Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/meet-cover-director-lorrie-thoemke-trinity-lutheran-church-preschool-moorhead-minnesota/5008146/
Like most church-related child care programs, Trinity Lutheran Church Preschool grew from an observed need. Pastor Paul Hanson felt that Trinity should meet the needs of children in the neighborhood who were alone all day. So, in 1969, Ruth Wibe was hired to open the first child care program in the Fargo-Moorhead area.The program, licensed for 15 children, operated in one classroom of the church. It was governed by a board of directors made up of members of the community, parents in the program, and the church pastor. Church support and heavy parental involvement built a program that was a source of pride for church and parents - one that earned a reputation in the community.
In 1986, it was the question of insurance coverage that brought about some changes. Trinity had to decide whether or not to continue the program and what level of involvement it wanted. It was at
this point that the church made a renewed commitment to its mission of serving the needs of children and families, but made Christian education a focus of the curriculum. This was also the point at which Trinity took the child care program completely under ...