"And [King Artaxerxes] said to [Nehemiah}, 'Why is your face sad, seeing your are not sick?' . . . I said to the king, 'Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?' . . . 'If it pleases the king, and in your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.' . . . 'let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.' And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." Nehemiah 2:2-3, 5, 7-8
Emmanuel Lutheran Church & School has an incredible heritage. For over 138 years we have served as God's servants to share His gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation with the people of Baltimore. Thousands of people have called Emmanuel their church home. Our sons and daughters serve as pastors and teachers around the world. We have been entrusted with a spectacular facility that enables us to teach children about God and testifies to the glory of the Lord. However, the current facility is nearly 70 years old and is in need up significant repairs and upgrades. But as significant as they are we know that our God can do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine. The Artaxerxes Project identifies those needs and encourages God's people to participate in the rebuilding project.