Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Our education system faces unprecedented challenges: rapid technological change, diversifying student needs, increasingly limited resources, and deepening societal impacts on our classrooms. Educators need to be both strategically adaptive and rooted in our core convictions, along with keeping abreast of new pedagogical approaches, strategies, and teachings.
Amid this reality, teacher burnout casts a shadow over our schools, contributing to nationwide teacher shortages. How do we support, nourish, refresh, and retain our Lutheran Educators in the face of this growing dilemma? Where can educators come together to worship, learn, grow, and cry while being strengthened and encouraged by God’s word and His Calling to teach and impact future generations?
Every year, the Pacific Southwest District, led by Rachel Klitzing, the Executive Director of School Ministries, and her Lutheran Educators Conference (LEC) Committee of volunteers dive into the task of organizing a holistic conference that meets the needs of over 1000 faculty and staff working in over 150 pre-K to grade 12 LCMS schools. Rooted in the shared purpose of being connected in Christ and with one another, LEC strives to support and encourage educators to be life-long learners equipped for continued excellence in Lutheran Educational Ministry.
Lutheran Educator Conference 2023 was held at the Town & Country Resort in San Diego, CA., November 19-21. This annual gathering welcomed over 1000 educators from Lutheran schools in the PSD and CNH districts. Educators learned and grew in their faith and mission, celebrating the theme based on Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!" Like the embrace of an extended family, teachers greeted, fellowshipped, and loved one another as they shared the joys and challenges of being a teacher.
Pastor Chris Singer, the LEC keynote speaker whose warm reminder of God’s constancy and care through change, helped teachers find confidence and stability in an inconsistent world. Friendly competitions: belly flops, splash showdowns, and retro costumes led by Pastor Drew Ross brought shared waves of laughter among our children and families. Comfort dogs brought comfort and joy to the weary and burdened. Pastors served as shepherds to every teacher who walked into the prayer room, seeking God’s comfort. The precious time spent at LEC reminds teachers that they are not alone, but God walks before them, in them, and through them.
Teachers returned to their schools refreshed, rejuvenated, and loaded equipped with tools for their classroom. Memories of shared laughter, inspiration, and the feeling of being part of something special will encourage them despite the challenges they face in the world. LEC attendees were reminded that their God who is bigger than all their worries has provided over 1000 brothers and sisters who have their backs as He is mightily at work through them.
Enable more stories of transformed lives through Jesus
Untold thousands are still in darkness, lost like “sheep that have gone astray”. But this is exactly the mission our Lord has created His Church for – reaching the lost for Jesus’ sake in as many ways as necessary. This is the purpose for which our 300 churches and 150 schools were founded in their many contexts. And “the fields are ripe for the harvest” right now!
Your gifts are critical and enable us to continue and expand our shared work together, fulfilling the PSD mission of effectively resourcing congregations and schools for transforming lives and making the Great Commission REAL!
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We love sharing the work God is doing in our district and would love to share what He is doing in your ministry!
