About Lutheran Education
Why Lutheran Education?
“Bring your child up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
– Ephesians 6:4
Lutheran Schools are loving, caring and safe.
Lutheran Schools are thoroughly Christ-centered, evangelical, and Bible-based… Committed to planting and nurturing a Christian worldview in students’ lives, lifestyles, and hearts.
Lutheran Schools pursue and offer excellence and quality.
Stable, Large, Experienced, Successful
The Lutheran School system reaches over 288,000 students nationwide.
The Lutheran School system is the largest Protestant school system in the United Sates. There are over 2,500 preschools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and seminaries that make up LCMS schools nationwide.
For K-12 and early childhood alone, the PSD-LCMS K-8 programs serve approximately 63,000 to 68,000 students, while high schools reach roughly 16,000 to 19,000 students.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod operates 10 high quality liberal arts universities across the nation Concordia University-Irvine is in our backyard! These universities prepare students not just for making a living, but more importantly, for “making a life” that makes a difference for Christ. All of our universities have highly respected teacher education and certification programs to resource the Lutheran schools across the nation and world
Academically Excellent
Lutheran school students test anywhere from 20-23% higher than the national average on standard achievement tests in math, reading and language.
Average SAT/ACT test scores of students attending Lutheran high schools track consistently above the national averages.
Christ-centered and Mission-Minded
Since our schools are “mission outposts”, sharing the love of Christ is central to everything we do and say. Our faith is integrated across the curriculum. As a result, many children are baptized, and many families join congregations and become active in the life of the church.
The Pacific Southwest District Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (PSD-LCMS) is one of 35 districts that make up the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in the United States. The PSD-LCMS serves schools in and congregations in Arizona, the southern half of California, and Clark County, Nevada.
Nationally there are over 288,000 children attending 2,500 Lutheran Schools, Preschool through High School. The Pacific Southwest District has 83 Early Childhood Centers, 50 Elementary Schools, and 8 High Schools across Arizona, Southern California and Southern Nevada.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Hephatha Lutheran Church is a confessional Lutheran Church, affiliated with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS).
The Bible…
…is written that we might believe in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. It speaks powerfully to the forgiveness of sins which is found in Him alone. It teaches what it means to live a life of love toward God and others, as well as a life of integrity and purpose concerning God’s design for each of us. It was written by men as they were directed by God’s Holy Spirit, and so it is timeless truth without error or contradiction.
John 20:31; Psalm 139:17-18; II Timothy 3:14-17
God…
…revealed Himself as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three Persons participated in the creation of the world. It is the Father, the First Person of the Triune God, Who continues to care and provide for people. Lutheran Christians say, “All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy.” It is also the Father’s passion that all people would be saved from sin through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Genesis 1:1-2, 26-27; Psalm 19:1; John 1:1-3, 14; 3:16; II Peter 3:9
Jesus…
No one is more loved or hated than Jesus. This is not surprising, since he’s the most famous person in all of human history. More songs have been sung to Him, artwork created of Him, and books written about Him than anyone who’s ever lived. Even our calendar is based off His life, dividing time before and after Him. Naturally, someone this important will have fans and foes. And a lot of people have an idea of who Jesus is. They may get this idea from TV or movies, maybe from past church experience and Sunday school felt boards, from history books, or maybe from just hearsay. But just because we have ideas of who Jesus is doesn’t mean we actually know Jesus.
At Hephatha, we’re all about Jesus—and the only way to get to know Jesus is to understand what the Bible says about Him.
Who is Jesus? According to the Scriptures,
Jesus Christ is God’s perfect son, who through His birth from the Virgin Mary lived a sinless life on earth 2,000 years ago.
He voluntarily paid for our sins by dying on the cross for us.
His death gained salvation for all who receive it as a gift by trusting in Him alone.
He rose from the dead and is the only mediator between God and us.
The Holy Spirit…
…is the Third Person of the Triune God. He is the One Who builds faith, hope, and love into the lives of people as they hear God’s Word and come to know Jesus Christ in a profound, personal way. The Holy Spirit convicts people of their sin. He assures people that their sins are forgiven. He gathers people into the Church. He gives gifts to empower people for Christian witness and service. As people continue to hear, read, study, trust, and obey God’s Word, He brings them to spiritual maturity.
John 14:16-17; Romans 10:9-17; John 16:8; Colossians 1:13-14; Acts 2:38-42; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 12:1, 4-7; Hebrews 5:11-6:1
The Church…
…is the community of all who have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. It is more than one local congregation or individual denomination. It is the object of God’s eternal, unconditional love. God has given the Church two great grace gifts to continue its growth: baptism and Holy Communion. In both, God’s Spirit is present, along with visible elements, to bring forgiveness of sins and strengthening of faith.
Matthew 16:15-18; Ephesians 2:19-22; 5:25-27; Matthew 28:16-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26
Christians…
…are called to live for Jesus Christ, seeking to love, serve, and honor Him with their lives. Their devotion is expressed in basic commitments of faithfulness to Him, His Word, His Church, and His work. These commitments are both a privilege and expression of the purpose which God has for all Christians. Christians understand that they are “saved to serve.”
Matthew 22:37-39; 25:14-30; Ephesians 2:8-10; 4:11-16
Sins…
…is the condition of all people that separates them from God. Sin entered into the world through the disobedience of the first man and woman. It continues today as disobedience toward God, discord and dysfunction among people, and personal pain, distress, and death. No matter how hard a person tries or how good that person lives, there is no escape from sin apart from the redemption of Jesus Christ. Sin always results in eternal death and separation from God. Therefore, every person has an essential need for the Savior.
Genesis 3:1-15; Psalm 51:1-5;Acts 2:36-38; Romans 3:23
Forgiveness of Sins
…is the gift and promise of God through Christ that the separation of God and people has been bridged by the Savior. To be sure, Christians are not perfect, but they are forgiven. There is comfort and joy in knowing this gift is extended for all to receive by true faith. This gift distinguishes the Christian faith from those religions or philosophies that emphasize the works and obligations of people to somehow please God.
Psalm 103:8-13; II Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 8:31-39; Luke 18:9-14
Eternal Life…
…means death is no longer something to be feared. Rather, all those who trust in Jesus will live in joy with Him in heaven for eternity. Death is simply a doorway to that place which He has prepared and purchased for all believers through His own death and Resurrection victory!
John 11:25-26; 14:1-6; I Corinthians 15:54-56; Revelation 21:4-5
Interested in learning more, or in becoming a member of Hephatha Lutheran Church?
Click here to be directed to our “Foundations” page, or call Pastor Arthur Andrews at 714.637.0887, ext. 151!
It is the policy of Hephatha Lutheran Church and School not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), or national origin in any of its activities or operations.