Terri Berkey Gonzalez and Dianne Rodriguez
Terri Berkey Gonzalez and Dianne Rodriguez
Greater Woodburn Opportunity Center
Woodburn, Oregon
Greater Woodburn Opportunity Center: A New Vision for Faith and Community
In Woodburn, Oregon, the historic Immanuel Lutheran Church, founded in 1910, is reimagining what it means to be a church in the twenty-first century. Under the leadership of Rev. Dianne Rodriguez and Terri Berkey Gonzalez, the congregation is transforming its property and mission into the Greater Woodburn Opportunity Center (GWOC)—a multicultural, intergenerational hub designed to serve the city’s diverse and growing community.
For over a century, Immanuel Lutheran has been a place of worship and service. Today, it is evolving into something more: a safe, welcoming space where neighbors can gather, eat, learn, and build relationships across generations and cultures. Located in a neighborhood where 75–80% of residents are Hispanic, the church is responding to real community needs with a new kind of ministry—one that centers on compassion, inclusion, and empowerment.
At the heart of this transformation is Feeding Woodburn, a weekly community meal program that serves nearly 1,000 meals every Wednesday night. While Sunday worship services may draw a small group of 5–25 people, over 40 volunteers regularly come together midweek to prepare and serve food to anyone in need. The meal has become a vital gathering place—providing nourishment, fellowship, and connection for hundreds of families each week.
As the church discerned its future, it became clear that the growing meal program and the community’s broader needs required more space and infrastructure. In 2017, Immanuel Lutheran purchased eight acres of adjacent land, unsure of what the future would hold. Today’s plan—the Greater Woodburn Opportunity Center—will include a senior center, early childhood education center, social service offices, affordable housing, and walking trails. It will also provide dedicated space for immigrant care programs and will continue to support an ICE watch group organized by parishioners to support and protect vulnerable neighbors.
The vision for GWOC is both faith-rooted and forward-looking. As Immanuel transitions from a traditional congregation to a service-led faith community, the center embodies the belief that feeding people, offering care, and creating opportunities for connection are spiritual acts. The initiative is currently in the predevelopment phase, with funding for construction being pursued through grants and over fifteen community partnerships. Once completed, the center will sustain itself through rental income and program fees, ensuring long-term viability and continued service to the community.
The Greater Woodburn Opportunity Center represents a growing movement across the country: churches transforming their physical assets and spiritual capital into community infrastructure. For Immanuel Lutheran, this evolution allows its mission to continue—meeting hunger with hospitality, isolation with belonging, and fear with faith.
About Rev. Dianne Rodriguez and Terri Berkey Gonzalez:
Rev. Dianne Rodriguez serves as the transitional minister at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Woodburn, Oregon, guiding the congregation through its transformation into a service-centered faith community. With a background in pastoral leadership and community engagement, she brings vision and compassion to the church’s evolving mission.
Terri Berkey Gonzalez is the Building Team Chair for Immanuel Lutheran and head of the Feeding Woodburn program. A longtime church member and community advocate, she and her husband also operate an auto performance business in Woodburn. Terri’s leadership and organizational skills have been instrumental in both sustaining the meal program and advancing the vision for the Greater Woodburn Opportunity Center. Together, Dianne and Terri are helping reimagine what faith in action looks like—anchoring their work in hospitality, justice, and care for all.
