Dear Friend,

Luther Preparatory School (LPS) has been part of our synod’s ministerial education training on its Watertown, Wis., campus for 159 years. Today more than a hundred 14-year-olds enroll at the high school every year to consider and be prepared to serve the Savior as pastors, teachers, or staff ministers in Christ’s public gospel ministry. Perhaps you know that 25 percent of the students at Martin Luther College and 40 percent of the students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary are LPS graduates. Thank you, Lord, for blessing LPS’s ministry and purpose, as only you can!

Throughout its history, thousands upon thousands of WELS members have been supporting the worldwide preaching and teaching of the gospel by supporting Luther Prep’s ministry. Everything Luther Prep possesses—from the buildings to the bleachers to the beds in the dormitories—has come from the gracious hand of God through the gifts of his people. Thank you, dear WELS members!

LPS has not built a new stand-alone building in more than 50 years. In 1971 a new gym replaced the one built in 1912. Since then, that 1912 building has been serving as Luther Prep’s music auditorium. As the student body and number of programs have increased, this space has been creatively adapted to accommodate practices for large and small choral and instrumental groups, storage, and set construction. We have come to the point where we have maximized our ability to adapt. Sharing space is no longer an option.

Worship and all of its components are the heartbeat of WELS Lutherans’ lives. As a synod ministerial education high school it follows that music is a most essential ingredient of LPS’s ministry preparation. Every student takes a music class all four years. Approximately 90 percent of our students participate in choir and take piano lessons. LPS has a flourishing band program and produces more organists than any other high school in North America. Music permeates Luther Prep’s campus and is a blessing to our students and our church body both now and into eternity. As Martin Luther wrote, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. The gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to us that we should proclaim the Word of God through music.”

Luther Prep is embarking on a once-in-a-generation project for the good of our students and Christ’s Church. We desire to build a music center that will have a performing arts theater with sloped seating and 100 additional seats, designated band and choir rooms, right-sized classrooms with the latest technology, piano studios, practice rooms, adequate restrooms, etc. The estimated cost at this time ranges between $10-$15 million. Lord-willing, a new music center might endure for a century or more as the last one has. A blessed side effect will be the modest repurposing of the 112-year-old current music auditorium to its original purpose as a much-needed second gym. Through the generosity of God’s people, Luther Prep has already received gifts and designated assets totaling more than $2 million for this endeavor. Will you please consider investing your interest, prayers, and resources to help us receive the gifts we desire to fully fund this project?

Thank you, Lord, for giving Luther Prep everything for 159 years. All of LPS’s needs have been met. Thank you, dear WELS member, for considering an initial gift to a music center at your synodical school.

Grace and peace,
Matt Crass
President, Luther Preparatory School

Prayer: Lord God, you lovingly created music to bring us joy and engage our hearts as it communicates your Word. Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis., understands this and has, throughout its long history, trained students to appreciate your gift of music and to help lead worship. This has been a great blessing in our congregations. We ask you to give success to Luther Prep’s efforts to build a new music center that will allow them to enhance music education for future called and lay workers. May all that we do, Lord, serve to magnify your name! Amen.