Faith Gives Back
Every year, Faith Lutheran School chooses one mission project to support through their chapel offerings and special projects. This year Highland Lutheran International School in Papua New Guinea has been selected as that mission project.
The nine acre property on which Highland is located was purchased in 1953 by missionaries from LCMS. The original school was a grass hut that was used to prepare young national men to go out with the Word teaching throughout Papua New Guinea.
In 1957 the number of missionaries coming from LCMS greatly increased and LWML donated 40,000 US dollars to build a permanent building that served nearly 100 children of missionaries. By 1975 PNG became independent from Australia and many missionaries returned home. Enrollment at the school dropped to about 40 students.
In the mid-nineties the school began to increase programs and services to national students and the school grew again to about 190 students.
HLIS was hard hit by tribal warfare that broke out in October 2002. This unfortunate conflict resulted in the main building, with all of it resources, being destroyed by fire in January 2003. Now the school looks to God for His grace and mercy as it energetically plans to rebuild and renew its mission to provide excellence in education guided by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With new facilities and new commitment the school will prepare young people to go out and proclaim the Good News throughout the South Pacific and the world.
Faith students bring a weekly offering to chapel. This year all of these gifts will be designated for Highland Lutheran as they continue to accumulate funds for a building program.
