Santa Isabel and Pilgrim Journey

St. Isabel Brings A Fresh Start!

Both the new Santa Isabel and Pilgrim Journey ministries gather in Elizabeth, New Jersey, at the former St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, renamed The Elizabeth Lutheran Center.

Congregations like St. Mark’s closed because they did not adapt to changing ethnic contexts, explained the Rev. Israel Sanchez, Santa Isabel’s mission developer.

Santa Isabel serves people from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.  Pilgrim Journey is composed of West Africans. The communities share a food pantry outreach. 

Advent Lutheran, Warren, New Jersey, provides encouragement, pulpit exchanges, and food and clothing for local distribution.

Santa Isabel sponsors an Epiphany Three Kings festival with cluster congregations sharing worship, food, dancing, and children’s gifts from the Wisemen. More than 25 multicultural ministry congregations will be invited in 2010. 

The ELCA New Jersey Synod pays Sanchez’ salary, is funding a building refurbishment, and provides office staff and support.  The Evangelical outreach and Congregational Mission unit of the ELCA provides a grant.

To become a Mission Partner, e-mail revisraelsanchez@yahoo.com.