BELLEVIEW, FL (352today.com) – It was nearly 50 years ago that concerned parents came to Bishop James Varnum, sharing with him some of the things their children were experiencing in public schools.
Some of those children were members of the congregation at Souls Harbor Pentecostal Church. He knew something needed to be done and in 1979 Souls Harbor Christian Academy opened its doors.
As the church has grown, so has the need to expand. The church purchased the former Taylor College campus adjacent to their property, increasing the size of their existing locale. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
The learning institution has spanned generations and continues to be presence in Belleview more than 45 years after first welcoming students into its academic program.
“We literally now have grandchildren of graduates attending our school,” shares executive pastor Donald Currie. “In the 70s, many churches had Christian schools, and Christian schools were very prominent in the 80s; but a lot of schools have opened and closed.”
Souls Harbor Christian Academy places an emphasis on making certain their students succeed through discipline and consistency. Currie says that parents are invested in their children’s education because their children are invested. The school is pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
“They’re seeing an opportunity to make their children’s school better because they’re a part of their children’s school,” says Currie, who is also a graduate of the school. “We’ve done a lot of revamping and reorganizing through the years. One thing we implemented a few years ago was that you have to volunteer. You have to earn a certain amount of volunteer points to be here. That’s part of their enrollment and that keeps them engaged.”
Currie says that you don’t have to be a member of the church to attend Soul’s Harbor Christian Academy. He adds that those members whose children do attend the school have helped to build a stronger church and that the children who attend the school walk with God, they have a relationship with the Lord. The school emphasizes academic excellence, but it also serves as a ground of preparation.
“Those children have that foundation, and they don’t have to push through so many obstacles that they would have if they went to other schools,” says Currie. “That’s the one thing about a Christian school, it just can’t be one person’s idea. It’s a lot of work. You don’t have all the resources. You don’t have everything at your fingertips that a public school would have that has all the funding. You have to be creative, and you have to have incredible people that are behind you.”
As the church has evolved, it’s caused the school to readjust. When the new building was in built on County Road 484 in 1987, one side of the compound served as the school. The school at one time had been located on Babb Rd.
The school typically doesn’t have openings as students’ progress through the grade levels, and those who enroll at a young age, usually stay until they graduate as high school seniors, said Currie. For more information on Souls Harbor Christian Academy, visit their website or call them at 352.245.6252.