A Brief History
of St. Peter Lutheran Preschool
In January of 1990, a committee of
congregational members, Terry Davis, Dori Dopp, Karen Doebler and Kathy
Krause, met to discuss the possibility of starting a Preschool ministry
at St. Peter. Discussions expanded to include the Board of Education
and the Church Council concerning the new vision of early childhood
Christian education at St. Peter Lutheran Church and School. Although
both the board and the council were supportive of the new venture,
concerns were voiced regarding finances.
After discussing options and
possibilities, the committee took a proposal to begin the Preschool to
a Voters’ Meeting. While the voters were encouraging, the
congregation had no funds available to support such an effort. The
committee was given an OK...IF they could fund the project themselves.
Through God’s grace, and angel in the form of an anonymous
benefactor presented the committee with a $5,000 no-interest loan.
With God smiling, St. Peter
Lutheran Preschool opened its doors of learning to thirty-three
children in September 1990 with Anne Langewisch as Director/Teacher and
Karen Doebler as paraprofessional. The first classes spent time
learning about Jesus by listening to stories, singing songs and playing
games all based on Christian values.
The initial loan was paid in full
within three years and the Preschool has remained self-sustaining to
this day.
Over the course of our history the Preschool has gone from teaching 33 children to 190 and is
the largest preschool in the Michigan District. A sense of pride is
that our reputation in our community is superior. We thank God that 69%
of our students are non-members. We are blessed with the opportunity to
spread the saving message of Jesus to not only children but their
families as well. Many families have become members of our congregation
because of their involvement with our Preschool.
Over the years, our staff of teachers and
paraprofessionals have numbered over 40 ladies who love their Lord and
thoroughly enjoy the little ones placed in their care. The first class
of students, now in college graduates, are part of the over 2500 students who have
learned of Jesus’ love in our Preschool.
We praise God that He has continued
to bless the efforts to teach young children.
In His Service,
The Preschool Committee:
Char Hohnstadt (Director)
Dianne Dau (financial Secretary)
Kim Tebay (Administrative Secretary)
Kathy Krause (Committee Chairman)
Jill Stimpson
Karen Gluski
Shari Hohnstadt
Gwynn Oberly
Staci Remley
Debra Washburn
