Christian education

It was challenging at times, but the Scharfs are thankful they were able to give their family a Christian education.

I first met Pastor Ralph Scharf in his office at Good Shepherd's, West Allis, Wis. Eager to introduce me to his wife, Annette, he led me down the few steps to the parsonage's front walk. As soon as the door opened, we were drawn into a lively scene of children playing and laughing. Annette (Nettie) has been running a daycare in their home for more than 20 years. I couldn't help thinking that this scene must be reminiscent of the days when the Scharf's children were young. You see, they have 14 children.

What's especially unique about these siblings is that they all attended Luther Preparatory School (or the former Northwestern Preparatory School) in Watertown, Wis. From the time the eldest began in 1984 to when the youngest will graduate in 2011, the Scharfs will have had one or more children at Luther Preparatory School (LPS) for 27 consecutive years.

Sending 14 children to LPS certainly presented challenges to the Scharfs. Ralph recalls looking at their finances some years to find that the cost of tuition for their children at both LPS and Martin Luther College was greater than his total annual salary. But with Nettie's daycare income and the Lord's ever-providing hand, they did not have to abandon their education goal. Nettie shares that it has also been difficult to be apart from their teenagers during the school week, even though they are "in the good hands of a caring, Christian staff."

The Scharfs say they are thankful that all their children have been challenged and have received a firm foundation to succeed in any profession. Both of them have appreciated that over the years the students have had more opportunities for early hands-on ministry experience. An added blessing is the unique camaraderie that develops among LPS students who are all considering full-time church work.

A pastor's son himself, Ralph reflects, "The model my parents set for my three sisters and me was outstanding—consistency and fairness almost to a fault. I only wish that I could come close to the example my father set as a pastor and later as a professor at Northwestern College."

Ralph says that while in grade school, "I began to understand that I, a sinner who deserved only God's punishment, had been chosen and called by God to be one of his children. I recall thinking, ‘This is something special; there are billions who do not have that gift.' " And his hope of being able to thank God by serving as a pastor grew.

Whether they knew from little on or they were convinced by their experiences at LPS and MLC that the Lord was calling them to preach or teach (or serve him in another field), all of the Scharf children are living their lives in the same thankfulness to God.

Pastor Scharf now serves as the chairman of the MLC Governing Board. "My prayer," he shares, "is that the Lord uses whatever gifts I have to his glory, forgives my wrongdoing, covers my efforts with his forgiveness, and accepts my thankfulness."

The Lord has certainly done this and continues to do this for all the Scharfs who are now spread around the country (and the globe!).

Author: Laura Schaefer
Copyrighted WELS Forward in Christ