Bethel Lutheran preschool moving to First Baptist Church

After 41 years of offering a renowned weekday preschool at Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin, the program is moving to First Baptist Church this fall.

Natalie Juhl, director of the Bethel Lutheran preschool since 2007, said church finances - not strong in recent years and damaged further as member families have been hurt by the coronavirus - made it inevitable that the Bethel would have to abandon the beloved program.

The good news, as Juhl sees it, is that First Baptist Church leapt at the chance to take over a thriving preschool program and is dedicated to keeping it the same high quality.

Jean Provart at First Baptist said her church board felt that taking it over was a good move for the Du Quoin community, as well as for the church.

"The program has an excellent reputation," Provart said. "We didn't want Du Quoin to lose that ministry."

She said First Baptist has been working with Du Quoin Fire Chief Dave Durkota to make sure their space is up to code. The church has done some remodeling to accommodate the preschool, and is adding playground equipment outside.

The preschool will be ready to go when school starts, Provart said. It follows the same school calendar as Du Quoin Unit District 300.

Juhl and Provart said the preschool can accommodate a maximum of 60 children, ages 3-5, in three classes of no more than 20 each. The 3-year-olds meet Tuesdays and Thursdays for about 2¾ hours; 4- and 5-year-olds will meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, in either the morning session or the afternoon session. The preschool will continue to accept children of all faiths.

Parents who want to sign their children up or get more information can call Juhl, at (618) 318-9329. She is working with First Baptist on the transition.

For Juhl, this is the end of an era. She herself attended preschool at Bethel Lutheran. And the news that the Bethel preschool was ending upset many parents.

"It was a very sad decision," Juhl said. "But my feelings aside, it is important we can still offer this to the community."

She said many Du Quoin churches expressed interest in taking it over.