Twenty-two WELS schools put their calling to love others into action by helping feed starving children in Zambia. In late April, students of Fox Valley Lutheran Schools in Wisconsin packed 285,000 nutrient-dense meals that are being shipped directly to Africa.

"The ultimate goal that we as Christian educators wanted to do was teach the students about what it means to put their faith into action in a real way," says David Payne, a teacher at Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, Wis., and part of the project's steering committee.

More than 2,700 students from kindergarten to 12th grade participated in the event at Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, Wis., doing jobs ranging from measuring ingredients to bagging different parts of the dried meals to sealing and boxing up the meal packages. Preschoolers created cards sharing messages of Jesus' love. "We're hoping that it not only saves their lives physically but gives them an opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ," says Payne.

The schools worked with Impact Lives, a nonprofit organization based in Maple Grove, Minn., on the project. Impact Lives provided the equipment and raw materials needed to package the meals.

The students not only put together the meals but also raised the $45,000 needed to fund them—a cost of about $15 a student. Schools gave mission offerings as well as held readathons, penny wars, and bake sales to raise the money. "This was a real opportunity for us to teach stewardship in the sense that here are students who can sacrifice what maybe doesn't seem like a lot to them, but it's so important for people on the other side of the world," says Payne.

Ali Van Heuklon, one of the student organizers, agrees. "This is a simple way for everyone to be able to help out people who are less fortunate. Just by giving that $15 and a little bit of our time, we were able to help out."

Abbie Gunn Fischer, a daughter of a former missionary, talked to the students about growing up in Zambia, the life there, and the extreme needs of the people. Teachers also emphasized the importance of serving others every day of their lives. "Packaging meals for children in Zambia was a great blessing for us to do, but we can't do that every day," says Phil Punzel, principal at St. Peter, Appleton, Wis., one of the participating grade schools. "But you can use the time, talents, and treasures the Lord has given to you to serve people in your community, in your neighborhood, and in your own family."