The Concordia Story: A Fifty-Year History of Concordia Lutheran Church 1951-2001

68 ✦ THE CONCORDIA STORY
pete in scholastic competitions sponsored by
the Association of Christian Schools
International, Private Schools Interscholastic
Competition, and Lutheran School Association.
Principal Bruce Rudi leads a staff of 53
trained educators and support personnel to
serve the school’s 450 students. Many of
Concordia Lutheran School’s students represent
the second and third generation to attend.
Graduates of Concordia School are traditionally
high achievers. In the spring of 2001, two graduates
were high school valedictorians, two former
students were at West Point, and three were
in medical school. Many former Cardinals have
gone on to become pastors, teachers, and other
Lutheran church professionals.
In May 2001 Concordia School received its
highest honor when it was named by the U.S.
Department of Education as a “National Blue
Ribbon School of Excellence.” The distinction
was conferred in the 2000-2001 school year
upon just 264 schools nationwide and only 10
in the San Antonio area. The honor is the highest
and most prestigious award that can be conferred
upon a school.
Concordia’s Day Care Center has been an
important ministry of the congregation since
1969. The maximum number of children,
which could be cared for at the Basse Road location,
was 75. In the current Day Care Center,
175 pre-schoolers are cared for on a daily basis.
The popularity of the facility is evident in the
waiting list, which has been as long as 400.
Despite Concordia’s move, worship never
ceased at 1826 Basse Road. Lutheran High
School took over full management of the 13-
acre campus upon the church’s departure. From
its modest beginning in 1994, Lutheran High
School has steadily grown to 170 students in the
2000-2001 school year. Concordia is one of six
congregations which support the school
through the Lutheran High School Association.
The church located on the campus, which worships
in the old Concordia sanctuary, remains a
District-supported mission and is now called
Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church. Rev. Eloy
Gonzales, formerly a lay pastor in the Rio
Grande Valley, leads the growing congregation.
Although the church conducts bilingual worship,
only slightly over half of the members are
Hispanic. Many are former members of