photos courtesy of Thomas Wrege
Zion Lutheran School’s 2020-2021 theme, “Sustained by Grace,” became a perfect illustration of the school’s journey through the highs and lows of the pandemic.
One of those highs was the school’s enrollment spike during COVID-19, an achievement Principal Thomas Wrege attributes to the staff’s close relationships with students and parents, as well as their in-person plan during a time when many other schools were closing their doors. “We knew that with students on campus, there would be a much better opportunity for effective learning, and this would allow the teachers to not be stretched too thin with having to do both in-person and hybrid, but rather to concentrate on doing an outstanding job of instruction and, in turn, not being overwhelmed or burned out by too high of a work load,” he says.
That mission worked; “We had an 18+ percent enrollment growth,” Wrege says. “We didn’t see it coming. We had budgeted for 175 and ended up with 216 in May this year.”
Managing that growth by capping classroom numbers and social distancing was difficult, along with having to close for several weeks when school COVID cases increased. But “in an incredibly challenging school and church year, God just really blessed us with a pause and some answers. We learned a lot of things.”
Zion Lutheran found new ways to make connections, not only with its students and parishioners, but the community. Families were kept in the loop through video conferences each week, while homebound members and Walburg residents were blessed with meal deliveries, thanks to partnerships with local restaurants. And when school COVID cases increased for a time, Zion Lutheran became an online church and school in just a few days. “We learned to embrace our families even more than we did in the past,” says Wrege. “We wanted to care for them and make sure kids were safe and still learning.”
Through it all, the school received strong support from parents. “It was all, ‘Keep going, let’s finish this school year strong.’
“There were real challenging days, but we have a strong team, and God was in the details always. He sustained us with grace—it was a perfect theme for the school year.”
DISCIPLESHIP LEGACY
“We are a church in the country, but we’re not a country church,” Wrege says. Located off FM 1105 in Walburg, Zion Lutheran is home to cutting-edge technology and seasoned teachers and staff. A modern worship center just opened at the church, which continues to honor its 150-year-old roots with a traditional sanctuary—a unique balance for a Lutheran church, shares music and worship director Marc Profant.
Built in 1882, Zion Lutheran opened as both a church and school, which serves preschool through eighth grade. “It is common for a church to get underway and at some point realize they need to be able to educate the children,” Senior Pastor John Davenport explains. “Nine families realized, from day one, that they needed a vehicle to educate the children.”
Known as a Great Commission church that follows Jesus’ command to go out in the world and make disciples, Zion equips church members and school families to carry out that mission. “There’s a strong connection between the church and school, because the church views the school as its first and largest ministry,” says Zion business manager Steven Cashio.
That vision has been a successful one, with a 94 percent retention rate and multi-generational students and parishioners whose parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents have been loyal to Zion. But Davenport emphasizes that you don’t have to be here five generations to belong. “We’re excited about the legacy of families that have been here decades and decades, but there are also new faces among us every week,” he says.
Zion is also behind Wurstbraten, the annual sausage supper that will return November 1 from 4pm until meals (drive-through only) run out.
Looking ahead, Zion hopes to keep growing so more children and families can benefit from its mission to connect with others, grow in faith, and serve, while continuing to add value and innovation to support the local community with a quality, Christian education. “Even though the church is 150 years old, in many ways we’re just getting started,” says Profant. “We now are going to spread our wings in many ways. COVID, which was not a fun thing, has turned out to be a blessing in many ways for our church. I sometimes see it as a reset—it has refocused why we do what we do on our campus, which is to reach people with the gospel of Christ.”
