School Spotlight: Zion Lutheran School, Terra Bella

Zion Lutheran School is the smallest and most remote school in the CNH District. It has a long history in the rural area of Terra Bella, a few miles outside Porterville, California. The school was founded in 1909 and currently has 10 students in kindergarten through 6th grade and the faculty consists of two teachers and two aides. Six of the students are members of Zion Lutheran Church. Along with the teachers, the current vacancy pastor, Lloyd Willweber, also provides support and even teaches some classes during the week. Pastor Willweber has an interesting history at Zion. He is 90 years old and moved to Terra Bella in 1946 when his family joined the church and he enrolled in the sixth grade at Zion. Although he spent much of his life elsewhere, he returned to Zion in 2024 to help cover a vacancy. Despite his age, Pastor Willweber has a lot of energy and zeal for the school and sharing the Gospel. The school’s future is unknown, but the Zion congregation should be commended for their dedication and sacrifices made for Lutheran education.