2023–2025 LWML Mission Grant #23 A Legacy of Love for Special Needs Children — Lutheran Special Education Ministries, U.S. — $100,000
A Legacy of Love for Special Needs Children
By Caitlin McCallum with Mission Editor Brianne Stahlecker
Lutheran Special Education Ministries (LSEM) is incredibly grateful for the support they’ve received from the ladies of the LWML. Funding Mission Grant #23, “A Legacy of Love for Special Needs Children” has enabled them to serve children who learn diversely in Lutheran schools across the country. This means that more children were able to attend, remain, and be successful in their Lutheran schools while experiencing God’s love in a supportive Christian environment.
LSEM’s vision: every child, no matter their learning need, has access to a Christian education.
Support from donors like LWML enables this vision to become a reality.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Read on to see how LWML mission grant support has helped these children come to Jesus.
One teacher, Sandi Goerish, in Anchorage, Alaska, shared that she had a sixth grade student with autism who had many struggles. Notably, he never learned how to properly form his letters and couldn’t write legibly. He struggled with spelling, despite being a good reader, and he had no idea how to add, subtract, multiply, or divide. In a matter of a few short months, he became confident in his ability to write, his spelling abilities improved, and he learned the four basic math operations. This student made tremendous strides, showing how resilient kids can be if someone takes the time to work with them.
Robert Hoch, teaching in Macomb, Michigan, read the chapter book, Hannah, with two fourth grade students. The story tells about how Hannah, a blind girl in 1887, was made fun of and excluded by fellow students when she attended the one room school. They talked about how handicapped children are not always treated nicely and how we should treat everyone kindly. The students realized that if people get to know you, others are ready to accept you and include you, whatever your handicap.
In Minnesota, LSEM teacher Terri Bentz saw a child and parent fighting to win battles together. Terri worked with the kindergartner to overcome large learning gaps and give him the building blocks for successful learning. Simultaneously, the child’s mother was fighting breast cancer, requiring many treatments and several surgeries. Together, this mother and son team faced their troubles, were encouraged and supported by their Lutheran school and community, and, with God’s grace and blessing, won their respective battles.
These are just a few of the small moments of making a difference in the lives of children. Lutheran Women in Mission, your mission grant support enabled LSEM to continue to reach out and serve these children in their local Lutheran schools, so that they can be academically successful while being spiritually filled in a Christ-centered learning environment.
Caitlin McCallum is the Donor Relations Specialist of LSEM and celebrates the impact of stories and the written word. She hopes these words inspire hope, foster joy, and impart gratitude.
This story was originally featured in the Spring 2025 Lutheran Woman's Quarterly. Order your subscription here.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
