Last Friday we unveiled to area educators a new initiative to Northeast Indiana: The John Weber Memorial Teacher Support Fund. More on the name in a bit.
TLSP has been working to create an ongoing fund to encourage newly-placed teachers to pursue the teaching profession and to relocate to the Northeast Indiana area. We want to attract talented and dedicated church workers and encourage lifelong employment and involvement in Lutheran education in our area by removing barriers, including debt reduction, helping with relocation costs, or securing housing.
The recipients of the Weber Teacher Support Fund will be focused on a recent graduate or candidate in their final year of a teacher training program from a Concordia University system school who will be accepting a call to a Northeast Indiana Lutheran School.
Now, about the name- John Weber was the quintessential Lutheran school teacher. John and his wife, Sarah, graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, and served schools overseas and in Nebraska before spending more than half of their career in Northeast Indiana. John’s earthly life came to an untimely end in the fall of 2021 from COVID-related complications after winning a battle with cancer.
John’s relationship within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod’s teaching community was widespread, having served as a teacher, fundraising director, coach, and principal. John’s goal, even at death, was to share that “Jesus loves you!” At John’s core was a strong desire to support and encourage young people to consider a Lutheran educational vocation. We therefore could not consider a better namesake to this effort than our friend in Christ, John Weber. Please watch the short video featuring John & Sarah that was produced by Max Park, Concordia Lutheran High School junior in their Media Arts department here.
Please spread the word and consider a gift to help educators move to NE Indiana. For every $20,000 raised, we will be able to provide a minimum award of $1,000 forever! The Lutheran SGO of Indiana has already provided a $2,500 matching challenge, and TLSP is in discussions with two other groups willing to match gifts to the fund. The more we raise the more we can help.
Visit our giving site here and select the “Weber Teacher Fund” or select “Annual Fund” and list “Weber Teacher Fund” in the comments to make an online gift, or send in a gift to TLSP, 1601 St. Joe River Dr, Fort Wayne, IN, 46805. Questions? Contact Jon at 260-203-4510.
