Christian schools form area coalition

January 10, 2011

Area Christian schools have formed a coalition to work together in multiple areas. Grace Academy hosted the coalition's kickoff meeting last summer.

According to Jack Appleby of Grace Academy, the coalition's goal is to find ways for Christian schools to share resources and ideas.

This collaborative effort includes schools within a 35-mile radius, as far north as Chambersburg Pa., south to Martinsburg, W.Va., and east to Frederick, Md. Most, but not all, of the schools are in the Mid-Atlantic Christian Association. Small schools like Ebenezer in Hagers-town have been invited to participate.

Pastor Bill Wyand of Broadfording Christian Academy said Christian schools must pull together in times of difficulty in order to reach their full potential.

According to Dewitt Powell of Heritage Academy, the Hagerstown area has six Christian schools within a five-mile radius. These schools are competing for students, but each school has similar problems concerning funding and finding ways to decrease expenses. Public schools also have found themselves in a budget crisis over the last several years. The need to cover expenses in Christian schools is no different than the need that exists in public schools. The Coalition of Christian Schools will provide administrators an opportunity to work together to find solutions to these challenges.

In August, the group had an opportunity to listen to Renewanation President Marvin Adams. He encouraged the group to pull together. According to Renewanation, about 7 percent to 8 percent of school-age children attend a Christian school. The goal of Christian education is to offer a biblical world view and not a secular, humanistic one.

The coalition will meet as a common bond group about four to six times a year.

The group will put aside differences in personal beliefs and promote the belief that in the Tri-State community, students should have an opportunity to attend a Christian school.

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