A ministry campus on Pacific Avenue SE
Faith Lutheran Ministries anchors a corner of Lacey, Washington, where a church, a Christian school, a childcare center, and a community center share one address on Pacific Avenue SE. Together they form a single ministry focused on the mission of "raising up families and followers of Jesus Christ," and the campus has been doing that work for more than fifty years.
A Christ-centered preschool through eighth grade
The heart of the operation is Faith Lutheran Christian School, a preschool-through-eighth-grade program that partners with parents to provide academically excellent, spiritually rich education. Principal Ann Ashe leads a faculty that sees teaching as a ministry. Students are known by name, challenged in small classes, and welcomed into a school day that includes weekly chapel alongside the regular curriculum.
The school is divided into clear stages. Early childhood education begins with Preschool for three-year-olds meeting twice a week, Pre-K for four-year-olds meeting three days a week, and Junior Kindergarten for four-year-olds meeting five days a week. Each program is half-day and combines hands-on play with structured learning, including early literacy and math, art, music, movement, and outdoor play. Bible stories, songs, and prayer are woven into the daily routine, and weekly chapel introduces even the youngest learners to worship.
From there, students move into Kindergarten through fifth grade and then middle school in grades six through eight. Core academics sit alongside dedicated music and art instruction. Gillian Haynes teaches music and Susi Green teaches art, while Lynette Neumiller offers private piano and voice lessons and Ryan Rogers teaches guitar. Eric Bunnell serves as both a fourth-and-fifth-grade teacher and the physical education teacher.
Athletics, clubs, and the LEST tournament
Athletics draw students into team life, and the Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament, known as LEST, gives middle schoolers a chance to compete in everything from basketball and bowling to chess, robotics, spelling bee, science, math, vocal performance, and readers' theatre against other Lutheran schools from around the region. Clubs and other activities round out the week, and Outdoor School is a much-anticipated tradition for fifth and sixth graders, who spend days hiking, studying the environment, and building community in a camp-like setting.
Childcare from eighteen months through twelve years
Surrounding the school day is Faith Lutheran Childcare, which serves children from eighteen months through twelve years of age. Open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the program offers Toddler and Preschool Care for ages eighteen months to five years, Before and After School Care for K through sixth grade (with transportation to and from local schools), and a summer program with weekly themes, field trips, and creative projects. Every part of the day includes Bible stories, songs, and prayer, and staff build character through lessons in kindness, respect, and responsibility. Class sizes stay small, background checks and training standards are rigorous, and the goal is for every child to feel safe, known, and loved.
The church and community center
The church is led by Senior Pastor Greg Strand, who also serves on the School Board to keep the church and school closely aligned. The broader Faith Lutheran family of ministries describes itself as a place that exists "to encourage, equip and empower people to be Spirit-led champions, unleashing each person's leadership calling in their circle of influence, so all can be fully alive in Jesus." That mission shapes how the ministries work together - the church supporting the school, the school shaping students' faith as well as their minds, and the childcare center providing a faith-filled foundation for the littlest ones.
A Community Center rounds out the campus, hosting gatherings and shared ministry alongside the church, school, and childcare. Becky Albert serves as the Church Secretary and Community Center Coordinator, tying those pieces together.
Admissions, tours, and family support
Families interested in the school are welcomed into a clear admissions process. The first step is a campus tour, which typically runs thirty to forty-five minutes and can be scheduled year-round. During the visit, families see classrooms in action, meet teachers and staff, learn about curriculum and faith integration, and ask questions about tuition and financial assistance. After the tour, families submit an application along with a birth certificate, immunization records, and registration forms; the school office requests prior records for first through eighth grade applicants. Accepted families receive a welcome packet and prepare for the start of classes.
Financial assistance is available, and the school lists current tuition and fee schedules online. Parents can stay engaged through a school management platform called Sycamore, which hosts meeting minutes, report cards, and family communication. The Parent Handbook, Athletic Handbook, Acceptable Use Policy, and other forms are all gathered in a central forms and documents hub.
Inclement weather policies are clearly spelled out. Families receive direct emails from school administration, social media notices, and Remind app notifications whenever conditions change. The school reminds parents that even on a regular day, the decision to keep a child home when travel feels unsafe is respected.
Shared leadership across the ministries
The school board, chaired by Jennifer Cronquist with Michael Kramer as secretary, provides governance and oversight. Members include Rebecca Kramer, Mistina Venesky, Michelle Chappel, Brett Harrison, and parent representative Janet Baus, alongside Pastor Greg Strand and Principal Ann Ashe. The board meets regularly, typically on the third Thursday of each month, and welcomes feedback from parents and families.
Families drawn by the academic program, the daily rhythm of prayer and chapel, the wrap-around childcare, or the desire to see their children grounded in faith from the earliest ages find a single, integrated community designed to walk alongside them from preschool through middle school and beyond.