School ribbon cutting ceremony: August, 1975
Englewood Christian School K-12 (now Academy) was started by Englewood Assembly of God Church in 1975 to meet a community need for private Christian education. Over the past 33 years, thousands of students, families, teachers & employees have been blessed by the unique family environment that is Englewood.
Like many other private schools in the KC metro area, as well as across the country, ECA always struggled to make ends meet financially. It is truly a miracle when you stop to think that most private schools are backed up by foundations, associations, denominations, dioceses, etc. The only backup for ECA was Englewood Assembly church via the Lord! God provided year after year. But as economics of western Independence began to shift, ECA began experiencing a steady decline in enrollment. The financial losses that were once manageable, were becoming insurmountable.
We do, however, serve a God of the impossible, and so we prayed and waited for Him to provide. It did not come. Was this a lack of faith? I don't think so. Then was it God's will for ECA? Honestly, we really didn't want to hear the answer to that question for a long time. You see, our God is a God of the impossible, but He will never contradict His own will and plan for our lives just to do the impossible. This is a miserable "spot" we find ourselves in: caught between the faith factor and God simply steering things in another direction.
Through many agonizing months, many prayers for direction, many times of questioning "why us? why now?", the decision was made that ECA could no longer continue. Our faith focus switched from "give us faith for provision" to "give us enough faith to swallow your will, God."
You see, unless you've been a part of ECA, you will never truly understand the extreme difficulty of closing this school. Corporate business types would have no trouble looking at a balance sheet and pulling the plug. It was a financial dog. But you have to look at the kids. Rich kids, poor kids, good kids, kids that needed positive influences and love, smart kids, normal kids, hurting kids, happy kids, Christian kids, kids that have never heard about Jesus, and so on. They all went through our doors. The stories are endless. They are the Lasting Legacy.
l/r: Pastor Brian Ross, Kendra Moreland (7-12 Principal), Debbie Evans (Elem. Principal)
And that is where we stand today. Having wrapped up this 33rd and final school year, we pray that everyone will have faith to walk in God's will for their lives. Not looking back, but moving forward, thanking God we had a part in a lasting legacy.
**We held a Tribute Service on Wed., May 21, 2008 to honor 33 years of Englewood Christian School/Academy (1975-2008). Read the Independence Examiner's article here. Order the DVD here.
4 comments:
Nicely said.
I am so sad to see the school close, I have attended the church for many years since the millinem 2002. and I was planning on attending the school next year to finish my final year, I will deeply miss it and we will miss it as a whole. God bless u!
The movie is absolutely perfect! I enjoyed listening to the speakers.
I was so dissapointed to see ECA close. I loved everyone there SO much. I am sad that I have to leave my friends, but I know that God has a purpose for everything.
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