Remaining Rich in Christ
Dear Friend in Christ,
1865. The Civil War, the darkest era in American history, was coming to an end.
1865. Something new in our church body was beginning. 1865 marked the first year of our synod’s ministerial education on the Watertown campus. In that opening year Watertown’s seminary had eight students enrolled; Watertown’s college with its prep department had 66 students.
The synod’s official newspaper Gemeinde-Blatt stated, “For food, a room, heat, etc. a sum of $100 is to be paid for the year. With respect to young people who are not able to pay this sum a discount will be granted according to individual circumstances, so that even the poorest can receive an education for the preaching and teaching ministry.”
There you have it! Financial aid awarded the very first year of the school’s existence. There are no records indicating how many of the 74 students received aid. We know the school continued to receive gifts of food and other handiwork from people in the Watertown area, often at the request of the students themselves. A church historian relates, “The keep of the students through the year probably would not have been possible without that.”
Today, the students of Luther Prep do not go asking for food in the surrounding area as the students did 160 years ago. But students still rely on the same financial assistance from God’s people. The cost for tuition, room and board in 2024 after synod subsidy is almost $13,000, not including travel. More than 75% of our students receive financial aid from various means through God’s people across our synod—you! Your gifts to financial aid allows families to enroll their sons and daughters and offer them for ministry.
Thank you for your support of future pastors and teachers. Our students and their families are grateful for your gifts and prayers. We pray God continue to bless LPS with such financial aid gifts “so that even the poorest can receive an education for the preaching and teaching ministry.”
Remaining rich in Christ with you,
Rev. Matthew Crass, President
GIVE TO FINANCIAL AID
Your gift to the Student Financial Assistance fund will assist students and their families with the cost of education at Luther Prep.
Giving for future generations
One way of supporting financial aid for years to come is with a gift to our Financial Assistance Endowment Fund. A gift to an endowment is not immediately spent but placed in a diversified investment portfolio which makes steady annual distributions that increase as the fund grows.
For more information contact Nicole Bessert, director of mission advancement at 920-262-8106 or bessernj@lps.wels.net.
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If you need to make a gift on behalf of an organization, call 920-261-4352 ext. 103.
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