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A CONGREGATIONAL METHODIST CHURCH

At Church by the Bay we love God and one another.

We worship God by serving our neighbors in Jesus’ name. We believe that Christians are meant to be an active part of the body of Christ. The Church is where encouragement, spiritual growth, and the development of spiritual gifts occur.
A CONGREGATIONAL METHODIST CHURCH

At Church by the Bay we love God and one another.

Our Ministries

The mission of Church by the Bay’s Ministries is to address the needs of God’s people with agape love where they are at.

What We Believe

We believe that the scriptures are God’s revelation of Himself to us, as well as the rule of faith, containing all the truth necessary for faith and Christian living.

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Chaplain Lou Strugala on Receives the Free to Be, Stigma Free Award

**Congratulations to Chaplain Lou Strugala**
We are proud to recognize Chaplain Lou Strugala for receiving the **Free to Be, Stigma Free Award** from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and Stockton University.
This award honors his dedication to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, fostering wellness, and creating a supportive environment throughout the community.
Through Church by the Bay, Pastor Lou leads impactful outreach efforts that provide food, clothing, essential resources, and support to families and individuals in need. The church also hosts events that connect unhoused individuals with housing assistance, legal aid, utility support, meals, and other critical services.
His compassion, leadership, and commitment to serving others continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of countless people throughout the region.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Atlantic county award 2
Atlantic county award 1
school drive

SCHOOL SUPPLY DONATION DRIVE Together, we can supply bright futures to communities in need.

Be Part of the Impact:
Together, let’s make a difference!

UPCOMING EVENTS

OUR PASTOR

Rev. Lou Strugala

Pastor Lou Strugala is the founder and leader of Church By The Bay in Galloway, New Jersey. He started Church By The Bay with a vision. A vision to start a church that would take God’s love outside the walls and into the community.

Pastor Lou is a street pastor who engages in many activities to help those struggling, including providing thousands of meals to shut-ins, clothing for the homeless, and support throughout southern New Jersey and surrounding areas.

Lou is also a chaplain for many police departments, including the New Jersey State Police.

LISTEN TO GOD'S WORD

OUR SERMONS

Help us to be good stewards of the gifts that you provide so that we may be better Christians.

Every time we do something, we are blessed in abundance.

I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.

https://youtu.be/V3gF6OKVpAUhttps://youtu.be/DH-mDoKI6yohttps://youtu.be/OWJRthRTkLc
SMALL BUT MIGHTY

OUR MINISTRIES

Clothing
Ministry

Our volunteers work several days per week to unpack, sort, hang or fold tons of clothing weekly. Then we distribute 4 – 5 times per month in various locations.
Atlantic City, Bridgeton, Millville, Salem, Egg Harbor City, just to name a few.

VOLUNTEER
giving back

Church by the Bay Food Pantry

Our Food bank is open every Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm for those who are struggling to put food on their tables. We have families of 1 to families of 5-6 that utilize our pantry weekly and our numbers are growing!!

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Community

Saturday Morning Feeding Ministry

We prepare homecooked meals for our Veterans and Seniors weekly. This is all done through donations and volunteers planning the menus, shopping and preparing the meals. We distribute anywhere from 75 to 300 meals weekly to those in need.

VOLUNTEER
support

“I consider all the world as my parish.”

– John Wesley

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

FROM THE PASTOR

WEEKLY PRAYERS & MESSAGES

volunteering in a spiritual sense

Volunteering in a Spiritual Sense

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord….” Joshua 24:15 It’s volunteer appreciation week and I have a question for you: When was the last time you genuinely thanked a volunteer? Was it a from the heart “I really appreciate you!” Or a simple “thanks”? Either is fine, but for a moment let’s just think about what volunteering means in a spiritual sense. Can we really serve God directly? Do we offer Him our skills and talents with gratitude? How? One of the purest forms of worship is to provide for the needs of others without the

The Earth and Everything On It

“The earth and everything on it belong to God. The world and all its people belong to Him. The Lord placed it all on the oceans and rivers….” Psalm 24:1-2 Earth Day 2026 A Holy Day of Obligation? Imagine for a moment that we would perceive the earth as something holy, truly as a gift from God! Would wars that destroy cease? Would we be more cautious about stripping away the natural landscape in favor of concrete jungles? Would we realize that the earth is a living organism, worthy of our respect and care? Perhaps…… Perhaps peace begins with respect of our

The Gift the World Can Not Give

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT When Jesus offered the gift of peace, the world around Him was broken and twisted: life meant little and entertainment often involved torture and barbarism. Fear was in reality the ruler of society’s emotions and actions. I was reminded yesterday of how important this gift of His is in day to day life. After offering a closing prayer at a National Crime Victims’ Rights Week gathering, one of the

Bottling Time: A New Year’s Reflection for 2026

“If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I’d like to dois to save every day ‘til eternity passes away just to spend them with you….”—Jim Croce Jim Croce’s timeless lyrics hold a deeper meaning when we pause long enough to hear them in our own hearts. The idea of bottling moments, treasuring days, and savoring time with the people we love—these themes resonate with all of us. Life is filled with moments of loss, new beginnings, challenges, and change. Every one of us walks through seasons where we must let go, rise again, and learn

Is there Anything More Painful than Betrayal?

“Then one of the twelve – the one called Judas Iscariot – went to the chief priests and asked; ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” Matthew 25:14-16 Is there anything more painful then betrayal? When our heart is wounded, that is almost always more painful than a physical cut. And when that betrayal comes from someone close and trusted, it can take us into a depth of darkness that can cause evil thoughts

What are You Doing?

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin, and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around His waist.” John 13:3-5 What are you doing? That is often my reaction when someone is trying to do something kind for me. I can only imagine how the disciples felt when their leader got down

Forgive Them

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.” Luke 23:34 So often we just don’t know what we’re doing. But how often after we’ve hurt someone do we search for forgiveness? Jesus was betrayed, denied, tortured, berated, beaten and finally killed in the most brutal way possible……. He asked God to forgive those who didn’t know what they did. Jesus spent His years praying for, healing and loving people, and they turned on Him…… He asked God to forgive them. Jesus worked on elevating the human condition

Always Place Your Trust in God

“Always place your trust in God. Tell Him your problems. God is our place of safety….” Psalm 62:8 Last night, a wildfire began at the Jersey Shore. An area where many people live, work and play is now a place evacuated, major roadways are closed, and the fire is only 10% contained. This is an area which was also impacted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and for years afterwards. Firefighters are working hard, emergency shelters are open and occupied, and various agencies are providing emergency assistance. People are worried. This morning’s description of the events close by isn’t exclusive to New Jersey. Fires are

My Wish for You

“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be how and who you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart….” Maya Angelou In my office at the church, I have a copy of a sketch by Willis Wheatley depicting Jesus laughing. It was originally titled ‘Christ the Liberator’ but over the years has been referred to as ‘The Laughing Christ’. Of all the traditional and historic depictions of Jesus, this is the one that brings me the ability to pause and reflect

Spring

As we transition into spring, let us give thanks for another season of life and remember all the gifts God provides. Take a moment and breathe in fresh air, feel the sun, listen to the birds, and join me in this prayer written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. “For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet; For song of bird, for hum of bee; For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee. For blue of stream and blue of sky; For pleasant shade of branches high; For fragrant air

Holy Spirit

“I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time…” – Saint Patrick’s Confessions God’s Spirit burning inside us. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t happen all that often, but when it does, we need to fan the flame. You see, God typically visits with us quietly in the silence of our hearts. Oftentimes we can be distracted by the world around us, by our responsibilities, our obligations, and our circumstances. So Patrick’s method of praying actually is a good bit of

Love, Care and Gentleness

“If we could look into each other’s hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care.” – Marvin J. Ashton Arthur Rann Elementary School is located in a residential neighborhood of Galloway, New Jersey. For the last few years, Ms. Johanna has worked with student leadership teaching the children that they can make a difference in the world, no matter how old or young they are. One of the ways she does it is to create and encourage healthy competition and provide the

A Moment

“In silence, God ceases to be an object and becomes an experience…” – Thomas Merton This time of year has many of us feeling like the metal ball in an old-fashioned pinball machine. We get pushed side to side and keep score of how much we can accomplish before tilting the machine. What if??? What if we deliberately sat in relative silence as our minds emptied and healed? What if we took the time to connect with loved ones more than just at the holidays? What if we gave our anxieties to God and developed a prayer mindset in silence as

Incredible Examples of Faith

“Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great.” – Orison Swett Marden One of the continuing themes in Bible history is God taking very basic or simple people and things and transforming them into incredible examples of faith and promise. Look at the shepherd boy named David who became king, Abraham who became the Father figure of at least three of the world’s major religions, Peter who was transformed from a fisherman to the leader of the early Christian church, or Saul whose passion for the persecution of the early church was reborn as Paul, the evangelist,

Praying for Peace

“I am the Lord your God Who heals you.” – Exodus 15:26 This morning’s news was troubling to hear. Fighting has resumed in the Middle East and lives are at risk once again. What must we do to make a difference? Believe in the power of prayer, the resolve of faith-filled people, and the ultimate truth that all humans are created equal by God Almighty. That’s more difficult than we can imagine because our human nature doesn’t always permit trust to be the foundation for discussion; indeed many times it’s just the opposite. Today I invite you to join me