St. James Lutheran School Expansion Celebration & Dedication
On Sunday, April 27th, St. James Lutheran School marked a momentous occasion as we officially opened the doors to our newest expansion—a fourth-floor addition housing two brand-new middle school classrooms, restrooms, and a new mezzanine in our gymnasium. With the snip of a ceremonial ribbon, the future of our ministry and mission took one more step forward.
The honor of cutting the ribbon went to three of our eighth-grade students, Will Stowers, Lexi Palkon, and Riley Wildermuth, who represented their class and all students who have been part of this transformational journey. We also thank our seventh and eighth-grade families for their incredible patience and flexibility throughout the construction process. Despite the noise, rerouted routines, and shifting classroom spaces, our teachers and students stayed on track with resilience and grace. Their perseverance is a testament to the spirit that makes St. James more than just a school, it’s a family.
The expansion adds more than space, it adds capacity for mission. With two new classrooms, we are now better equipped to serve our growing student body and provide them with a Christ-centered education, which remains the primary mission of St. James Lutheran School. This space allows us to uncouple middle school classes for more focused instruction while also making room for growth in earlier grades.
This project is part of a much larger vision. Through the success of our Alive in Christ campaign, we've made vital improvements to our facilities. Now, with our Building on Christ ministry campaign, we look forward to even greater possibilities. We aim to:
- Expand enrollment from 205 to 260 students
- Grow our small group and music ministries
- Improve accessibility and family support
- Reach college students with the Gospel
- Strengthen partnerships with local churches and care organizations
- Open our campus further to the neighborhood for connection, learning, and worship
A key highlight of Sunday’s celebration was the dedication of our newly renovated gymnasium in honor of Otto Teske. Otto and his wife Inge (both now with the Lord) were vital to the growth of St. James. Otto was a lifelong member of St. James Lutheran Church, established the athletic department, and was a basketball and cross country coach at St. James School for 40 years. We were honored to welcome members of the Teske family as we recognized his legacy.
This expansion is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about creating spaces where children grow in faith, where families find support, and where our city experiences the love of Christ in action.
We invite you to continue this journey with us through prayer, participation, or partnership. Because the mission is clear: to bring Jesus into the lives of more children and to share His peace with all who need it.
Let’s keep building on Christ, with Christ, and for Christ.
St. James Lutheran Church (FEIN 36-2468050) is a current and valid 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in accordance with the standards and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service.
In light of our four ministry targets, by God’s grace and blessing in the next three years we plan to:
- Uncouple middle school classes for more effective instruction of older students and allow for growth in earlier grades
- Increase of our school enrollment from 205 to 260
- Expand small group ministries addressing the unique needs of our demographics
- Expand music programming in school, worship, and serving the public
- Better support families with babies and small children in their homes and at services
- Improve accessibility to serve all people so they may hear the Good News
- Improve our ability to provide and support our workers and volunteers
- Expand our reach to the tens of thousands of college students nearby by calling a vicar and/or pastor
- Increase our support of LCMS churches and schools in the city in serving our communities with the Gospel
- Partner with neighboring human care organizations to care for those in need
- Open, expand, and enhance our campus to be a central place for our neighbors to gather, discuss, enjoy community, and learn about God’s love in Christ through actions and words
From Leadership:
God is good! Not only has He graciously blessed and led us through a fruitful Alive in Christ campaign over the last three years—delivering vital, overdue facility enhancements— He’s now in front of us again, pushing us to elevate St. James and set up our home for sustainable success as we look to the future.
Growth is not easy, as it often requires us to embrace change, discomfort, and willingness to think beyond our boundaries. Yet, backed by His guidance, we can and will deliver. Serving as your honored leaders, we strongly believe now is our moment to build upon the years that have come before for us—and recognize transformational growth is essential across our entire campus.
Join us as we embark upon Building on Christ, our next ministry campaign. This campaign plan addresses the development needs for our growing campus: from our day school to the countless other ministries we have today, as well as those we seek to add tomorrow as part of our long-term strategic plan.
We couldn’t be more excited and optimistic of what lies ahead. Rest assured, you have our commitment to stay focused on the “why,” which is to accelerate two of our most important objectives as total St. James: bringing Jesus into the lives of more children and spreading grace and peace to all those who need it in a city that yearns for Christian leadership.
We prayerfully challenge and ask each of you to get involved in the best way you know how. One thing remains very clear, it’s going to take ALL of us! We thank you, and God bless each and every one of you.
Growing in Christ,
- Tyler Lowell, President
- Casey McGuire, Vice-President
- Dan Henning, Secretary
- Pete Regis, Finance Board Chair
- Sara Welch, Education Board Chair
- Warren Gast, Elder Board Chair
- Kim Hibben, Admin Board Chair
