San Mateo
The Hispanic/Latino congregation of San Mateo was founded on July 14th 2002, an outreach by four tiny Anglo rural congregations, the Yadkin Valley Cluster. They had felt the call of the Lord Jesus to welcome the Spanish-speaking foreigners who have been arriving in the Salisbury area by the hundreds. During the past 5 years, the congregation has grown in numbers and the individual members in spiritual maturity and love for one another. People come to San Mateo from as far away as Charlotte, China Grove, Kannapolis, East Spencer and Statesville to worship the one Lord. San Mateo has been exclusively the outreach of Saint Matthew's on 70 West since 2005.

We have between 20- 45 Hispanics at our Sunday services ( 'la Misa") at 1.00 P.M. mainly from Mexico and Nicaragua. In the past we have had people from Honduras, El Salvador, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela as well. Father Bill Battermann, pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran church, celebrates the Eucharist with us most weeks. We have joint services in Spanish and English with our host congregation, St. Matthew's for major feasts, joint potlucks from time to time, Easter Saturday Egg Hunt, Fall Festival and Vacation Bible study each year. We offer a Hispanic Food Bank every year from December to March to help those in need. We have offered ESL classes each year and every Monday evening Hispanic and Anglo adults and children get together for supper and Bible study in English and Spanish which we all really enjoy.

The National Hispanic Missioner from the Central Office of the Episcopal Church in New York, the Rev. Anthony Guillen came to visit our Hispanic ministries in the Diocese of North Carolina in the Fall of 2006. He enjoyed coming to San Mateo/Saint Matthew's Fall Festival and remarked that it was wonderful to see the Hispanics feeling so welcomed and so much a part of the Anglo congregation. Our vision is that "We are one family, united by Jesus Christ." We are excited by plans for a playground for our children which will be built this year with money from the Cannon Trust.

We thank God for all that He has done in us and through us as we have sowed the seeds of His love in the Salisbury area. We thank God for the support of Saint Luke's members who help with the Food Bank, the ESL classes, practical needs and pray for us. Together we are making disciples and making a difference.

For further information, please call Sara Palmer at 980 622 1394

Angel Tree Prison Ministry
Angel Tree Prison Ministry is a national ministry which helps strengthen relationships or bridge a gap between an incarcerated parent and their children. Inmates sign up for the program through their prison Chaplain for local church members to buy Christmas gifts for the children. The local church (St. Luke’s) is asked to provide callers to get specific information for wants and needs for the children, verify the caregiver wishes to have that child in the program, and obtain address information for delivering the gifts. Church volunteers are needed to make the calls, purchase and deliver the gifts, and assist in the planning and coordination of the program. The entire process continues for about two months and a total of about 50 to 60 volunteers are needed.

St. Luke’s Outreach Committee provides Food Lion gift certificates (when budgeted funds are available) which are given to the children’s caregiver when the Christmas gifts are delivered. St.Luke’s normally services approximately 80 to 100 children each year (40 to 50 families) in the program. Prison Ministry provides Gospel tracts and other material which may be shared with the children and caregivers when the gifts are delivered. The Angel Tree Ministry not only allows for church members to help strengthen the parent and child relationship but also to share and spread the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ.