He was a boy who floundered and wondered in his spiritual life.  He really didn’t have a solid foundation on which to build the rest of his rapidly approaching life.  The boy knew that something wasn’t quite right, but he was really too young to understand what that was all about.  He had gone to public school all his life, but his parents feared that the local public high school would be too large, too impersonal, too noncommittal.  So, they searched around and found our school – East Fork Lutheran School.  It was such a better environment that the religion aspect could be overlooked for the time being.  “But what about those religion courses?” the boy asked.  “Just treat them like another subject” his parents said.  Little did any of them know.

As God’s word has the tenacity to do, the boy began asking questions.  Angry and dissatisfied ones; questions meant to confound both the teacher and the ultimate Teacher, but, soon, pointed questions turned into earnest ones.  Eventually, the boy took adult instruction and was confirmed on Reformation day. 

In his last year at our school, the boy was asked to go on a trip to experience, first-hand, Martin Luther College.  Reluctantly, he agreed, with the quip: “I don’t know why you’re taking me.  I’m not going there!”  Again, the boy’s best-laid plans were like water down a drain when the Lord took hold of him.

The boy eventually did go to Martin Luther College.  He graduated from MLC and received a call to return to our school.  That boy subsequently received the call to serve God and His people as the principal of East Fork Lutheran School.  That boy who became principal is the author of this article.

You see, God’s word is powerful and effective on every person who hears it.  East Fork School shares God’s word with everyone who encounters it.  Those of us who work here cannot help but share the hope that we have in our Savior.  Everyday thoroughly trained Christian teachers and pastors (some are the same ones who nurtured my own growth) work diligently and enthusiastically to win the next generation of souls to work in God’s house. 

My family and I are thanking our God for the saving faith that he created in my heart and theirs through the vital work and ministry of East Fork School.  We are thanking God for people just like you who found a place in their heart for boys and girls and families who walk through our doors everyday with hurts, needs and desires that only our God can fill.  We are thanking God that through people like you, he continues to allow us to complete this work begun in hope and faith.  We are thanking God for East Fork.  Won’t you join us?

We desperately need your support to continue our efforts.  Here are some figures to help you make an informed decision about financial support:

•    35% of our budget is met by contributions from donors, just like you, throughout the country.
•    Approximately 50% comes from tuition, fees, and other sources (like Arizona's Tuition Tax Credit program).
•    8% comes from a grant awarded to the school from the LWMS.
•    7% comes from local church support.

Here is an interesting way of looking at it: We have calculated that it costs us $30/day to offer each of our students a Christ-centered education.

Will you please sponsor one of our students to attend East Fork Lutheran School one day each month?  Your gift of $30.00 per month will give a student an oasis of hope and safety each day, but more importantly, they will learn that Christ has paid the price for them to enter heaven, giving them hope for eternity!  If the Lord has blessed you to be able to sponsor more than one student per month, that would be a tremendously wonderful blessing to our East Fork family.

We need to receive $150,000 in gifts over the next school year in order to fund this ministry at its present level.  We would love to do so much more!

We are tremendously grateful for your prayers and support.  Your partnership will enable us to continue this vital ministry.

You may send your gifts to:
East Fork Lutheran School
PO Box 489
Whiteriver, AZ 85941      
In Christ Alone,
Logan Block, Principal
East Fork Lutheran School

-Logan Block, Principal and 5th and 6th grade teacher