Encouraging Growth in Christ

There's a growing Gen Z paradox: young people are showing an interest in faith that we haven't seen in a while, even as they struggle to develop a coherent understanding of the world. According to Barna's State of the Church 2025 data, Gen Z now leads every generation in weekly in-person church attendance. They are attending nearly twice a month, more often than Millennials, Gen X, or Boomers.

As one ministry leader observed about her generation, "we're looking for something real... truth, and purpose, and community — and finding that in the church."

Yet showing up isn't the same as being formed. A 2026 report from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that even as Gen Z's church attendance and Bible reading have risen, the share of the generation holding a fully biblical worldview sits at a historic low of just 1%.

At LuHi, we see this as exactly why intentional, daily discipleship matters more than ever for high school students. Attendance and curiosity are a good start. Helping students build the foundation for what they believe, and why, is the worthy, day-in and day-out work of the adults in their lives.

At LuHi, we remind students their identity is found in Christ, and He gives them purpose. His teachings are truth. By providing a space for students to ask tough questions, wrestle with what they believe, and point them back to Jesus, students build the foundation they need to be lifelong Christians.

The 4 Questions

Four questions we want every LuHi student to wrestle with while they are with us:

• Who am I?
• Why am I here?
• Is there any hope?
• Is there truth?

The way someone answers these questions sheds light on their worldview. As Gen Z shows up in record numbers but still searches for a coherent worldview, the lens we teach through matters more than ever. Worldview is shaped during adolescent years.

Helping students answer those 4 questions with scripture teaches them that:

• God loves them,

• their identity is in Him,

• He gives purpose to their life,

• He wants to use them for Kingdom work,

• and there is hope as they enjoy His love for them now and in the world yet to come.

Christian schools choose to focus on different areas of growth for their students. Some focus on the formation of their students. Others focus on the transformation of their students. At LuHi, we focus on foundation. We help students understand what it means to live lives rooted in Christ and how to live out their faith in authentic, lasting relationships.

Discipleship at LuHi often means learning to lead, not just to follow. Here's how students are being formed as leaders in Christ.

Laying a foundation for faith formation happens four main ways: weekly chapel services, student-led ministries, mission and service work, and daily theology classes. We'll start with theology classes.

Theology Classes

LuHi students take a theology class each year they attend LuHi, building from foundational Bible knowledge as a freshman to real-world apologetics and defense of faith by senior year. We disciple and teach the gospel in many ways, but it occurs most specifically and intentionally in our Theology curriculum.

• Freshmen year students develop an understanding of the Old Testament and a Biblical worldview. The primary emphasis is to guide students into a deeper knowledge of the first 39 books of the Bible. From creation to the prophets, all of the Old Testament points to the coming Messiah and our need for our Savior Jesus Christ.
• Sophomore year students then study the New Testament and the fulfillment of the Old Testament in Jesus. The primary emphasis is to guide students into a richer understanding of the life and work of Jesus Christ. As students study the New Testament our hope is they experience a vibrant relationship with Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
• During junior year, we study why we believe what we believe through apologetics. This class enables students to understand key teachings of the Christian faith, give intelligent, factual answers to common objections to our faith, and understand the main teachings of major religions and cults to know how to best witness to others.
• During senior year, we aim to give students the tools needed to defend, nurture, and strengthen their faith. This is done through the gracious work of the Holy Spirit. Classes have open discussions around difficult questions about Christianity, ethics, marriage, family, and other timely topics. Senior theology is geared toward preparing students for the next stage of their life.

The Value in Theology Classes

Freshman theology teacher Caleb Fischer shares why he finds theology classes so valuable: “Theology class gives students the opportunity to wrestle with the most important truths: eternal truths. The goals of theology classes are fundamentally different from any other class that students at LuHi take. In a world severely lacking hope, we want our students to be equipped with a strong relationship with God in their own lives and the ability to share the Gospel with others. For us, theology is not just an academic study of scripture. But it is to help students grow in their faith in Him so that when they leave LuHi, they have a solid foundation.”

Senior theology teacher Craig Parrott shares, “One of the questions on one of my tests is this: What helps a person internalize God's truths? The answer is: 1. Time in His Word 2. Good teaching 3. Fellowship with like-minded believers Romans 10:17 tells us, "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." All 3 of the above are present by God's grace at Lutheran High. Is. 55:11 tells us, "the word does not return empty but will accomplish what God wants it to do." My goal in theology is to expose students to as much of God's Word as possible and let the Spirit inform and form their minds and hearts when, how, and in whom He will.”

Gathering together in worship is an important part of every Christian's life. Access to Christian music, sermons, and worship services at our fingertips is a wonderful resource to have. But nothing can replace the benefits of gathering together in person for prayer, praise, confession, and worship.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:24-25

Chapel is a special time for our student body to come together and grow in their spiritual lives.

During Chapel, we get to:

• hear the Gospel message of Christ's death and resurrection
• praise our Creator with music
• understand the importance of corporate worship
• establish habits of worship and spiritual discipline to last a lifetime

Our chapel services are devotional in nature. The messages are rooted in the inerrancy of Scripture. Messages remind us of our need for a Savior and the blessing of the grace we experience through Christ's death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, securing our salvation. It's a time and place to remind the students that they are saved by grace alone through faith alone, revealed to us through scripture alone.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit – Ephesians 4:3a

While Chapel is a crucial component of a student's faith life, it does not replace being a part of a home church. Chapel helps believers - students and staff alike - refocus amid a busy day. We hope that students plug in at a local church where they can experience the Lord's Supper, the blessings of an intergenerational community, and other ways in which believers are strengthened through the local church.

Hear our Campus Pastor, Daniel Vanderhyde, discuss the purpose of chapel in this podcast episode.

"Chapel is the most important thing that we do as a group at Lutheran High School. What a blessing to get to gather together in praise of our risen Savior Jesus Christ three times a week. I personally walk away from each chapel with something new to think about and a reminder of the life-changing Gospel message. It's my prayer that the same thing happens for each and every student when we gather together!" - Worship Class Teacher, Chris Loesel

Faith formation isn't confined to a single class period, it shows up in the daily rhythm of a LuHi student's whole day. See what that actually looks like in a day in the life of a LuHi student.

Building the foundation of servant-leadership skills is key to being a disciple of Jesus. At LuHi, students can:

• Join the Student Worship Team and lead us in worship during chapel services
• Join the Refuge Leadership Team to plan our monthly youth group gatherings
• Join the Student Care Team to provide support to our students and staff in unexpected ways as an extension of our Loving Lions Parent Ministry

We offer leadership training to all students because no matter if you are in front of the student body regularly or not, we are all called to love and care for one another. During the training, students learn practical ways to be Jesus to the hurting community around them, and it's designed to help them grow in skills such as:

• communication
• conflict resolution
• how to share the gospel with peers
• how to be a good friend
• and how to pray for others

Beyond these student-led ministries, growth in Christ also happens through service — both locally and around the world. Every LuHi student completes 20 hours of local service each year, reminding us that all good gifts come from our Father above (James 1:17), and that serving others is one of the clearest ways we live out our faith. Our Local Service & Missions Team partners with Sox Place three times a month to love the homeless in Downtown Denver — often one of the most formative faith experiences a student has in four years. Groups also head to Treasure House of Hope, a rehabilitation program for those struggling with houselessness, addiction, or domestic abuse, to pack bread monthly. Serving others isn't a side project at LuHi, it's part of how faith takes root. Read about how students are living this out through Saved to Wash Feet.

For students who want to go further, LuHi's growing Missions program sends student teams around the world each year — from local partnerships in Denver to international trips serving alongside churches and ministries abroad. You can read more about the heart behind LuHi Missions and this year's trips here. 

Whether across town or across the globe, the goal is the same: helping students see faith not as something to think about, but something to live out.

We want every one of our students to know their identity in Christ as beloved children of God. Their meaning and purpose are lifelong, as they were created and chosen by God to love Him and serve others. Hopelessness is conquered by the confidence in their sure salvation and hope in what Jesus did for them on the cross.

Everything above is available to every LuHi student — but for those who want to go further, The Academies at Lutheran High School offer a chance to dive deeper still. All Academies provide space for students to pursue their passions, followed by opportunities for students to receive accountability from mentors and exposure to expertise in this area.

Often, a student's first taste of ministry comes from a mission trip — serving alongside a local church overseas, leading a VBS session, or simply having a real conversation about faith with someone who's never heard the Gospel. For some students, that experience sparks something bigger, and they come back wanting to go deeper. Mission and Ministry Academy is where that spark gets fanned into a flame.

Mission and Ministry Academy is for students with a ministry mindset who want to learn more about how to serve a community. Students in the Mission and Ministry Academy are mentored by Theology teachers on how to share the love of Jesus Christ.

Mission and Ministry Academy is a good fit for students who desire to serve and lead ministry opportunities on and off campus. This Academy is for students seeking an example of discipleship, lifelong servanthood, and how to foster an environment of Christian living.

LuHi graduates from this Academy have gone on to become youth pastors, worship leaders, missionaries, and ministry staff — but just as many have taken what they learned here into everyday careers, choosing to make their faith and their service to others a central part of their lives as teachers, parents, coaches, and neighbors. Mission and Ministry Academy isn't only for students who know they're called to vocational ministry. It's also for the student who simply wants their faith to shape everything else they go on to do.

Parents in Prayer

Parents are also invited to campus for weekly prayer during the school year. This group lifts up the LuHi students, staff, and families. Parents in Prayer also sends email prayer requests for parents who want to participate but can’t make it in person.

Loving Lions Ministry

This ministry is designed to come alongside and care for our LuHi community members during life-changing circumstances. It is during these times that we need to love our fellow Lions! The Loving Lions Ministry is focused on sharing the love of Jesus by providing a virtual rapid-response prayer team, meals, care baskets, encouragement, and more within our LuHi community.

"A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal. You never know what a small act of caring, kindness, or praying can do until you are a part of Loving Lions Ministry. I love to see how God is moving mountains." - Jaime Savage, Loving Lions Ministry parent

We conduct annual surveys of the LuHi senior class and their parents as a gauge of how we are meeting our core values and mission statement.

In 2025, 98.5% of parents said we were effective in encouraging growth in Christ in their student. And 97.6% of the class of 2025 said we delivered on the core value to keep everything at LuHi rooted in Scripture.

In our larger 2022 accreditation survey of LuHi students and parents, we see a glimpse of how well we are accomplishing our mission: Encouraging growth in Christ.

*Please note that accreditation surveys happen every 5 years. When we get updated survey data from the most recent round of accreditation, we will update this section.

2022 Student Responses

• Almost 82% of LuHi students say their faith in Jesus is nurtured daily.
• 88% of LuHi students say biblical worldview is part of their everyday experience at LuHi.
• Nearly 78% of students say their teachers encourage them in their faith and pray with them.
• Close to 80% of students say their teachers encourage their spiritual growth opportunities for them and their families.

2022 Parent Responses

• 98% of parents say it is evident that Christ is at the center of all we do at LuHi.
• Almost 79% of parents say teachers communicate Jesus’ love for their students daily.
• 92% of parents say their students learn to apply biblical truths to understand God’s creation and His created order in the world.

2022 Teacher Stats

• 100% of teachers are practicing Christians who are actively involved in worship, prayer, and bible study weekly.

Parent quotes

"LuHi holds and shares our family’s values and keeps Christ at the center of everything." - Doug & Rebecca Ullmann

"LuHi is an extension of our home – a place where our kids are known and loved. It’s a place where they can wrestle with hard questions, receive grace and discipline when they make mistakes, where their gifts and talents are seen and celebrated and where they are challenged to learn new things. LuHi has prepared them well academically for college, but even more so their faith has grown so that they are more prepared for the next set of challenges that they will face. LuHi is family – not just for our kids but for us too. As we wrap up our high school years, we will forever be grateful for the people that have shaped and molded us all in this place. We love LuHi!" - Michele Schulteis

"It is a joy to know that our kids are receiving a challenging education within a Biblical framework, which will prepare them well for college and beyond." - Wendy Hill

Student quotes

"Our culture centers around Jesus. That's the biggest factor that makes LuHi so special: Jesus is the cornerstone and the building block of this school." - Kallie Lemon, LuHi Grad

"My favorite thing about Lutheran is that everything is Christ-centered. While you do not have to believe in God to come here, the teachers and faculty are more than willing to dive into those tough conversations regarding faith and will continually point you toward Him." - Ashley Spokes

Gen Z is showing up hungry for something real. Church attendance is rising, curiosity about faith is real, and students are asking bigger questions than ever. But showing up isn't the same as being formed. That's the work LuHi commits to every day: through theology classes, chapel, student ministry, service, and mission, we help students build an actual foundation for what they believe, not just an interest in it.

Lutheran High cares deeply about the faith growth of all our students. From theology classes and chapel messages to day-to-day teacher and student interactions, our goal is to help students answer the tough questions through a biblical lens. We hope to send young adults into their futures with a solid foundation of who Christ is and who they are in Him, ready to be future-shapers who make a real Kingdom impact wherever they go next.

These are just some of the ways LuHi walks alongside students in their spiritual growth. Read more about the fuller picture of spiritual growth at LuHi here.

We hope to send young adults into their futures with a solid foundation of who Christ is and who they are in Him. See what that actually looks like in our graduates.

To learn more about the value we see in Christian education, please check out our guide, The Case for Christian Education. If you have any questions about Lutheran High or our mission to encourage growth in Christ, please contact our Admissions Team at admissions@lhsparker.org.