Our Story
In 2014, members of Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church in Gilbert decided to go on mission to connect with the homeless and working poor in downtown Mesa, Arizona. The goal was to serve both the felt needs and the spiritual needs of that community.
At the time, we thought we knew what they needed. We wanted to help. We soon realized we needed to listen.
Before launching in September of that year, we spent eight months listening and just hanging out with them. Every Tuesday we went to St. Vincent Depaul and sat with them. We listened more and talked less. Instead of assuming that we knew what they needed and what would be helpful, we asked. They spoke. We listened. We built relationships and God took over.
He showed us that we needed to build relationships. With the community, each other and with Him, and to put relationships at the core of all we do. We fell in love with those who most saw as unlovable, and La Mesa was born.
La Mesa is Spanish for “The Table” and everyone is welcome at this table. We eat together, we worship together and we get to know one another.
As we build relationships, God reveals other ways we can help His people. Whether providing a meal, a worship service, clothing, hygiene or connecting them with resources, we love this community just as Jesus loves us. We don’t judge, we just love, as He teaches us all to do.
Jesus often shared a meal with His followers. He turned ordinary meals into life-changing events. We follow His lead. What started off as a meal and worship service quickly grew into something extraordinary. The love of Jesus is not only proclaimed; it is shared with all who attend.
That is the heart of La Mesa. Everyone is welcome and treated with respect, dignity and the hope and love of Jesus. Come discover why HOPE HAPPENS HERE.
Mission, Vision, & Values
Our Mission
Our mission is to go where this community is to share the love of Jesus with them. We will do this by focusing on being relational, treating them with dignity and respect, and serving the felt and spiritual needs.
Our Vision
Our vision is to continue to find ways to connect with and serve the homeless and working poor. We will plant transformative La Mesa locations to share the love of Jesus with them. We will do this by serving their felt needs as well as their spiritual needs.
