around. This is a simple and effective ministry and we’d love to have you join us! Please call or e-mail me if you’re interested.

TESTIMONIAL

“[SAM’s Tram was] a blessing to my mom when she could not drive anymore. The friendly drivers got her to her weekly hair appointments, and occasional other doctor/dentist appointments. The social interaction with the drivers gave her a lift and became a bright spot in her declining life quality. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased when two drivers who were more frequent came to my mom’s celebration of life service. What a dedicated group of people, making a difference in the lives of our elders!” — Excerpt from a thank you note written by the daughter of one of our riders

FAST FACTS

- Pastor Steve started SAM’s Tram in 2011.

- Since 2017 we have had 287 ride requests and fulfilled 220 of them (77%)

- 69% of our requests are for doctor appointments, 9% for worship services, 8% for beauty/barber, and 14% “other”

Please pray for our SAM’s Tram riders and drivers, and contact me anytime if we can be of service to you, or if you you’d like to join us as a driver.

Sincerely,

Brian Festerling SAM’s Tram Coordinator

805-558-8076 (cell)

ps - we've had an uptick in requests and could always use new drivers.