Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) Missionaries gave a new outlook and great foundation in Christian spiritual dimensions of our forefathers. Our faith stands in the cardinal mantras of Lutheran faith such as Sola scriptura, Sola fide, Sola gratia, Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria. Our confessions rest on the authority of Scripture alone, which is the source of their authority. As such, the confessions that we make our own are authoritative, not of themselves, but because they are an accurate explanation of God’s holy Word. A great initiation triggered during 1894 by our mother church, the LCMS with whom we remain in altar and pulpit fellowship. We were blessed with the service of 60 missionaries, who worked in rural India to build a Spiritually, Socially, Educationally and financially better generation. We adore the work done through the project Missouri Evangelical Lutheran Mission (MELIM) in Southern States of India. A great progress was made in the region by the preaching of LCMS Missionaries. The pioneer task of the Missionaries was to give education to the outcast and deprived community to understand the Scripture. Our indebted gratitude to the LCMS, the mother Church of Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC) for the mission work and the development of academic infrastructure and other resources for the rural illiterate generation of the yester century under developed India. IELC is now the proud sister/partner Church of Missouri Synod after the systematic and disciplined preaching and service by the Missionaries from 1959. The Missionary work began in India by LCMS from 1895 to uplift the people of the region who are socially, educationally and financially backward during the time. The selfless service of the Missionaries of LCMS in India, gave their energy and life for the upliftment of the spiritual faith and the quality of life of our people. The cardinal protocol the Missionaries implemented in India during the beginning of the Church work was to give education to the illiterate population in order to give the Word of God. In Thiruvananthapuram Synod region itself they have started more than 100 schools for elementary education and gave them Word of God. In the beginning there were more than 100 schools for which people received their elementary education which was prohibited to such people earlier in our parts of the world due to caste discrimination. Majority of such schools were turned into Churches later. Later Missionaries gave specific emphasis to the development of secondary education. Literacy gave our believers to stand as a respected citizen in India. These all were funded and pastured by our mother church LCMS.
The school infrastructural facilities implemented during the beginning of the missionary works during the 1910s were world class and which are incomparable even with the Government facilities. We had school buildings well established in rocky foundations as well as rocky walls with well-orchestrated wooden frames and tiles. Even the floor was very well terracotta tiled and the campuses were spacious and environment friendly. A great infrastructural establishment we would proudly view the heretic structures especially the bungalows in the mission campuses. Centaury old schools are now in a state of impairment. Age of the buildings and lack of strengthening of the said facilities pave the way to digressive status and are now under severe threat to students. Students studying in such environment are really dangerous. There were little additions to infrastructure taken place from the part of the Parent Teachers association or management but which did very little to cope with the existing demands. Spiritual education of students nowadays is a difficult task. Especially teaching students in the age of secondary level is again very hard to imbibe. We are interested in opening up a strategy for our new students in Pre-schools to give a systematic knowledge of Word of God and the greater stature of Lutheran Theology for a Godly and spiritual generation. The administration of our Church and schools were in dissension and discord for the past decades in the school related developments. LCMS Missionaries started Schools in India during 1910. School buildings constructed are in strong buildings with necessary amenities, cemented floor, tiled roof and wonderful design. Those buildings and schools are headed high even after independent India. The Government sector schools are too small in number and with limited infrastructure. Now after several decades, the Government sector schools received huge funds for infrastructure and co-curricular activities. But the Lutheran schools are retrogressive in growth and very little amount of funds utilized for strengthening its hundred year old buildings, which deliberately needs funds for sustenance. Such a situation is a big threat to our schools to survive. Many of the schools are uneconomic and unable to attract students due to faulty buildings and infrastructural shortage.
Lutheran Schools have always been aspired to provide quality education to mold mature individuals capable of contributing to the society and the nation at large. The students are encouraged to achieve highest academic standards by actively participating in the various programmes organized in the schools. Based on Christian ideals, the schools strives to equip them to face the challenges in academic, cultural, spiritual and sporting spheres. Participation in campus activities and community building programmes will teach them the significance of team work. Through better teaching standards, creation of a conducive learning environment and discipline we constantly strive to make our students excel in their respective fields of learning and to develop in them sensitivity towards a sustainable environment.
I would like to reiterate the noble ideals of our visionary founders, our Great Missionaries who sacrificed their life for the progress and development of our believers and citizen. Let us join together in this journey towards excellence. I solicit the whole hearted cooperation of all of you in the developmental activities of the Corporate Lutheran Schools.
With best wishes
Prof. Dr Laladhas