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With prayer and planning, the academy was established in 1998. first preschool classes were held at the former Faith Lutheran Church. In 1999, a second preschool site opened at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. By 2001, enrollment tripled. First-, second-, and third-grade classes were added at the facility's current location at St. Paul Lutheran Church in South Bend.
 To meet the need of a growing enrollment, MLEA launched a capital campaign kickoff recently at St. Paul to raise $1.2 million to build a new 21,000 square-foot school. The $1.8 million facility will be constructed on seven acres of donated property on the southeast corner of Nimtz Parkway and Olive Road. Final architectural plans are being developed. The facility, with an enrollment capacity of 220 students, will tentatively have 10 classrooms, a media center, kitchen, gymnasium, and a playground. Ground will be broken this fall. Construction is slated for completion before the 2007-2008 academic year begins. The new school will hold preschool through sixth-grade classes the first year, then plans to add a grade each year, according to academy Principal Walt Mischnick.
About 50 pastors and church members from St. Peter Lutheran Church of Mishawaka; St. Paul Lutheran Church; Our Redeemer Lutheran Church; Bethany Lutheran Church; and Emmaus Lutheran Church, all of South Bend, attended the capital campaign kickoff. The academy's preschool and kindergarten classes performed songs during the program. Barb Ault's preschool class, sang “For God So Loved the World” with confidence.
Jacqueline Homann, president of MLEA's Board of Directors , credited Sandra Street, a St. Peter church member for organizing a grass-roots group dedicated to offering high-quality Christian education for students. “The ultimate goal is to provide a solid academic education in preparation of serving God and others,” Homann said. “Our board is grounded in faith. We listen as God directs us. We're confident this is what God wants us to do,” she said. The association has raised money and three-year pledges to begin building a $1.2 million coffer, to achieve its goal, according to Lynn Whittaker, capital campaign director.
When Faith Lutheran Church -- the academy's first home -- closed its doors, the congregation donated its building and its contents to Resurrection Lutheran Academy. “The church left a wonderful legacy,” Homann noted.
“Resurrection Lutheran Academy is a tool the Lutheran community will use to provide a biblical perspective of the world to students,” Mischnick said.
South Bend resident Tracy Littell agrees, “My son, Nicholas, is enrolled in the preschool. I never had a Lutheran school education. My parents did. That's one reason why I thought it was important for Nicholas to attend school here.”
Principal Mischnick is confident that the academy will prosper. We will succeed, because God; wants us to do all that we can do. The challenge is, he related, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on the cross.”
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