Join Us for the First Day of School Celebration!

Monday, August 24, 2026 | 8:30–10:30 a.m.

After years of prayer, planning, and faithful support, the doors of Christ the King Lutheran High School will officially open for our first day of classes! We invite our founding families, future families, board members, supporters, and members of our circuit congregations to join us as we celebrate this historic milestone.

The morning will begin with a special chapel service in the sanctuary, giving thanks to God for His many blessings and seeking His continued guidance as we begin our inaugural school year.

Following chapel, guests are invited to tour the CTK campus and enjoy refreshments in the Fellowship Hall, where they can celebrate this exciting occasion, write notes of encouragement and well wishes to our Founding Class, connect with fellow supporters of Lutheran education, and have the opportunity to purchase CTK apparel.

Whether you have been involved since the beginning or are simply interested in learning more about Christ the King Lutheran High School, we would be honored to have you join us for this special occasion.

All are welcome!

We are excited to welcome Mrs. Julia Dinkins to the Christ the King Lutheran High School faculty as our Music Teacher! Julia holds a degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University and has built a successful private music studio, teaching piano, violin, viola, cello, upright bass, voice, and more. In addition to teaching, she performs with the Bach Society of St. Louis and the American Kantorei. Julia is passionate about helping students discover the joy of music while using their God-given talents to glorify Christ. We are thankful the Lord has brought her to CTK and look forward to the many ways she will enrich our students and school community.

Last week marked the second week of Summer Camp, and we were blessed to welcome 23 campers—10 girls and 13 boys—from Immanuel Washington, Immanuel Rosebud, and Trinity New Haven. What a joy it has been to see our circuit youth filling the CTK campus with energy, laughter, and learning! God has provided beautiful weather, and our campers have made the most of it. The kids have become true fishing machines, reeling in countless fish from the lake. They've also been harvesting vegetables as a preview of our future Farm-to-Table program, learning about foraging, practicing archery, building birdhouses, sewing, and much more. It has been a blessing to watch young people learn new skills, build friendships, and enjoy God's creation together. One of the highlights has been seeing so many Christ the King shirts worn throughout the week. We are excited to watch these future Lions grow and look forward to welcoming many of them to CTK in the years ahead!

Last month, our staff had the opportunity to meet with the faculty and administration of Springfield Lutheran High School, a fellow Lutheran high school startup in Missouri that recently completed its first academic year. Springfield opened with just four students and has already navigated many of the joys and challenges of launching a new school. We were grateful to learn from their experiences, gain practical insights, and receive encouragement as we prepare to welcome Christ the King's founding class this fall.

Do You Love Christ the King? Are you looking for a meaningful way to serve Christ the King Lutheran High School? If you enjoy welcoming people and being part of a Christ-centered community, we would love to have you join our volunteer team!

We are blessed with a wonderful, faithful part-time staff who keep the day-to-day operations and behind-the-scenes work running smoothly. As we begin our first academic year, we are looking for a few additional volunteers to serve in simple but important ways. Opportunities include helping serve lunch, welcoming visitors in the school office, answering phones, signing guests in, and occasionally assisting with mailings.

We are primarily looking for volunteers who are available during the late morning and early afternoon, with flexible scheduling to fit your availability. If you would like to discuss this volunteer opportunity or learn more about how you can serve, please reach out to Principal Sam Eckman. We would love to have you be part of this exciting first year at Christ the King!

There has been no shortage of activity around the Christ the King campus this summer! Recent improvements include the delivery and installation of fresh gravel to enhance our grounds, updated railings on our exterior staircase for added safety, and the completion of additional painting and touch-up work throughout the building. We were also blessed with the donation of a Smart Board interactive whiteboard, which will be a valuable addition to classroom instruction. Inside the school, bookshelves have been assembled and classrooms continue to take shape as we prepare for students to arrive. Our workshop has also received additional donated tools and equipment, further expanding the hands-on learning opportunities available to our students. We thank God for the many generous supporters and volunteers who continue to help transform our campus into a place where young people can grow in faith, knowledge, and service.

Taking Flight at CTK

We are excited to announce a new Drone Program at Christ the King Lutheran High School! Thanks to the generosity of Dee Dawson, who has experience leading successful drone teams and has graciously donated a drone to help us get started, CTK students will have the opportunity to explore the exciting world of drone technology and competition. Students will work in teams to learn piloting skills, problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking while preparing for regional drone competitions. The program combines hands-on STEM learning with friendly competition and provides students with valuable experience in technology, communication, and collaboration. We are grateful for Dee's support and look forward to seeing our students take flight in this exciting new opportunity!

Archery Takes Aim at CTK!

When several of our summer campers expressed interest in archery, we saw an opportunity to expand the hands-on experiences available at Christ the King Lutheran High School. We're excited to share that CTK is now able to offer archery as part of our growing extracurricular and outdoor education opportunities! This summer, campers have already been putting our new equipment to the test, learning proper technique, building confidence, and enjoying time outdoors on our beautiful campus. It has been a joy to watch students try something new, develop their skills, and have fun together. At CTK, we are committed to creating opportunities that reflect the interests of our students, and archery is a great example of that mission in action.

Thank You!

Thank you to all of the volunteers, donors, and supporters who have shared their time, talents, prayers, and gifts to help prepare Christ the King for its inaugural year. We are grateful for your support and partnership in this ministry!

Thank you to the wonderful June volunteers:

Cheryl Zingrich, Robbi Eckman, Jonathan Finck, Lisa Marquart, Christine Marquart, Christine Senevey, Mike Wuerffel, Dena Kuddes, Rick Kuddes, Stacy Landers, Dee Dawson, Pastor Wilshusen, Jim Meyer, Levi Cunningham, Eli Wax, Julie Hilkerbaumer, Rodney Holtmeyer, Carol Finck, David Finck, Leah Preus, Devonne Manhart, Jillynn Rekowski, Margo Hoffmann, Pastor and Leah Preus, Jenny Wallach, and many more!