Noah’s Ark Preschool is a ministry of Benicia Lutheran Church which has been in the Benicia, California community since 1980. The preschool was started in 1993 with 9 children. Noah’s Ark now has 40 students enrolled with a staff of three dedicated teachers. The current Director, Heba Abu Ghazaleh has been at Noah’s Ark since 2022. Heba is originally from Jordan (the country) and moved to the Bay Area after she was married. She has served as a teacher and director at preschools in San Francisco and Fairfield. The current vacancy pastor at Benicia Lutheran, Phil Kohlmeyer, has been a great leader and support for the preschool!
Back in January of this year, Heba emailed parents to ask who would be returning in the fall. To their dismay, they only received five responses. They were heartbroken, thinking that the preschool would have to close. In response, the church and preschool declared February 26th a day of prayer. All of the teachers gathered together, fasting and praying. That very day, God’s ears were open, and their prayers were answered faster than they ever imagined. The school received three calls for tours that same day! Since then, they have been continually receiving enrollment requests. Now, not only are classrooms full, but Noah’s Arl also has a waiting list—and they have had to hire more staff!
Heba stated, “This didn’t happen by chance. I’ve always believed that the ideal business model is when your employees feel like they are owners, and your customers are your best marketing team. We’ve worked hard to build a faithful team bond and foster strong relationships with our parents, and that sense of ownership and trust has helped carry Noah's Ark to the next level. It’s all a testament to the power of prayer, unity, and dedication.
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