Lana Santino

First Grade

Professional Biography
My passion for Christian education began in the ninth grade at the Blackstone Valley Baptist Academy in Woonsocket, RI. After attending the academy for four years, I graduated in 1985 and left for Boston Baptist College where I studied Missions and Christian Education. After graduation, my husband and I were married, and served in my home church for five years. It was there that I had the privilege of teaching in the very school that I had attended before going to college, and my passion for Christian education grew even stronger. In 1992, the Lord called us to Romania where we served for 23 years. During those years God blessed us with six beautiful children that we homeschooled, while raising several Romanian children in our home and planting churches. In 2013, after turning the work in Romania over to a national pastor, we came back to the States seeking God's direction. During this time, I taught in two different Christian schools, and, in 2015, God led us to Faith Baptist Church in Enfield, CT where my husband is currently pastoring.

Personal Biography
I love being a pastor's wife and teaching in our children's church. I thank God that I had the privilege of serving Him overseas and now again in New England. I am extremely proud of how God is using our children to reach others for Christ both in Europe and in the United States. My children are fluent in Romanian, Spanish and even Portuguese, and they still have a passion to learn other languages! I still enjoy speaking Romanian to friends and family.

I am also a workaholic! I like everything to look clean and beautiful. I want everyone to know how much Jesus loves them, and I also love to study and teach the Bible.

Educational Philosophy
The Word of God transformed my heart and life at the age of 13. I believe that the Bible is the foundation of education and that the "Fear of the Lord" is the BEGINNING of wisdom. There are many people today that are educated, but who are not wise. I believe that is why Christian education is essential. While knowledge is important, it is not enough. Wisdom helps us to apply what we learn. A good teacher will teach knowledge, but wisdom is the result of a child being taught to know God and love His word.

Favorite Verse
Psalm 37:25: “I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread.”