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As Told By: Mike Epp, ACSI Senior Vice President of Global 
Publish Date: March 14, 2023

In the southern part of São Paulo (a metro area of 22+ million people), there is a German community in an area called Parelheiros. Years ago, non-Catholic Germans first settled in this region when they immigrated to Brazil.

One drawback to this location was that the only cemeteries there belonged to the Catholic church, so the Germans had nowhere to honor and bury their dead. While this posed a significant problem for the community, a man named Frank Schmidt recognized the plight of the non-Catholic residents and decided to do something about it. He approached the local government and requested land where non-Catholics could be buried. His efforts paid off; the government agreed to provide the land whereby Schmidt could offer burial plots. He started selling them and providing burials for non-Catholic residents.

Schmidt had a much bigger dream in mind than just the cemetery business, though. He and his family wanted to start a Christian school that would offer quality education to local students who could not normally afford private Christian schooling.

The Schmidts got the school up and running, and the first small classes were held in a building on the cemetery grounds. The school began to grow and eventually proceeds from the cemetery business allowed the family to purchase more land on which a new school building was constructed.

In 2004, the Escola Cèu Azul (Blue Sky School) was founded, and it featured a heavy emphasis on education from a biblical worldview. An ACSI member international school, it continues to offer generous scholarships so that neighborhood children can attend.

Frank Schmidt is now 94 years young, and he still teaches a class or two at Blue Sky School. His sons provide guidance regarding operations, and the school is led by an administrator who has been there since its inception. Thanks to Schmidt and his family’s determination and vision, the school and community are a testament to how individuals with a Kingdom dream, and who are led by God, can bless the lives of many in the name of Jesus.