OLu International

By Brantley Watson

Similar to its students, Orange Lutheran Online (OLO) is what you would call a globetrotter.

OLO came into existence at Orange Lutheran in 2005. Originally, it was viewed as a way to provide students with the time needed to succeed academically and pursue extracurricular interests, allowing them to take classes without having to spend a full day on campus.

But as time passes, it continues to evolve into so much more for OLu students. Taegan Choi ‘20, a freshman, and Isabella Morrow, a senior, are prime examples of just how many doors into a new world OLO can open... literally.

TAEGAN CHOI ‘20

For Taegan Choi ‘20, attending Orange Lutheran was a dream. Orange Lutheran Online is what turned that dream into reality.

Taegan attended Mariners Christian School and many of his friends transitioned to OLu after their eighth grade year, which he planned to do as well. But God had a different plan in store.

“We decided to go on a trip and spread the Gospel to families because we felt called by God,” Choi said. “We sold our house because it was time to go out and do our job.”

Taegan and his family, originally from Orange County, took a leap of faith this past year, embarking on a year-long trip across the world, exploring their roots and delivering the Gospel to families on a global scale. Their journey began in Seoul, South Korea, where Choi’s father and grandfather were born. Since then, the family has traveled to China, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Hawaii, sharing God’s Word.

Choi and his family at the Great Wall in China.

And during that time, Choi attends his dream school online.

“OLu and OLO have helped support me whenever I was in need of help,” Choi said. “The teachers care for us and for our educational needs. If ever I was confused or had a question, I could email them because I knew they would get back to me as soon as possible. When I have to ask for grace when I am traveling or have to be on a plane for an extended period of time, they always make things as stress free as they can for me. I couldn’t do any schoolwork in China because I did not have internet access, but after emailing my teachers, everything was okay.

“They worked with me so that I could do this with my family.”

“My online experience has been phenomenal,” Choi said.

Choi and his family concluded their trip in Europe and returned to American soil in mid-August. He will now transition to attending classes on campus for his final three years at OLu.

ISABELLA MORROW ‘18

Similar to Choi, Isabella Morrow ‘18 has utilized the Orange Lutheran Online program to give herself and her family the opportunity to serve on a wider scale geographically.

Morrow and her family currently reside in Puerto Rico and have been there for over two years, as Isabella’s stepfather serves as pastor at a local church through a missionary program. Upon arrival, Isabella and her two siblings began attending Southwestern Educational Society.

Morrow and her family, who live in Puerto Rico.

However, Isabella struggled with certain cultural differences and with the idea of being in a classroom setting for the entirety of the day.

Luckily, a mutual friend connected Isabella and her family with Tim and Laurie Schlueter, whose daughter, Moriah, a 2013 OLu graduate, was a full-time OLO student while their family did missions work in Singapore and Indonesia. The Schlueters suggested OLO for Isabella.

“I realized I wanted to be able to travel more often and that I had better opportunities doing online classes,” Isabella said. “So once the Schlueters told us about OLO, I believe I was registered about a week later.”

And for Isabella, the rest is history.

“OLO and OLu has been a great source of support even though I've been thousands of miles away. The online teachers want to see their students succeed, the advisors want to help in any way they can, and the staff in OLO make you feel as though you are actually there physically.”

“I would strongly recommend OLu and OLO to anyone that was in my situation.”

Director of OLO Patty Young daily receives a glimpse of the success and support that OLO students experience, and she explained that when the program first came into existence, it was the school’s hope that it could touch lives on a global scale.

She wasn’t sure how it would be accomplished, but she knew that God put it on the heart and minds of those developing Orange Lutheran Online.

“Our original thoughts were for this to benefit our area, our nation, and then have a global impact,” Young said. “We weren’t quite sure strategically how it would happen, but from the beginning, this was our vision.

“And if God means for our mission to go well beyond the walls of this brick and mortar, then we will pursue it. We’re open to whatever path God puts in front of us.”