WELCOME TO CBTS
Calvary by the Sea is a group of people gathered by the Creator to a live a life of inclusivity, intentionality, and involvement. To participate in the ongoing healing and reconciliation of the world!
We say Amen to God's diversity of humanity!
We are a congregation with a Lutheran theological imagination that practices the sacraments of baptism and communion as Jesus did. We are a sacramental community that partakes of wine and bread as a weekly nourishment.
We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation that boldly declares inclusion of our queer siblings in Christ. We are a Racial Reconciling in Christ congregation that openly declares unity for people of all ethnicities and races and works towards a shared vision and visible sign of the heavenly church.
Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA and in mission partnership with the Pacifica Synod.
OUR CORE VALUES
CBTS has identified three core values that truly speak to the heart of what we are striving to do and to be a church in this community and island.
Inclusive – As a Reconciling in Christ Congregation, we continue to acknowledge that LGBTQIA+ discrimination occurs inside and outside the church. Therefore, we advocate for the full welcome, inclusion, equity and celebration of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Amen for the diversity of God’s people! As an Ecumenical Congregation we strive for unity across various faith traditions and denominations. Our theological differences don’t divide us, rather they allow us to learn from one another and celebrate the unique perspectives we all bring to the table.
Intentional – As a Learning Congregation we seek out education as a source of spiritual growth and social action. Our ministries and programs across all ages aim to deliberately serve and care for the poor, hungry, oppressed, and exploited for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Involved – As a Serving Congregation and as our sanctuary entrance states, “Beyond these doors your service begins,” so we aim to be actively involved in the care of all creation. Serving our island through nourishing the hungry, engaging local/global social equity and caring for the aina (the land) and all living things.
OUR LOCATION
5339 Kalanianaʻole Highway, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Oceanfront Sanctuary
Calvary by the Sea is a group of people gathered by the Creator to a live a life of inclusivity, intentionality, and involvement. To participate in the ongoing healing and reconciliation of the world!
We say Amen to God's diversity of humanity!
We are a congregation with a Lutheran theological imagination that practices the sacraments of baptism and communion as Jesus did. We are a sacramental community that partakes of wine and bread as a weekly nourishment.
We are a Reconciling in Christ congregation that boldly declares inclusion of our queer siblings in Christ. We are a Racial Reconciling in Christ congregation that openly declares unity for people of all ethnicities and races and works towards a shared vision and visible sign of the heavenly church.
Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA and in mission partnership with the Pacifica Synod.
OUR CORE VALUES
CBTS has identified three core values that truly speak to the heart of what we are striving to do and to be a church in this community and island.
Inclusive – As a Reconciling in Christ Congregation, we continue to acknowledge that LGBTQIA+ discrimination occurs inside and outside the church. Therefore, we advocate for the full welcome, inclusion, equity and celebration of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Amen for the diversity of God’s people! As an Ecumenical Congregation we strive for unity across various faith traditions and denominations. Our theological differences don’t divide us, rather they allow us to learn from one another and celebrate the unique perspectives we all bring to the table.
Intentional – As a Learning Congregation we seek out education as a source of spiritual growth and social action. Our ministries and programs across all ages aim to deliberately serve and care for the poor, hungry, oppressed, and exploited for theirs is the kingdom of God.
Involved – As a Serving Congregation and as our sanctuary entrance states, “Beyond these doors your service begins,” so we aim to be actively involved in the care of all creation. Serving our island through nourishing the hungry, engaging local/global social equity and caring for the aina (the land) and all living things.
OUR LOCATION
5339 Kalanianaʻole Highway, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi Oceanfront Sanctuary
OUR STORIES
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OUR MINISTRY TEAM
Associate Minister of Family Ministries, Grace Lee (she/her)
Grace was born and raised in Honolulu, HI. She is a graduate of Kaiser High School, The University of Hawaii and Fuller Theological Seminary. While in seminary, Grace was called into hospital chaplaincy. She’s been a chaplain for 6 years and has served at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children and at Straub Medical Center. Now serves as CBTSʻs Associate Minister of Family Ministries and is in the candidacy process for ordination with the ELCA. She is married to her wife Debbie and they enjoy traveling, cooking, listening to podcasts and spending time with their niece Piper. Some of Grace’s hobbies include playing the guitar, watching movies and checking out new restaurants.
Contact Minister Grace
Contact Minister Grace
Worship Director, Alana Freitas (she/her)
Alana Freitas was born and raised in Kaimuki and attended high school at Mid-Pacific Institute School of the Arts where she explored her passions of acting and singing. She then attended her top-choice school, Chapman University, in Orange, California where she majored in Creative Writing and minored in Integrated Educational Studies. While her plan was always to return to Hawaii to become a high school ELA teacher, Alana chose to answer the call to minister to college students at UCLA after her experience as the president of Chapman’s InterVarsity chapter. During this time, Alana grew in skills of discipleship, worship, fundraising, and retreat planning. In 2019, Alana abruptly returned home to the island due to a family emergency and has stayed ever since. She recently received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification as well as her Hawaii State Standards Board certification in English Education. She now works as a high school teacher at Hawaii Technology Academy in Waipahu and teaches outdoor yoga from time to time. She also leads a weekly Ohana Group for Calvary by the Sea and is currently training for the Honolulu Marathon in December. Alana is passionate about creating spaces for people to inquire, express, and connect. She loves tteokbokki, memoirs, slow mornings, coffee, and singing. This is the sixth worship band she will serve on.
Contact Alana
Contact Alana
Associate Minister of Student Ministries, Eric Hasha (he/him)
Eric is the Associate Minister of Student Ministries and in process towards ordination with the ELCA. He grew up in the suburbs of Birmingham, AL where he attended Samford University with a major in Sociology. He is married to Cristy, a fourth grade teacher at Hawaii Baptist Academy, and they have two kids, Abigail (12) and Everett (9). Eric received his Master of Divinity degree from Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (VA). Beginning in 2002, he has served in various positions in churches in Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee and Hawaii. The church members of Tabernacle Baptist Church, who belong to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship denomination, ordained Eric on April 25, 2010. Although Eric now serves as the youth minister, he also works full-time as the President of Restoration Services Hawaii, a full-service restoration company serving residents all over Oahu. Besides enjoying most of his time with his wife and kids in the Kamehameha Heights area, he also enjoys watching college and professional football, as well as Formula 1 racing and taking his dog, Rosie, a mini golden doodle on long neighborhood walks.
Contact Minister Eric
Contact Minister Eric
Parish Administrator, Mieko Takada (she/her)
Mieko was born in Japan, but has been a resident of Hawaii for over 30 years. Upon graduating from UH Manoa, she juggled multiple jobs and raised 3 children who all played soccer through the collegiate level. With her 12 years of experience with NPO that involved children, she feels like this role at CBTS is a match made in heaven. She provides parish administration and organization for Calvary by the Sea. Today her children are all grown up, and enjoys traveling, playing tennis and piano.
Contact Mieko
Contact Mieko
Choir Director, Malachi McSherry (he/him)
Malachi originally from Oklahoma has lived here on Oahu for about 10 years now. Upon graduating from University of Hawaii with his degree in Communicology and Spanish he has found himself working full time at Hawaii Opera Theatre, and now proudly serving as CBTS Choir Director. Malachi is passionate about music, singing, acting in musical theatre, and even a bit of film acting. Malachi during his free time enjoys spending time with his husband Jeremiah, and his 2 cats, and 1 dog. Malachi is enthusiastic, and loves to go on adventures hiking, & swimming, but more than anything drinking coffee and finding local coffee shops. He loves coffee. Malachi is so excited to be back in church serving, and cannot wait to see all that God does through him and the choir.
Contact Malachi
Contact Malachi
Senior Pastor, The Rev. Dr. Moses D. Barrios (he/him)
The Rev. Dr. Moses D. Barrios is the Senior Pastor of Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church. He is an indigenous American of Mayan descent, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA with more than 23 years of ministry experience, serving throughout California and Hawaiʻi. He has been married to his wife Brenda for 22 years, and they have three terrific children, Penelope and Amelie who attend college in New York City and Hansel a Junior at Kaiser High School. Pastor Moses received both his graduate and post-graduate degrees from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. His doctoral project titled, “Confronting the Lack of Racial Unity in the American Christian Church,” is the spirit behind his ministry work. Click here to read and download.
His other theological studies derive from (P.L.T.S.) in Berkeley, CA, (C.H.E.T.) in Compton, CA and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He is an Ordained Roster Minister of Word and Sacrament with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Additionally, Pastor Moses is the President of Faith Action, a faith-based non-profit organization in Hawaiʻi advocating for justice and equity for the last 40 years. Click here to learn more about Faith Action Hawai’i. He has extensive experience as a chaplain working with disproportionate people groups. Most notably with the skid-row houseless community in downtown LA and the queer community in the Greater LA area. Moreover, he has served in numerous denominations such as the United Methodist Church (UMC), the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA), the Reformed Church in America (RCA), the Foursquare Church (Pentecostal), the Evangelical Covenant Church and his current home of the ELCA. This spectrum of theological and liturgical history has created a devotion to engage the healing and reconciling of the local church and the world.
Moses enjoys speaking on racial reconciliation, LGBTQIA+ inclusion outside and inside the church, church advancement strategies in the urban context, and liberation or prophetic preaching. Furthermore, as an advocate and activist for inclusion, racial reconciliation, and the repair of all creation –he fully believes the Trinitarian flow of the divine is healing the world. Hope is here, joy is here, and healing is already happening. Enter the flow!
Contact Pastor Moses
His other theological studies derive from (P.L.T.S.) in Berkeley, CA, (C.H.E.T.) in Compton, CA and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He is an Ordained Roster Minister of Word and Sacrament with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Additionally, Pastor Moses is the President of Faith Action, a faith-based non-profit organization in Hawaiʻi advocating for justice and equity for the last 40 years. Click here to learn more about Faith Action Hawai’i. He has extensive experience as a chaplain working with disproportionate people groups. Most notably with the skid-row houseless community in downtown LA and the queer community in the Greater LA area. Moreover, he has served in numerous denominations such as the United Methodist Church (UMC), the American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA), the Reformed Church in America (RCA), the Foursquare Church (Pentecostal), the Evangelical Covenant Church and his current home of the ELCA. This spectrum of theological and liturgical history has created a devotion to engage the healing and reconciling of the local church and the world.
Moses enjoys speaking on racial reconciliation, LGBTQIA+ inclusion outside and inside the church, church advancement strategies in the urban context, and liberation or prophetic preaching. Furthermore, as an advocate and activist for inclusion, racial reconciliation, and the repair of all creation –he fully believes the Trinitarian flow of the divine is healing the world. Hope is here, joy is here, and healing is already happening. Enter the flow!
Contact Pastor Moses
OUR CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL
The Congregational Council is made up of a group of people who are called by God and the local parish to provide spiritual support and missional leadership. A member of the council cares for the spiritual well-being of the congregation, regularly attends worship services, is involved in the congregational life, financially supports the church and its ministries and prays for discernment about what is best for the congregation.
Currently our Congregational Council consists of the following members:
Jewell Tuitele, Moderator
Jennifer Welch, Co-Moderator
Febe Villagomez, Recorder
Cheryl Tuitele, Treasurer
Amelie Barrios, Youth Representative
Rafael Del Castillo, Parliamentarian
Paul Jones, Council Member
Lisa May, Council Member
Jack Ashby, Council Member
Becky Hoy, Council Member
Moses Barrios, Senior Pastor
Please be in prayer for your council in such a season as this. If you would like to contact the Congregational Council, please contact us
The Congregational Council is made up of a group of people who are called by God and the local parish to provide spiritual support and missional leadership. A member of the council cares for the spiritual well-being of the congregation, regularly attends worship services, is involved in the congregational life, financially supports the church and its ministries and prays for discernment about what is best for the congregation.
Currently our Congregational Council consists of the following members:
Jewell Tuitele, Moderator
Jennifer Welch, Co-Moderator
Febe Villagomez, Recorder
Cheryl Tuitele, Treasurer
Amelie Barrios, Youth Representative
Rafael Del Castillo, Parliamentarian
Paul Jones, Council Member
Lisa May, Council Member
Jack Ashby, Council Member
Becky Hoy, Council Member
Moses Barrios, Senior Pastor
Please be in prayer for your council in such a season as this. If you would like to contact the Congregational Council, please contact us
OUR COMMUNICATION
The Calvary Caller is our weekly email communication that includes our upcoming events and gatherings, a note from the desk of the Senior Pastor throughout the year and other announcements for the congregation. Our desire to keep you informed of all the happenings at Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church.
If you would like to subscribe, please contact us
The Calvary Caller is our weekly email communication that includes our upcoming events and gatherings, a note from the desk of the Senior Pastor throughout the year and other announcements for the congregation. Our desire to keep you informed of all the happenings at Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church.
If you would like to subscribe, please contact us
OUR HISTORY
The idea of a new Lutheran Church in Hawaii came from Dr. Phillip Dybvig, Director of Home Missions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Dr. Gaylord Falde, Bishop of the South pacific District of the ELC. The funding of the new church was handled by the Churches of the Austin Circuit in Southern Minnesota in late 1953. On the day that the Austin circuit decided to sponsor the mission by providing loan money, Dr. Falde and Dr. Dybvig gave Stan Gjervik the Letter of Call to become the mission pastor in Honolulu.
Stan and Doris Gjervik arrived in Honolulu on July 26,1954. They were ready to work the afternoon they arrived. First, they met with real estate agents to scout the Aina Haina area for possible church sites. Sven Anderson at M's Ranch House offered the use of his banquet facility for a place of Worship and Sunday School. The first service was scheduled for October 17,1954. The big day came. Dr. Phil Dybvig was a guest. Forty-two people were present at the first service. Attendance was down a little the next two Sundays, but it climbed gradually until there were about 95 by Christmas and 120 by Easter.
While Dr. Dybvig was here, the congregation began negotiating for property. A realtor by the name of Mr. Wright found the present site. For four days we worked with a Mrs. Wild and her advisors at the Hawaiian Trust Building. The bank was wonderful. We explained that we had $90,000 to invest, but that this would have to include the purchase price of the land and the first unit of the church (now Ohana Lani). The result was that the church purchased 63,000 square feet of land for $60,000. Later, the church received a gift of 10,000 square feet where Hale Aloha is located. An additional 10,000 square feet of land on the highway end of the property was a gift in 1955.
In 1956, a pledge of $10,000 covered a promissory note to Mrs. Wild. Plans for the parsonage (now Hale Aloha) were started. Harold Hicks was the builder but was assisted by Nolan Wold, a volunteer who came in January, 1955. Paul Jones of Wimberly and Cook was engaged as the architect. Plans were soon ready, and the church accepted a bid from C. W. Winstedt for under $24,000. By the end of September, 1955, we were in our new building. Special gifts came for the finishing touches.
We continued to meet at the Hind Company Office Building behind M's Ranch House. Sunday School started on October 24, 1954. Children's programming began on Thursday afternoons in November when we moved to the new church site. Women of the church began meeting once a month. Later we started a regular weekly Wednesday morning Bible Study. Everybody seemed to take hold of the work, and to support the congregation seemed to be a natural thing to do. In fourteen months, we began carrying our own weight, and no longer needed the monthly Home Mission Grant in Aid.
The church was active from the beginning. Visitors were abundant during those years. Participation in Kiwanis and P.T.A. became an important community service. In 1958, we began broadcasting our worship service on KAIM FM. Additions were built to both sides of the sanctuary in 1953. The church had taken its place in the community
The spirit of the first congregation still exists. Words of early pastors continue to describe Calvary by the Sea Lutheran: From our first pastor Stan Gjervik (1954-1961): "Every car that drove up was a miracle." From James Bergquist (1961-1964): "Calvary Lutheran has always been a unique and wonderful congregation." From Obed Sunde (1964-1967): "Thanks to God for the blessings He has showered on the congregation."
In 1967, Doug Olson became the senior pastor at Calvary, ushering in a period of strong growth in membership, church programs and community service. This included a unique program called Clown Sunday, which used theatre to reach out to members of the church and community at large who were burdened by emotional and spiritual problems. This fruitful ministry continued for 20 years. Pastor Olson's wife Ivy launched Angel Network Charities (ANC), which was dedicated to helping those in need with housing, counseling, and food assistance.
In 1978, Calvary by the Sea membership voted to affiliate with the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or ELCA. Then in 1979, planning began for a new sanctuary to be situated where those attending worship services can look out over the beautiful seascape of Moanalua Bay. The facility opened in 1982.
In 1991, the parsonage (now Hale Aloha) was renovated to provide space for ANC's program. Today, Angel Network Charities focuses exclusively on feeding and nourishing our 'Ohana in partnership with other ministries and organizations. The need for nourishment has grown steadily over the years, and grew exponentially during the covid-19 global pandemic. At the peak of the pandemic, ANC was providing food weekly for more than 1,000 families!
Early in Pastor Olsen's 25 years as senior pastor, Calvary started a preschool with 30 students and 2 teachers. The school later became a Montessori School and its enrollment increased to nearly 70 students shortly before covid restrictions went into effect. At about the same time, Calvary began offering weddings to couples in Hawaii, mainland USA and countries around the word, another program that continues to this day (with a pause during the covid global pandemic.) In 2004, Tim Mason began a nearly 15-year term as senior pastor.
In early 2021, Calvary by the Sea’s current pastor, Moses Barrios, arrived with bold intentions to expand Christ’s love and grace in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi through the called people of God at Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church. Since Pastor Mosesʻ arrival to the congregation, CBTS has boldly embodied its mission and values; uplifting the inclusion of the LGBTQ community and living with intentionality by nourishing the island through Angel Network Charities Food Bank and seeking to be involved in advocacy and social change through Faith Action and other organizations.
As a result, CBTS has exponentially grown in participation and spirituality, adding more than 100 new members and supporters to the spiritual family and nearly tripling in Sunday worship attendance during the pandemic and post-pandemic years. Thanks be to God!
Certainly, this is not the trajectory for most of the American Christian Church. Nonetheless, Pastor Moses’ desire to see diversity in race and ethnicity within a predominantly euro-centric congregation and denomination like the ELCA is authentically becoming a reality. More than 40% of the congregation is made up of people of color (BIPOC) today making it truly a multi-ethnic congregation. Thanks be to God!
In addition, CBTS, and its Congregational Council has called a robust and experienced group of leaders to join the ministry team to assist with the growth of ministry and spiritual formation. And with the core values of inclusion, intentionality and involvement CBTS has truly prioritized young people and young families with children, a demographic sorely missing from the congregation prior to Pastor Mosesʻ arrival. The divine is flowing! History will continue to be made in the coming years as CBTS flows and moves with the Holy Trinity in the healing and reconciling of all creation, where everything is being made new.
The idea of a new Lutheran Church in Hawaii came from Dr. Phillip Dybvig, Director of Home Missions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Dr. Gaylord Falde, Bishop of the South pacific District of the ELC. The funding of the new church was handled by the Churches of the Austin Circuit in Southern Minnesota in late 1953. On the day that the Austin circuit decided to sponsor the mission by providing loan money, Dr. Falde and Dr. Dybvig gave Stan Gjervik the Letter of Call to become the mission pastor in Honolulu.
Stan and Doris Gjervik arrived in Honolulu on July 26,1954. They were ready to work the afternoon they arrived. First, they met with real estate agents to scout the Aina Haina area for possible church sites. Sven Anderson at M's Ranch House offered the use of his banquet facility for a place of Worship and Sunday School. The first service was scheduled for October 17,1954. The big day came. Dr. Phil Dybvig was a guest. Forty-two people were present at the first service. Attendance was down a little the next two Sundays, but it climbed gradually until there were about 95 by Christmas and 120 by Easter.
While Dr. Dybvig was here, the congregation began negotiating for property. A realtor by the name of Mr. Wright found the present site. For four days we worked with a Mrs. Wild and her advisors at the Hawaiian Trust Building. The bank was wonderful. We explained that we had $90,000 to invest, but that this would have to include the purchase price of the land and the first unit of the church (now Ohana Lani). The result was that the church purchased 63,000 square feet of land for $60,000. Later, the church received a gift of 10,000 square feet where Hale Aloha is located. An additional 10,000 square feet of land on the highway end of the property was a gift in 1955.
In 1956, a pledge of $10,000 covered a promissory note to Mrs. Wild. Plans for the parsonage (now Hale Aloha) were started. Harold Hicks was the builder but was assisted by Nolan Wold, a volunteer who came in January, 1955. Paul Jones of Wimberly and Cook was engaged as the architect. Plans were soon ready, and the church accepted a bid from C. W. Winstedt for under $24,000. By the end of September, 1955, we were in our new building. Special gifts came for the finishing touches.
We continued to meet at the Hind Company Office Building behind M's Ranch House. Sunday School started on October 24, 1954. Children's programming began on Thursday afternoons in November when we moved to the new church site. Women of the church began meeting once a month. Later we started a regular weekly Wednesday morning Bible Study. Everybody seemed to take hold of the work, and to support the congregation seemed to be a natural thing to do. In fourteen months, we began carrying our own weight, and no longer needed the monthly Home Mission Grant in Aid.
The church was active from the beginning. Visitors were abundant during those years. Participation in Kiwanis and P.T.A. became an important community service. In 1958, we began broadcasting our worship service on KAIM FM. Additions were built to both sides of the sanctuary in 1953. The church had taken its place in the community
The spirit of the first congregation still exists. Words of early pastors continue to describe Calvary by the Sea Lutheran: From our first pastor Stan Gjervik (1954-1961): "Every car that drove up was a miracle." From James Bergquist (1961-1964): "Calvary Lutheran has always been a unique and wonderful congregation." From Obed Sunde (1964-1967): "Thanks to God for the blessings He has showered on the congregation."
In 1967, Doug Olson became the senior pastor at Calvary, ushering in a period of strong growth in membership, church programs and community service. This included a unique program called Clown Sunday, which used theatre to reach out to members of the church and community at large who were burdened by emotional and spiritual problems. This fruitful ministry continued for 20 years. Pastor Olson's wife Ivy launched Angel Network Charities (ANC), which was dedicated to helping those in need with housing, counseling, and food assistance.
In 1978, Calvary by the Sea membership voted to affiliate with the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, or ELCA. Then in 1979, planning began for a new sanctuary to be situated where those attending worship services can look out over the beautiful seascape of Moanalua Bay. The facility opened in 1982.
In 1991, the parsonage (now Hale Aloha) was renovated to provide space for ANC's program. Today, Angel Network Charities focuses exclusively on feeding and nourishing our 'Ohana in partnership with other ministries and organizations. The need for nourishment has grown steadily over the years, and grew exponentially during the covid-19 global pandemic. At the peak of the pandemic, ANC was providing food weekly for more than 1,000 families!
Early in Pastor Olsen's 25 years as senior pastor, Calvary started a preschool with 30 students and 2 teachers. The school later became a Montessori School and its enrollment increased to nearly 70 students shortly before covid restrictions went into effect. At about the same time, Calvary began offering weddings to couples in Hawaii, mainland USA and countries around the word, another program that continues to this day (with a pause during the covid global pandemic.) In 2004, Tim Mason began a nearly 15-year term as senior pastor.
In early 2021, Calvary by the Sea’s current pastor, Moses Barrios, arrived with bold intentions to expand Christ’s love and grace in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi through the called people of God at Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church. Since Pastor Mosesʻ arrival to the congregation, CBTS has boldly embodied its mission and values; uplifting the inclusion of the LGBTQ community and living with intentionality by nourishing the island through Angel Network Charities Food Bank and seeking to be involved in advocacy and social change through Faith Action and other organizations.
As a result, CBTS has exponentially grown in participation and spirituality, adding more than 100 new members and supporters to the spiritual family and nearly tripling in Sunday worship attendance during the pandemic and post-pandemic years. Thanks be to God!
Certainly, this is not the trajectory for most of the American Christian Church. Nonetheless, Pastor Moses’ desire to see diversity in race and ethnicity within a predominantly euro-centric congregation and denomination like the ELCA is authentically becoming a reality. More than 40% of the congregation is made up of people of color (BIPOC) today making it truly a multi-ethnic congregation. Thanks be to God!
In addition, CBTS, and its Congregational Council has called a robust and experienced group of leaders to join the ministry team to assist with the growth of ministry and spiritual formation. And with the core values of inclusion, intentionality and involvement CBTS has truly prioritized young people and young families with children, a demographic sorely missing from the congregation prior to Pastor Mosesʻ arrival. The divine is flowing! History will continue to be made in the coming years as CBTS flows and moves with the Holy Trinity in the healing and reconciling of all creation, where everything is being made new.
