Can you imagine Lutherans;

*hoping that a Lutheran high school, which has as its chief concern teaching the Word of God, Christian virtue, and common sense wisdom to the children of the church, will not survive its start up years?

*ignoring a school that has been designed to keep teenagers and graduates faithfully attending Lutheran congregations all their lives?

*opposing the existence of a high school that is dedicated to graduating people who are poised to be leaders in our church and in our communities?

*unhappy with a school that sends Christians off to college fully equipped for the hostility they will face from an academic world that is opposed to traditional values and Christianity.

*who don’t think a high school designed to answer the challenges of immorality, pagan religions, and philosophies that rob us of our children is worthy of support?

*turning their back on a school that seeks to graduate men and women who will be a credit to their own family name, church, community, and the country?

*who don’t support a Lutheran school because their children are elsewhere and they haven’t anything to personally gain by it (so they think)?

*who wait for the day when a truly Lutheran high school will "fall on its face" and close its doors?

Well, its all true. That’s what happened to Shepherd of the Springs Lutheran High School in Colorado Springs, CO, this past year. As a result of a combination between open hostility and general apathy on the part of LC-MS people toward authentic Lutheran education, America’s first classical Lutheran school may not open its doors this fall.

Unfortunately, that same scenario may be coming true for P.L.H.S. Yes, I know it is hard to believe that there are Christians (some ‘Lutherans’) who hope that P.L.H.S. is short lived. Yes, it is hard to believe that Christians would greet this work with hostility or general apathy. It seems like such an unChristian thing, and so it is. After all, what Christian can defend selfishness, short-sightedness, and ignorance in these spiritually dangerous days. It seems like such an ungrateful thing, since Immanuel, her own members, and all the members of the LC-MS today are the recipients of the educational system created by the Lutheran reformation and carried on by the founding fathers of the LC-MS.

Yet, as is so often the case, churches and schools that remain faithful to the full counsel of God’s Word and who do the job right must go wanting. Preachers of the law and works righteousness Luther observed once, can always get the money they need. But the preacher of the Gospel always lives in want. That is where P.L.H.S. stands at the moment.

This year our expenses will double (freshman and sophomore classes) and there is no way that the dozen or so members of Immanuel who have carried the load these past few years can continue to bear the full weight of this work. I know I don’t have enough time, energy, or money myself to pull P.L.H.S. through. Those involved with the school project have given and sacrificed more than the average member knows.

I also know that many Lutherans, perhaps even some members of Immanuel don’t understand or appreciate the nature and scope of this work. I have often written and spoken of the need for congregations to return to their reformation foundations, which placed the church and school side-by-side in restoring and preserving the Gospel of the Church. I have made the case time-and-time again that Immanuel herself stands to gain by the success of and a long term relationship with P.L.H.S. I will not repeat those arguments, the biblical support for it, and benefits of this work here. This is an appeal for immediate financial support and/or your involvement.

I dislike fund raising more than you dislike reading letters asking for funds, but since P.L.H.S. doesn’t receive financial support from any church bank account, Immanuel included, the funds have to come from individuals - - that means letters like this. Public schools are supported by taxes and fund-raising programs. Roman Catholic schools are primarily supported by the diocese (tuition covers less than 30%). Congregations and private donations take care of 60% to 70% of the cost of maintaining the four Lutheran grade schools in the area. P.L.H.S. is supported only to the level of your help.

Our needs are modest compared to any other school. Our teachers are paid $300.00 month per class taught. We will be offering 16 classes this year to make a full freshman and sophomore class schedule. Tuition will realistically cover about 30% of the total cost. Textbooks will cost about $2,000.00 and we will likely have 14 to 16 students, double last year’s enrollment.

P.L.H.S. needs your help and the help of other faithful Lutherans if it is going to continue. I will continue to plan for our second year of operation as if the money were available. But if support doesn’t come in soon, I do not see a lot of options.

In Christ Jesus,

Pastor Craig Stanford