On Sunday, Sept. 24, our new and returning faculty rededicate themselves to their teaching ministry.  We rejoice as our school welcomes our new principal, and returning and new students.  In this year of the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation, let us all rededicate ourselves to greater appreciation of the Gospel and greater zeal in bringing the Gospel to our students and families of the congregation, school and community.

Why does Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church support a Lutheran School?  This article explains why:

May 5, 2017

The LCMS currently operates 2,068 schools.  For a variety of reasons, more than 500 of our schools have been closed in the past ten years (three in SID - one elementary and two early childhood centers).  Currently, we operate 1,173 early childhood centers, 804 elementary schools, and 91 high schools.  If all of those schools closed, it would dramatically impact the lives of the students attending our schools.  About 190,000 students would be presented with the challenge of finding educational alternatives.  Many would choose public schools where the curriculum is infused with secular humanism.  Luther's prediction that "schools will provide the very gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of youth" could certainly be hastened.

 About 20,000 dedicated teachers serve Lutheran schools.  About half of those are commissioned church workers on the rosters of the LCMS.  The elimination of 20,000 contributing participants in the Concordia Health and Retirement Plan would have a significant impact for those who remain actively engaged in service to our church (both commissioned and ordained) as well as those who have retired.

In the past, Lutheran schools were often operated largely to serve the children of the local Lutheran congregation.  In some cases this is still true, but now many of our students enroll for reasons other than religious instruction that is presented throughout the day in our schools.  Many students enrolled in Lutheran schools do not have a church home and may even live outside of any relationship with Jesus Christ!  Regardless of a family's motivation for enrollment, God's Word is taught in its truth and purity every day in every classroom.  In some of our schools, students hear God's Word presented to them for the very first time.  Today, as a result, amazing evangelical opportunities abound in our schools.  Last year alone, 2,336 children were baptized as a result of the Holy Spirit working powerfully among our Lutheran teachers and their students.  A world without Lutheran schools would eliminate those potential contacts within our community.

The evangelical component of our schools represents a tremendous opportunity, but also presents a challenge to maintain our Lutheran ethos.  The need has never been greater for Lutheran teachers and administrators with the training, understanding, and ability to guide their schools through the cultural change we are facing.  At a time when we are closing schools, there is more need than ever to provide our students and families with a strong Lutheran core.  The culture of our nation is becoming more and more secular and materialistic and has moved away from even the most traditional Lutheran values presented in our schools.  Our schools identify and develop future leaders with strong core values who may influence the future of our church.  Closing our schools eliminates this dynamic opportunity for our church body and the local community.

 Without Lutheran schools, many of our congregations would grow older at a faster pace.  Our schools provide an abundant core of families with children who can potentially become engaged with their sponsoring congregation.  It is critical that a congregation be welcoming and winsome toward school families, no matter their religious affiliation or status.  At a time when many of the families using our schools are not affiliated with the LCMS, we must invest time and effort in warmly welcoming all families, whether they are church members or not.

A pastor who serves a congregation with a school has a tremendous opportunity to engage school families regardless of their religious context.  When a pastor becomes significantly engaged with a school, its students grow to know, love, and respect him - viewing him as "their" pastor.  This provides many opportunities to share Jesus' love and mercy with families in the community!

("Reprinted with permission of LCMS School Ministry", Terry Schmidt-Director of School Ministry, SID)

It's Still All About Jesus