The Founding of First Lutheran School – Benton, Arkansas

First Lutheran School in Benton, Arkansas, is the result of prayerful planning, unwavering commitment, and a bold step of faith by the members of First Lutheran Church. Though a small congregation, First Lutheran has long been grounded in solid biblical teaching and a genuine desire to serve its community through Christ-centered ministry.

Vision and Determination

The vision for a school began to take real shape in late 2023. Recognizing the need for high-quality Christian education that is accessible to all families—regardless of income—church leadership pursued the necessary approvals to begin a school on its property at 18181 Interstate 30.

On December 13, 2023, an application for a conditional use permit was submitted to the City of Benton to allow the operation of an elementary school within a C3 commercial zone. The first Planning Commission meeting took place on January 2, 2024, but the request was tabled after a challenging discussion. Undeterred, the church returned to the Planning Commission on February 6, 2024, with strengthened resolve.

Building the Foundation

In the meantime, on February 12, 2024, a school board was officially appointed, consisting of the following members:

• Rich Meyers
• Louise Lieblong
• Bernice Burchfield (later succeeded by Pam Evans on June 9, 2024)
• Laura James (later succeeded by Cheri Williams on October 19, 2025)
• Whitney Adkins
• Michael Hill

With city approvals progressing and the board in place, the school submitted preliminary paperwork to become an associate member of the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (ANSAA) on April 17, 2024, with plans to formalize accreditation in the 2024–2025 school year.

Launching the School

An Open House was held on August 15, 2024, and just four days later, on August 19, 2024, First Lutheran School officially opened its doors. With two classrooms and 15 students spread across kindergarten through third grade, the school began its journey under the guidance of two Concordia-trained teachers: Anne Barnard and Frances Bacic. One class served kindergarten and first grade, while the second covered second and third grades.

Since then, the school has added a 4th grade, another teacher (Sollie Jones) and grown to 23 students.  We are now planning expansion through 5th grade in the upcoming school year.

Accessibility and the LEARNS Act

A major part of the school’s success is due to the Arkansas LEARNS Act, a transformative school choice initiative that allows public education funding to follow students to any qualified school of their parents’ choosing, including private and religious institutions.

In the 2024–2025 school year, only certain students—like those in kindergarten and first grade—were eligible for vouchers. But now, all students are eligible.

The school is committed to keeping tuition just slightly above the voucher amount, ensuring that a Christ-centered education is within reach for all, not just those with means. As one board member observed, “I’ve been involved with a number of Lutheran schools over the last 35 years, but I’ve never before seen one that could truly say it was accessible to everyone.”

Congregational Support

The school’s beginnings were marked not only by planning and perseverance, but by deep congregational commitment. The congregation unanimously voted to start the school, and support quickly materialized in the form of donations, volunteer work, and prayer. A $10,000 gift for general operations and another $5,000 for the building fund are just two examples of the financial commitments received in the early months.

First Lutheran Church itself has been on a spiritual and numerical upswing. In 2021, Sunday worship often saw fewer than 40 attendees. Today, weekly attendance averages in the upper 60s, and participation in Sunday School and Bible class has increased. The church’s web presence, daily podcast, and THE CALL ministry outreach all demonstrate a congregation on a mission.

Renovations to the old parsonage—once dilapidated and unusable—have turned it into a center for serving families in two counties.

The school has become another extension of First Lutheran Church’s mission: both an outreach to new families and a faith-strengthening resource for current members. One board message summarized it best: “I have difficulty thinking of a more powerful outreach tool than a school.”

God’s Provision

Launching a school requires courage, faith, and resources—and God has supplied all three. When a need for more furniture and supplies arose in May 2025, a divine appointment led to the unexpected donation of 50 student desks, teacher desks, and whiteboards from a Christian benefactor who simply said, “Absolutely not” to dumpster diving—and instead offered God-honoring generosity.

Even challenges like building updates have become opportunities. New roofing, HVAC systems, office remodeling, and classroom expansions are signs of a living ministry. When the church ran out of space, it didn’t halt progress—it simply meant more work nights, more prayers, and more faith.

Looking Forward

What began as a vision is now a reality: a growing, accessible, Christ-centered school supported by a faithful congregation. And it’s only the beginning.

With the Lord’s blessing, First Lutheran School will continue to grow, serve, and proclaim Christ—one child, one family, and one classroom at a time.

FLSB is a ministry of First Lutheran Church Benton