USA (MNN) — The mission of Worldwide Christian Schools is to collaborate with a local population to help them develop
Christian schools that are sustainable, open to the community and are
affordable.
"We do see a difference between
what's happening outside the United States and the Christ-centered education movement within the United States. Our
goal is to make those two experiences more like each other." That's why Worldwide's Scott Vanderkooy says
they're turning their attention to their own backyard: Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The project, called "New School
GR", is still in the planning stages of
creating an educational model. The group behind the project has a vision of starting a Christ-centered school
in a diverse, urban neighborhood.
Large portions of society fall
through the cracks of the public school system, and private Christian schooling
is beyond the financial means of many American families. WWCS
wants to respond by establishing an inner-city school where the student body not
only reflects the diversity of the neighborhood, but it also becomes an
educational community that nurtures potential, shares responsibility, and
equips children with the tools they need to be productive believers.
The goal? To leave a legacy of Christ in the urban
areas. "If you look at the
existing models within the United States and combine them with some of the
success stories outside of the United States, we're extremely optimistic that
we'll be able to come up with a model here for Grand Rapids and elsewhere,
that makes Christ-centered education more accessible for more
children."
The school plans to offer
students experiences that equip them to be Christian leaders in the world at
large, and prepares them to work with people from all backgrounds and income
levels. New School GR hopes to open its
doors in 2010. Click here for details.
