A Lutheran Witness on Lisbon Street Since 1897
Trinity Lutheran Church stands at 7210 Lisbon Street in San Diego's Jamacha neighborhood, where it has been a steady presence since December 29, 1959. But the congregation itself reaches back much further. On January 3, 1897, missionaries from the synod established Trinity as the oldest Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation in San Diego, and the church still marks more than 125 years of continuous ministry. Today Trinity is known for two things in particular: a bilingual ministry that gathers English and Spanish speakers side by side, and a food pantry that distributes groceries to more than 800 households and individuals every month.
From Holt House to Lisbon Street
Trinity's first home was the Holt House, with early services also held at a Seventh Day Adventist church. In 1902 the members bought a building at Ocean View Drive and Dewey Street, where they stayed until 1941, when they moved to a larger church at 20th and F Street. That second building came with a treasured possession still in use today: an altar that traveled from Norway in 1725. It was refurbished for the church's centennial celebration in October 1997.
In 1959 Trinity relocated to its present campus on Lisbon Street to make way for the construction of Highway 94. Over the decades the grounds grew again, most recently with Messiah Memorial Hall, which was dedicated on the tenth anniversary of the Trinity-Messiah merger in 1996. The pipe organ, a 17-rank instrument, was dedicated in 1972 to mark the congregation's 75th anniversary.
Messiah Lutheran had been launched in August 1948 when Reverend Kurt Brink, commissioned by the Southern California District, began a door-to-door Lutheran ministry in the Logan Heights area. A Sunday school that began in the 2900 block of Imperial Avenue grew into a church at 31st and Clay Streets, built by more than one hundred volunteers from ten LCMS congregations in San Diego. In 1994 Reverend Gary Harms served both Messiah and Trinity as interim pastor and helped the two congregations begin merger talks. A final farewell was held at Messiah on September 1, 1996, and the merged Trinity Lutheran Church held its first combined worship service on September 8, 1996. The congregation celebrated its 125th anniversary on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
Sunday Morning at Trinity
Adult Sunday School meets at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Sunday Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. Worship typically runs about sixty minutes and includes hymns, prayers, Bible readings, a sermon, and, at some services, Holy Communion with bread and wine or juice. Senior Pastor Rick Stark preaches; his sermons are recorded and posted online so members who cannot attend can still follow along.
Visitors are told to come as they are. Most people dress casually, though some dress up, and no one is singled out or asked to give money. Children are always welcome in the service. Greeters meet arrivals at the door; first-time visitors receive a small gift while supplies last. Coffee and fellowship are served before and after the service in the Fellowship Hall, the building attached to the main church. There is plenty of free parking in the church's large lot, and the main entrance faces the street.
Spanish Bible Study in the Fellowship Hall
On Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., the Fellowship Hall becomes the Salón de Compañerismo for Iglesia del Ministerio Español, a Spanish-language Bible study that has been part of Trinity's rhythm for years. The Monday gathering is one expression of a wider commitment to a diverse, bilingual congregation, with Trinity emphasizing that God's family is for everyone, every culture, every background.
Adult Bible Study Through the Week
For those who want to dig deeper, an adult Bible study meets every Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The hour is an informal yet informative time of reading God's word together. The Tuesday study complements the Sunday morning Adult Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., giving members two weekday touchpoints with Scripture beyond the worship service.
The Food Pantry: Serving More Than 800 Households a Month
Trinity's food pantry is the congregation's largest ministry to the wider community. Open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the pantry distributes groceries in partnership with Feeding San Diego, Baron's, and Albertson's. Households may visit once a month and receive a two- to five-day supply of food depending on what is available. Those in greater need are encouraged to let the volunteers know. More than 800 households and individuals pass through the pantry each month, making it one of the more substantial hunger-relief efforts in this part of southeastern San Diego.
The pantry has its own phone line at (619) 262-1605, separate from the church office, and the congregation regularly rallies behind it. A See's Candy YumRaiser fundraiser, for instance, returns 20 to 50 percent of every purchase to Trinity and its food pantry.
What Lutherans at Trinity Believe
Trinity is rooted in the Lutheran tradition, presented in plain language for newcomers. Lutherans follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, trust the Bible as God's trustworthy Word, and rely on the historic Christian creeds. Trinity holds five core beliefs: that God loves and knows every person, that Jesus came to forgive sin and bring humanity back to God, that God's love is a gift rather than something to be earned, that the Bible teaches truth for daily living, and that the church is a place for everyone.
Trinity highlights three distinctives of the Lutheran tradition: a focus on God's grace, clear and simple Bible teaching, and a regular rhythm of gathering to worship, pray, sing, and grow together. Holy Communion is part of that rhythm, and visitors who are unsure about it are welcome simply to stay seated.
A Recording Studio for Musicians
On the campus is TLC Studios, a recording facility and one of the top rooms in San Diego. Built by a veteran studio contractor, TLC specializes in mixing, mastering, recording, and vocal tuning. The studio extends Trinity's reach beyond the sanctuary and is supported by donations to the church.
Getting Involved
Anyone interested in Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation classes can contact the church office; classes meet in the Fellowship Hall. The Jamacha Neighborhood Council also gathers at Trinity on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., opening the Fellowship Hall to neighbors beyond the congregation. Subscribing to Trinity's email list connects members and visitors with the weekly worship bulletin and a daily devotion. Offerings and donations to the church, food pantry, or recording studio can be made online or mailed directly to the church office at 7210 Lisbon Street, San Diego, CA 92114.