At 1410 Foothill Drive in Vista, First Lutheran Church of Vista is known for worship in English and Spanish, a ministry presence spanning more than seven decades, learning and fellowship across generations, and Agapi Insight, a spiritual home for LGBTQ Christians and the people who love them. The congregation brings together Word and sacraments, children's education, youth and family activities, mission work, and service to people who are sick, isolated, or seeking a supportive church family.
More Than Seven Decades in Vista
For more than seven decades, First Lutheran has done ministry in Vista. The congregation calls itself a purpose-driven church committed to worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission. Its mission statement is direct: Our mission is changed lives! It also states plainly: All are Welcome Here at First Lutheran Church!
The church frames that mission through an A.C.T. vision of sending gifted people toward three connected purposes:
- Adoración/Worship, grounded in John 4:23-24 (MSG).
- Celebrating Our Diversity, from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NRSV).
- Together We Make a Difference, from Acts 2:42-47 (CEV).
Its values begin with relationships with God, others and great causes. They also include enthusiasm for sharing the Good News while celebrating diversity and a commitment to the health of heart, mind, spirit and body. These priorities give shape to the congregation's worship, learning, fellowship and service.
Two Sunday Services, One Welcoming Congregation
First Lutheran worships indoors at 1410 Foothill Drive with two Sunday services. The 9:00 a.m. gathering is in English, while the 11:00 a.m. gathering is in Spanish and carries the name Celebrando la Diversidad. Both are open to people joining in person. The church also livestreams worship through Facebook and makes services available through its YouTube channel. More information about the two gatherings appears in Sunday worship details.
Those who join in person encounter a worship team that includes greeters, readers, communion assistants, musicians, bilingual ushers and an altar guild. After either service, the congregation invites visitors and members to Sunday Fellowship for refreshments and conversation. The hour between worship and departure is an important part of the Sunday rhythm, offering time to meet people and build relationships beyond the service itself.
Bible Study with Pastor in Two Languages
Pastor Ramon leads regular, in-person Bible study on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in English. A second class meets on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in Spanish and is called Estudio Bíblico Verbo de Dios. The two classes make regular study accessible to people who prefer English or Spanish.
First Lutheran's Discipleship Ministry Team supports Sunday School teachers, confirmation, adult Bible study, the New Members class and youth. Its leaders also assist with devotionals, other Bible studies and learning opportunities such as Vacation Bible School. This work connects worship with formation, helping people move from hearing the Word to studying it and serving with the gifts they discover there.
Children at the Heart of Learning
Noah's Ark Learning Center is a ministry of First Lutheran for children from two months through five years old. It offers both half-day and full-day schedules in a nurturing, faith-foundation environment. The learning center gives younger children a place to experience care, learning and Christian community alongside their families.
Nursery care is available during Sunday services for children under three, with qualified preschool teachers staffing the room. During worship, children from preschool through fifth grade are also invited to the front of the church for children's time. Following story time, they move into the Sunday School rooms for kid-focused learning.
Vacation Bible School is a three-day program combining Bible study, sports and praise with snacks and ice cream. Head Start-MAAC also provides preschool and child-development programs for children up to five years old among qualified families, with its facility located at the church. Family activities have included picking strawberries, flying kites, enjoying fireworks and presenting a Christmas pageant.
Old Hymns, Praise and Music Shared Together
The Worship Ministry Team brings together a praise team, bell choir, organ accompaniment and altar guild. Its leaders assemble, train and schedule greeters, readers and communion assistants, while also helping the pastor organize festival-day decorating and cleaning. Music is both traditional and contemporary in the congregation's life, with old hymns, newer songs, the Praise Band and the Spirit Choir all forming part of worship.
Service presentation slides include song lyrics so the congregation can sing together. Participation has extended to banners, seasonal trees, bilingual ushers, music direction, musicians and singers. First Lutheran also welcomes people who are not members to offer their talents in worship and discipleship.
Agapi Insight: Learning, Belonging and Service
Agapi Insight is a ministry of First Lutheran Church of Vista for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning Christians, their loved ones, friends and anyone who feels in-process and longs for a spiritual home. The name comes from the Greek agape, described as unconditional love: a love of choice rather than attraction or obligation that endures beyond affection and desires the wellbeing of another. The word appears more than 200 times in the Bible, often describing God's love.
A Sanctuary for LGBTQ Christians
Agapi Insight welcomes LGBTQ individuals and their families and friends regardless of church affiliation or personal beliefs. Its gatherings create room for prayer, reflection, learning and rejoicing. People are invited to come as they are, share the stories that make them distinct, and find support in a church family. The ministry seeks to counter condemnation by emphasizing that all are created in God's image and that isolation and harm are not what God wants for his children.
What the Ministry Believes
Agapi Insight holds traditional Christian views according to the Bible, the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. It affirms loving, committed, monogamous relationships regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, describing that view as consistent with Jesus and faithful, Bible-believing Christianity.
In alignment with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the ministry affirms full inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the body of Christ and the life of the church. It holds that gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gender-nonconforming, intersex and queer people should not be excluded from communion, religious marriage, church leadership, teaching and preaching, or pastoral callings. Its teaching emphasizes belonging to one another in Christ, even while people continue learning and asking questions.
Study, Fellowship and Care
One part of Agapi Insight's work is studying historical, linguistic and cultural contexts surrounding passages that have been used to exclude or condemn LGBTQ people. The ministry teaches why the Bible does not condemn LGBTQ individuals or their loving, monogamous relationships. Its study also considers scholars who have shaped understanding of the Ten Commandments, the Greatest Commandment of Jesus Christ and the consistency of God's law with a loving same-sex relationship.
The ministry gathers weekly to build community, family and friendships. Agapi Insight describes these meetings as a place for encouragement, healing, fun and honest sharing, with room for laughter as well as serious conversation. It seeks to be a refuge for those who have felt disenfranchised, marginalized or disconnected from the Lord's table.
Service runs alongside study and fellowship. Agapi Insight visits people who are sick, cares for animals in need, serves people who are housebound and volunteers to support people with disabilities. Through these activities, the ministry seeks to offer hope and a safe spiritual home to LGBTQ people in need.
Faith Rooted in the Gospel
First Lutheran confesses the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It understands the Gospel as God's power for the salvation of all who believe. The Old and New Testaments are received as the inspired and authoritative Word of God. The congregation also accepts the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord. It professes justification by grace for Christ's sake through faith alone.
The church describes itself as both an inclusive fellowship and a local congregation gathered for worship and Christian service. Its purposes include proclaiming the Word, administering the sacraments, living with prayer, praise, thanksgiving, witness and service, and carrying out the Great Commission. First Lutheran also commits to meeting human needs by caring for the sick and aged, advocating dignity and justice, working for peace and reconciliation, and standing with poor and powerless people.
Ministry Teams Put Gifts to Work
The pastoral team includes Pastor Ramon Zarate, Susan White and Djana Venolia. Djana Venolia leads worship, Ana Elvia Mata leads fellowship, Yessica Torrez leads outreach and Jennifer Nolting leads the missions ministry. Their teams coordinate distinct parts of the congregation's life while sharing responsibility for worship, learning, service and care of the church's facilities.
- Worship trains and schedules service participants, helps prepare the church for festival days and supports music and worship.
- Discipleship equips Sunday School and confirmation teachers and supports adult Bible study, youth and other learning opportunities.
- Fellowship organizes Sunday refreshments, volunteer servers, the kitchen and meals for special gatherings.
- Missions coordinates God's Work Our Hands, Vacation Bible School and summer youth ministry.
- Outreach organizes community events, publicity, bilingual VBS registration, Quinceañera events and Trinity Hall rentals.
- Buildings and Grounds oversees maintenance and brings recommendations for major building needs to the appropriate church leadership.
The Congregational Council provides general oversight of the congregation's life and activities, with particular attention to its worship life. Together, these teams make room for musical gifts, teaching, hospitality, event planning, mission work and practical care of the church.
Giving and the Use of the Church's Gifts
Giving is available online through a one-time contribution or a repeating monthly gift. Checks may also be mailed to the church at 1410 Foothill Drive. Donations are tax deductible and support the congregation's ministry, financial needs and work for people in need. The church also maintains an endowment committee that tracks investments and considers proposed changes.
First Lutheran also makes its facilities available for weddings, funerals, Quinceañeras and other group use. The fellowship and outreach ministries coordinate the practical work of refreshments, special-event meals, rental calendars and gathering space, while the buildings and grounds team maintains the physical setting used for worship, learning and community life.
One Church on Foothill Drive
At First Lutheran Church of Vista, Sunday worship in English or Spanish sits within a wider rhythm of children's learning, midweek Bible study, music, fellowship and service. Agapi Insight adds a place for LGBTQ Christians and their loved ones to study, belong, laugh and care for others. Across these ministries, First Lutheran Church of Vista carries a clear mission of worshiping God, teaching the Word, caring for people and sending people out to make a difference.