Lutheran Schools During COVID-19

When President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Lewis and Clark to explore the territory of the Louisiana Purchase, he gave them a map. However, of course, the map contained little information as the point of the exploration was to discover and map this unchartered territory. At this time the territory of the Louisiana Purchase was Terra Incognita, “Unknown Territory,” and Lewis and Clark were responsible for filling in the map as they journeyed this new territory.

As Lutheran schools have opened the 2020-2021 school year, administrators have started a journey that may seem much like Lewis and Clark exploring the lands of the Louisiana Purchase. Our Lutheran school administrators and educators have been working hard as they prepared for this unknown school year and they are prepared to educate and most importantly to bring Jesus to students, families, and the communities they serve! Lutheran schools have opened the 2020-2021 school year with in-person learning or providing parents with a choice to have their student attend virtually. Schools are following CDC guidelines, and local health department guidelines for cleaning, social distancing, and Covid-19 quarantining. Several Early Childhood Centers opened in June of 2020 and led the way on developing re-opening plans, guidelines, and best practices.

Our Lutheran schools recognize that while we are working in unchartered territory, God is not. He has seen such circumstances before, and He is with us to guide us. God has shepherded His people through circumstances like this before, He will do it now, and we know He will continue to do it in the future. This is why Lutheran schools exist, to proclaim His Grace, Mercy, and Peace; to give the students, families and communities that they serve Jesus! Lutheran schools throughout the Missouri District are open for the 2020-2021 school year and providing educational excellence in a Christ-centered environment whether that is in-person or online. Lutheran schools are open and providing the life-giving message that Jesus Christ is Our Lord and Savior and whoever believes in Him shall not be lost but have eternal Life! Please pray for our Lutheran school Educators to have stamina and endurance as they are called to deliver so much more and to do so in different learning formats: please pray for Lutheran school administrators as they lead and guide their schools; please pray for the students attending our Lutheran schools that they are comforted, supported, and grow educationally, but most importantly that they know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; please pray for families as they send their students to Lutheran schools, may they have comfort and peace at this time of unknowns. May we all give praise, thanks and Glory to God knowing that He has this, just as He has everything!

Alan Freeman

Assistant to the President: Schools


alan.freeman@mo.lcms.org
314-590-6209