From the classroom to Christ

Christian schools have been part of WELS Native American mission work for over a century. Over the decades our schools have strived to train and build up children in God’s Word while also teaching them how to flourish in God’s world. Our churches have also benefited greatly from the schools, with many of our current church members and church leaders having received schooling at a “mission school.”

However, the church and school connection does not happen automatically, nor can it be assumed. In previous generations, most of the students in our reservation schools came from Lutheran families. This is not necessarily the case today. State vouchers have allowed the schools to expand their student bodies, but this means that many of our students do not come from Lutheran backgrounds. Our teachers continue to boldly proclaim the Word on a daily basis, but the important question arises: “How can we connect more families to our churches?” Answering this question takes much prayer, persistence, and patient endurance on the part of church members and called workers, but sometimes things come together in an amazing way.

Debbie Dietrich is the kindergarten teacher at Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran School. She is very direct and encouraging with parents and students alike when it comes to spiritual matters. Earlier in the school year, Debbie taught a unit on the blessings of Baptism. Through this unit and follow-up discussions with students and parents, she found out that three of her students desired Baptism. Debbie reached out to the church staff, who met with the parents. These parents then brought even more children to be baptized. On Feb. 9, six young people were welcomed into God’s family at Grace Lutheran in San Carlos, Ariz. The kindergarten students sang the baptism anthem, “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It.” The church was packed, and God was certainly glorified that day.

This recent “Baptism Sunday” is just one example of how churches and schools can work together to “make disciples of all nations.” We know that the work is not done and that we will need to continue to be prayerful, persistent, and patient. However, it was a blessing to be able to celebrate with our church and school (not to mention the angels) as six more children were welcomed into God’s family!

Written by Missionary Erik Landwehr, world missionary on the Native American Mission team.