Alma, Michigan, has two church-related institutions of learning: the oldest is Alma College, a Presbyterian college with a student body of about 1,200; the newest is Grace Lutheran School, which opened this fall with an enrollment of 12.

Several years ago a nucleus of families in Grace Lutheran were convinced that with God's blessings their congregation could open a school. In fact, three of the families were transporting their children to a WELS school 25 miles away.

But it takes more than just a few committed families to maintain a school. The questions a congregation raises deserve honest answers: "How can our small church open a school when a very large church in town was forced to close its school?" "Shouldn't we pay off our present debt before we think about a school?" "Would we be able to provide an adequate facility?" "Where would we get a teacher willing to handle a multigrade classroom?" To help answer these questions, a board of Christian education was established, a Christian day school feasibility committee oppointed, and a building committee established.

God answered the many questions very positively. A family returned from vacation with an unexpected $500 left over. That $500 became the beginning of a Christian day school fund. Before the contractor's shovel broke ground last spring, almost half the cost of the building ($80,000) was on hand in cash. God had provided the resources and moved the hearts.

He answered the question about a teacher in the person of Mies Charmaine Huff, a '78 graduate of DMLC and native of Whitefish, Montana. To be sure, the work of teaching a dozen K-8 students is a big challenge for one teacher! But God has also moved volunteers to donate time to lighten the teacher's load.

By school opening the new school facility was not as yet complete. Classes were conducted in the church basement during September and October. But by the time you read these words, Miss Huff and her Alma "dozen" will have moved into their pleasant new classroom.

At the opening service, students, parents, and congregation members sang a Hebrew hymn of praise that expressed their gratitude for the gift of a Christ-centered school in Alma: "Todah Lael, Halleluiah"—"Thanks To God, Praise The Lord."