Igniting Faith in Children
God has given us the opportunity and privilege through the Holy Spirit to strengthen and even initiate the gift of faith in a child's heart. What a way to make a Christ-like difference in an individual's life both today and eternally! Please enjoy hearing the perspectives from Emily Johnson, School Principal and Shelly Ladwig, Preschool Director & Teacher, as they share with you how our school is sharing the love of Jesus everyday.
There is no place I'd rather be than serving in a Lutheran school! While my role has quite a few challenges, I know God has called me to serve, and gives me the strength, joy, and passion needed for my vocation. It is a tremendous privilege to serve students and their families as they grow in their faith and character development. I could tell countless stories about my interactions with students, but I'll shorten it to two!
A few weeks ago, a student approached me as she walked into the building for the day and asked me to pray for her mom. The family was putting their pet down, and this student knew her mom was going to struggle with it. I am humbled that she asked me to pray for them!
And just this past week, a student asked to meet with me about an idea she had for the middle school: adding a prayer board in the hallway. While students often write prayer requests in their classrooms, this idea will allow students to pray for people outside of their grade level. What a joy to have a student lead in this way! God is doing amazing work at Holy Cross, and I am excited that enrollment keeps growing so we have the opportunity to share Jesus with as many kids as possible!
~ Emily Johnson, School Principal
There are so many things that I love about Lutheran Christian Education! I love what Holy Cross did for my own family and even more I love how Holy Cross has changed! The fact that in a single week 72 families bring their children to our doors is such and amazing thing. I honestly think that my favorite thing is relationships! The relationships with these amazing children who are truly the most special people I have ever met, the relationships with these families, the relationships with people I serve with, and how we are all joined together by our relationship with Jesus - at whatever stage that is at.
I just wish everyone could see the love, even through struggles, that goes on inside of our preschool classrooms. These children know everything about each other in the most thoughtful and loving ways. I often hear “oh, save that for Johnny, that is his favorite”, “Oh, this is your favorite book”, “Oh, come here Jenny, you are really good at this”. The way they remember things, the way they encourage each other. We often kid that preschool is “the land of total honesty” but it truly is. On days that I hear “Mrs. Ladwig, why are you wearing that?!” I understand but also on days that I hear “I love you” multiple times a day I realize that the Land of total honesty is exactly where I want to be. The love in these classroom relationships is the biggest blessing. Sharing Bible stories and truth every day is just exciting.
One of the first things we learn in Preschool is the rhyme “1, 2 the Bible is true. God loves me and God loves you”. I pray they never forget that. I truly believe that we can and are making the world a better place by serving these amazing children AND their families who need so much help and support.
Are there difficult struggles in our classrooms? Is there fighting? Do I complain about things in our classroom world? Oh yes! But, through all of those things we are getting better, we are showing more love, and we are growing closer to Jesus through prayer and truth. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude to get to do this every day. My heart is so full.
~ Shelly Ladwig, Preschool Director & Teacher