2025 Southwest Brooklyn Conference Report
The Rev. Khader Khalilia, Dean
By God’s grace, the congregations of Redeemer-St. John, Our Saviour, and Salam Arabic Lutheran Church have been faithfully working together in ministry, building trusted relationships, and discerning new ways to serve as Christ’s witnesses in Brooklyn. These congregations, all founded by immigrant communities, continue to live out the Gospel’s call to welcome and embrace all people.
In response to the Spirit’s leading, Our Saviour’s and Redeemer-St. John’s congregations prayerfully voted to consolidate and enter into partnership with Salam Arabic Lutheran Church as a mission congregation. Together, they formed Grace Lutheran Church of Brooklyn, a new faith community born out of the rich legacy of Our Saviour’s and Redeemer-St. John. Firmly rooted in their Lutheran identity, they recognize the importance of their Christian witness in Brooklyn and embrace this new beginning with a spirit of hope and renewal. With hearts set on the present and future, they seek to bring Christ’s love to their neighbors and respond to the ever-changing needs of their community. They move forward in mission, stewarding the gifts of their heritage—people, buildings, and resources—for the work of God’s kingdom.
As part of this transition, Salam Arabic Lutheran Church has now moved to the campus of Redeemer-St. John, where Pastor Charbel Zgheib has been installed as their new shepherd. Their ministry continues to flourish through shared youth activities and occasional joint worship services with Redeemer-St. John and Our Saviour’s, fostering deeper unity in Christ.
Beyond this collaboration, other congregations within our conference have also strengthened their outreach and social ministries:
- Good Shepherd and Trinity Lutheran Church have become vital hubs of food distribution, serving those in need with compassion and generosity. Good Shepherd has also expanded its ministry to include an immigration clinic, offering crucial support to new neighbors.
- Pastor Juan Carlos at Good Shepherd has responded to the growing Spanish-speaking community by adding an additional Spanish-language worship service.
- St. Jacobi Lutheran Church continues to bear faithful witness to the Gospel through its missional work among the Chinese speaking community.
- The Chinese ministry is experiencing remarkable growth, thanks to the dedicated outreach of Hoshea Huang and his team. With two worship services—one on Sunday and another on Monday—their community is flourishing. Two members from the Chinese congregation are currently preparing for ministry through the TEEM program, a sign of the Spirit’s ongoing work among them.
- Bethlehem Lutheran Church is seeing growth both in numbers and in outreach. Under the leadership of Pastor Paul Knudson, they have recently expanded their senior center to better serve the elderly in their community. Their Lutheran elementary school is also thriving, guided by a strong new principal and dedicated staff.
Throughout these challenging years, the churches in our conference have remained steadfast in their mission, rooted in the hope of the resurrection and the call to serve. With faith in God’s providence and a commitment to the Gospel, we move forward together, trusting that Christ will continue to lead and sustain His Church.
As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, we are filled with excitement and hope for what God is doing among us. We are deeply grateful for the faithful accompaniment of our bishop and synod staff, who have been walking alongside our congregations, helping us discern our future for the sake of the Gospel.
Here are some exciting highlights from our shared ministry:
- Hoshea Huang will be ordained this year and called to serve the growing Chinese community at St. Jacobi Lutheran Church, strengthening Lutheran witness in Southern Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhood.
- Salam Arabic Lutheran Church has partnered with ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response to support vulnerable immigrants in the Arab community by providing food security programs, as well as interfaith emotional and spiritual care.
- Redeemer-St. John, Our Saviour, and Salam have hired a youth director to lead faith formation activities, ensuring that the next generation is nurtured in faith and discipleship.
The churches in our conference are committed to proclaiming the Gospel and serving their neighbors in Christ’s name. Through partnerships with the wider community, we are opening our doors to meet the needs of those around us:
- Expanding our Lutheran schools to provide a strong, faith-filled education for children.
- Providing food assistance and counseling to those facing hardship.
- Collaborating with the NYPD’s 68th Precinct to help officers better understand and engage with immigrant communities, building bridges of trust and mutual respect.
As we continue forward in mission, we trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance and remain steadfast in our call to be a faithful Lutheran witness in Brooklyn and beyond. We invite all who feel called to join us in this work, that together, we may be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
Installation of Pr. Charbel Zgheib at Salam Arabic Lutheran Church
