Nebraska Synod ELCA

A Ministry of Presence, Dignity, and Shared Service in South Omaha

When Pastor Sadi Omar Vila arrived in Nebraska seven years ago, he brought with him decades of theological training, pastoral experience, and a heart shaped by global service—from Peru to Italy, from Jerusalem to Florida, and even as a chaplain in U.S. immigration detention. But what he’s a part of now in South Omaha with Iglesia Luterana San Andres isn’t just another congregation. It’s a movement of dignity, hospitality, and justice for all.

Iglesia Luterana San Andres began as a Lutheran mission start around 2013. Since then, it has evolved from a small Latino congregation into a multicultural hub of spiritual and social support.

“Our ministry is always focused on education and service,” says Pastor Vila. “But we don’t do this alone. We believe in building partnerships—interfaith, interdenominational, and deeply rooted in community.”

A Food Pantry That Became a Movement

In early 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered workplaces and destabilized neighborhoods, members of San Andres responded with a simple act of service: assembling 23 bags of groceries for church members in need. Bags were labeled, left on the steps, and picked up without contact. By the next week, community members—many not affiliated with the church—were asking for help.

“We realized right away that this wasn’t just about food,” Pastor Vila reflects. “This was about solidarity.”

What began as a grassroots effort quickly became a major ministry. Today, San Andres is one of the largest faith-based food distributors in the region, partnering with USDA and Food Bank for the Heartland to distribute up to 35,000 pounds of food each year.

But Pastor Vila is quick to point out: this is not a food pantry with a church attached. “Food is not our mission. Food is how we meet the community. Our ministry is to be a light in the darkness and a testimony to resurrection. Food is a doorway. What happens beyond it is the gospel.”

That gospel takes shape in the stories of volunteers—single mothers, retired neighbors, young people—who found purpose, connection, and joy in giving back. “One woman shared how volunteering here lifted her from deep depression,” he says. “This is more than distribution. This is transformation.”

Advocacy and Education at the Heart

Serving food might have been the spark, but education is the beating heart of San Andres. The congregation runs a free summer arts-based day camp for local children, known as The People’s Project, where professional actors teach communication, storytelling, and theater. There’s also a Horizon internship program for young adults exploring a call to ministry, and support groups for the LGBTQ+ community, including one of the only Spanish-speaking groups in the area.

In addition, Pastor Vila and community members engage in advocacy through partnerships with organizations like Bread for the World, traveling to Washington, D.C., meeting with local representatives and pushing for better food justice policies at every level of government.

“This ministry is not about making members,” says Pastor Vila. “It’s about building a community of people who share their faith, respect each other’s stories, and walk together.”

A Call to Congregations Across the Nebraska Synod

Start by showing up.

“Write a check if you can,” says Pastor Vila, “but more importantly—come. Volunteer for a few hours. Sit with someone over coffee. Share the experience.”

San Andres maintains a clear policy of dignity: they don’t accept used donations. “We don’t give people what’s left over,” Villa says. “We give them what we would give Christ himself.”

This is Mission Field Nebraska. And it’s open to all.

Want to Connect with Iglesia Luterana San Andres? Visit the website at www.sanandresomaha.org