Parade Gardens Lutheran School

If you're reading this, there's officially a Lutheran school in Kingston, Jamaica!

Parade Gardens Lutheran School (PGLS), so named because it meets inside Parade Gardens Community Center for the time being, started classes on Monday, September 2, but Area Facilitator Rev. Charles St-Onge led students, faculty, staff, and community leaders in a dedication service this morning. 

Thanks to a few key generous donors, Lutheran Ministries in Jamaica rescued PGLS from the brink of having to close its doors. Church members at both nearby Faith Lutheran Church, including principal Sandra Buchanan, and St. Andrew Lutheran Church are ecstatic, since churches and schools go hand in hand in Jamaica. Rev. Obot Ite, too, is eager to serve as chaplain; Lutheran education is in his blood. Future short-term team projects will represent a blend of continued Ministry Centre renovations and PGLS support, beginning next month as part of the crew from St. John's Lutheran Church in Grand Haven, MI, assists with relocating a classroom, preparing a healthy lunch for the students, putting on a field day, and training the teachers on the basics of Lutheran doctrine. The vision for PGLS is to see it operate out of its own building eventually!

Teacher Sherene, Rev. Ite, Principal Sandra, Rev. St-Onge (taking the picture), and I met to hammer out the logistics of the new ownership agreement in June 2019. 

Join me in praising our gracious God for those who made PGLS a reality and in praying for all who will teach and hear His Word there this year. Keep an eye out on the LCMS Missions in Latin America & the Caribbean Facebook page for pictures from today's ceremony. 

Until next time, blessings!