When The Rev. Samuel Nsengiyumva came to serve as rector of Holy Trinity, Fruitland Park, on Jan. 26, 2021, the church’s school (Holy Trinity Episcopal School) quickly captured his heart. A recent outreach grant award of $5,000 through the Lilly Endowment Inc. via the Northwest Deanery will allow the school to expand its vital ministry to students with learning challenges as well as share its vision with other diocesan churches, he said.

“This school is very special,” Nsengiyumva said. “Particularly when I came and learned about what they were doing, I was very, very touched. This is a school that caters to children who learn differently due to conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and others. They are usually bullied in ordinary schools because they can’t keep up … [The school gives them] a place where they are safe, where they get the special attention they need, and where they can discover their unique strengths.”

Holy Trinity students agree about the school’s life-changing impact. “I’ve done a lot better in this school than I’ve done in any other school,” said Jack, a Holy Trinity student, in a recent video. “My grades have gone up and everything is improving, so I’m happy to be here for those reasons.”

“What I like most about this school is the people and the friends you can make,” said Angela, a Holy Trinity 10th grader. “They’re all so supportive and so uplifting, and whenever you need them through a hard time, they always support you like one big family.”

In November, Nsengiyumva made a proposal to the Northwest Deanery, The Very Rev. Lisa Wimmer, dean, to check on the availability of Lily grant outreach funds after speaking with The Rev. Canon Scott Holcombe and The Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb. The church had already held a fundraiser to raise the required matching funds, and the deanery granted his request.

“What a wonderful outreach for our deanery to support, and I am so pleased that we are serving ‘the least of these’ with the help of the Lilly grant,” said Wimmer. “The effort of choosing them was worthwhile, but as the dean, I will encourage our deanery to do more by praying for the children and the school regularly. They say, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ and I am honored to be a part of this support system.”

The school, which began in 1995, has a tremendous success rate, Nsengiyumva said. “Students come in sixth grade, some of them reading on third-grade level or lower. And by the time they get to ninth grade, they’re almost caught up. And by 12th grade, some of them are going to college or to work; we partner with the local technical schools to offer vocational training.”

The school’s biggest challenge, which it hopes to address with the grant and additional funding, is space. “Every little space we have on campus is now taken, so we have many students on the waiting list,” the rector said. “Our short-term goal is to get more resources to give the best programming we can; the long-term goal is to be able to expand so we can accommodate all the children who are seeking a school like this.”

And Nsengiyumva hopes that the partnership with the Northwest Deanery will result in more than just financial fruit. “We invite other churches in our deanery to partner with us in this good work in whatever ways they are able, because this is great work, making a difference in the lives of children who would otherwise be left behind,” he said.

“There’s more work that they need that can’t be done and should be done, that we as Holy Trinity cannot do,” Nsengiyumva said. “And the more support we can receive from other congregations, the better.”

“It’s truly a joy to help students with learning differences and to see them discover their unique gifts and thrive,” he added. “Donations are welcome, but I intend to reach out to churches, for example, that have active youth ministries who maybe could visit and have programs for us.”

“We have a special community of young people who have great potential but are often ignored because of their unique challenges, when in fact, they are wonderful,” Nsengiyumva added. “Many of them are deeply spiritual, love the Lord. … We welcome the support of everyone, because this is transformative work.”