A significant challenge many high school students face today is finding a sense of belonging. The four years of high school are a time when students begin to form their identities, build lasting relationships, and ask some of life's biggest questions. The pressure they feel to fit in, along with their need to be seen and valued, can leave students feeling overwhelmed. Worse, it can leave them feeling alone. We believe the answer to these struggles is a strong, Christ-centered community.
At LuHi, Christian community is not just a bonus - it’s a foundational part of who we are.
What is Christian community?
Christian community is a group of people united not just by shared interests or goals, but by a shared faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a space where individuals are known, loved, and encouraged to grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. In Christian community, people pray for one another, walk alongside one another, and engage in difficult conversations to reveal the goodness of God. In short, Christian community reflects the love, grace, and truth of Jesus in the way we live, learn, and treat one another.
Why does it matter for high school students?
Students are constantly bombarded with messages from the world about who they should be and what matters most. In the middle of that noise, Christian community offers something different: a place of truth and belonging. A place where students are nurtured and invested in. It offers friendships that are rooted in grace, encouragement that points back to truth, and mentors who speak life and faith into everyday moments. Simply put, Christian community gives high school students a solid foundation in a time when so much feels uncertain.
What happens when students lack Christian community?
When students lack Christian community, they often feel like they have to navigate the ups and downs of life alone. Without Christian friends, it’s easy to feel isolated in your faith. Without Christian mentors, students may struggle knowing where to turn for advice grounded in truth.
Cultural narratives will continue to bombard students. And those voices are loud. Giving them places where truth is spoken and places where they can wrestle with their faith is overwhelmingly helpful in laying a lifelong faith foundation. Christian community doesn’t make life perfect, but it provides a safety net of support, truth, and grace - a lifeline that’s hard to replicate anywhere else.
What does an authentic Christian community look like at LuHi?
At LuHi, Christian community is woven into the fabric of daily life. It looks like students praying together before class or games, teachers who genuinely care about students' hearts, and chapel services where everyone is invited to grow in faith.
It’s found in small group discussions, service projects, and those unexpected hallway conversations that turn into moments of deep connection. It’s students being real about their struggles and being met with compassion. It’s laughter, worship, challenge, and support - all grounded in the love of Christ. Here, we don’t just go to school together; we walk through life together as the body of Christ.
We believe that God created us for community. And that truth shapes everything we do. Christian community is not just an idea we talk about; it's a reality we live out every day. It matters because students matter - not just who they are today, but who they're becoming in Christ.
For us, it’s about establishing a firm foundation. When students are surrounded by peers and mentors who reflect God’s love, they begin to understand that they are known, valued, and never alone. In that kind of environment, faith grows deeper, confidence grows stronger, and lives are transformed.
Christian community is a powerful asset for high schoolers. And at Lutheran High School, it’s one of the greatest gifts we can offer our students.
