Look at a Minnesota garden in January, and it is difficult to imagine that beneath the frozen earth lie seeds, roots and bulbs just waiting for the warming touch of an April sun to get them growing. Come in May and the seemingly barren ground is covered in lush growth and vibrant flowers.

Look at a Lutheran elementary school in July, and it is difficult to imagine that beyond the closed doors, the rows of scrubbed desks and neatly stacked books, are children waiting for the first lessons of September to get them growing. Come in October and the empty rooms are filled with students, vibrantly growing in their knowledge of God and His creation.

I have seen it time and time again: the stark contrast between empty classrooms and those that are filled with students. Most people only see their school’s classrooms when they stand empty and have little idea of what great things happen in that room each and every school day. It would be like only seeing that garden in January! It would seem strange to see my receipts for purchased plants, watering, fertilizer, and garden tools and see nothing but the bare frozen earth each January. I can tell you that if you haven’t seen my garden in May and June, you are missing an amazing transformation that justifies every dollar spent. I can also tell you that if you’ve scrutinized the cost of running a school, but have never seen what Lutheran elementary school teachers see during the school day, you are missing an amazing transformation that justifies every dollar spent.

It isn’t just about having warm bodies occupying the desks, it’s about the amazing transformation happening in the hearts and minds of each of those children. It is wonderful to see a child’s mind grasp the concept of putting letter sounds together for the first time and slowly utter out c….a….t, c..a..t, cat! Visit them a few short months later, and they are piecing together sentences. God’s creation of the human mind bears witness to His awesome wisdom. Even more thrilling is to be present as children hear that Jesus is their Savior for the first time. Struggling at first to truly understand that they are sinners but that Jesus took their sins away, visit a few months later and they suddenly are convinced that Jesus is the answer to everything—even “Who is the Governor of Minnesota?” Though we may laugh at that, we are nevertheless awestruck at what a child-like faith really looks like. There are no words to describe seeing the Holy Spirit take a small spark of faith in a five-year-old and fan it into a bonfire before your eyes. The barren becomes lush, the spiritually dead come alive!

For me, it is enjoyable to see a garden grow and mature into something that is spectacular, but it is truly breathtaking to see a child grow and mature into a deeply-rooted, faith-filled, young adult. What a unique blessing Lutheran school teachers have to be God’s workers in the classroom, carefully planting those small seeds of faith time and time again and then witnessing the power of the Holy Spirit on those seeds.

Lutheran Schools of America is an opportunity for our synod to grow. What are we growing? Christian young people who hear the truth of God’s Word, and by that Word, come to know their Savior. Your support of LSA will directly offer encouragement and support to our existing schools and will help our synod start schools where none currently exist. You will be planting seeds that are sure to flourish under God’s purposeful care. 

Allen Labitzky is the Principal of King of Grace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota.