Today’s tough economy prompts the question; “What is a worthwhile investment?”
Here’s a simple answer to that question: children.
From the beginnings of the CLC, Christian education has always been a priority investment. God’s grace and steadfast love can be recounted in story after story in the history of our synod’s efforts to start and maintain Christian schools.
Recently we’ve been given yet another wonderful opportunity to be part of God’s plans for the future of His church. EduK8, pronounced educate, is a fund that promotes the starting and maintaining of CLC Christian elementary schools. This fund was established by the CLC Convention in June of 2022. The ongoing work of starting and maintaining Christian elementary schools among us will be carried out by a Christian Education Committee (CEC), operating with and under the CLC Board of Education and Publications.
God has been good to each of us. “For your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) Jesus took on His shoulders our debt of sin, and grants to each of us the riches of justification in God’s sight. It’s just as if you never sinned! Truly of all people in the world today, believers are the wealthiest, spiritually speaking. Most of us have also been blessed with earthly riches. Faith prompts us to be good stewards of God’s blessings. God promises, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38) Why not designate part of your resources to the worthwhile cause of the Christian education of our children? The EduK8 fund is here to make that happen for God’s glory.
A recent movie, The Sound of Freedom, has brought to our attention the horrible reality of sex-trafficking and child-slavery rampant in our nation and the nations of this wicked world. Watching this movie causes our hearts to yearn to free these children from this terrible bondage of cruel slavery. How much more shouldn’t our believers’ hearts yearn to bring the message of the cross of Christ to free our children from the horrible reality of sin and its terrible bondage to death and the devil? It starts in our homes with teaching and everyday living, saturating our own children, grandchildren, and our family-of-faith children with God’s Word. As God told His people, “These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
Conclusion: “How can I support this effort?” Answer: Do what you’ve always done—pray! Pray that God’s Word will not be bound by society’s wicked ways, but have free course in our Christian schools. Pray that God opens hearts, starting with our own, to give and give generously to the EduK8 fund. Your church treasurer will know to send these offerings to the General Business Office at Immanuel Lutheran College. Allocate and plan whatever the Lord moves you to give. Won’t it be nice to sit back in our old age and watch God’s earthly blessings to us benefit the generations to come with the same eternal blessings He’s given us? “All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.” (Isaiah 54:13)
is pastor of Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Clarkston, Washington, and Peace Lutheran Church in Orofino, Washington. He also serves as chairman of the CLC Board of Education and Publications.