Liberty School

When our national church first started talking about establishing a school a number of years ago I was a bit skeptical. I questioned whether or not they had the personnel and expertise to do it. Also I wondered about their motive since there was a lot of talk about how a school would bring in money for the denomination. But when the school was begun it did seem to be a dream come true for the church. They were able to find teachers who were willing to work for small salaries to teach kids from poor families. However, the school was never profitable from a financial point of view. But nevertheless, the school continued and grew and was having an impact in the lives of its students for Jesus. Yet it also seemed to be a source of conflict within the church. It seemed to never make budget and required more and more attention. Also the meager infrastructure was woefully inadequate for the necessities of a school. To make a long story short, it fell on hard times and student enrollment was dropping off each year. Finally it became apparent that either something radical would have to be done or the school would need to be shut down.

In the middle of this crisis, the La Paz district churches began to reconsider the value of the school and conducted a rather detailed study as to what possibilities there were for the future. One of the things they found out in interviewing parents of students was that the parents liked what they were seeing in their children who attended there. Evidently the school was having an impact on lives as it operated with a Christian atmosphere. But despite the positive things, the infrastructure was causing parents to look elsewhere for the education of their children. The La Paz district, after ending their study, concluded that the school could indeed have a future but would require major investment. So the district leadership made the proposal to the national church that the administration of the school pas into the hands of the district for the next years. The district would then invest in the school and try to revive it.

This year is the first year of that agreement. Enrollment has stabilized and significant improvements are under way at the school.

The pre-kinder and kinder rooms have been given an overhaul.

There is now a computer lab with 20 computers and, thanks to Mario Castro who is overseeing the project,  internet access.

And a new classroom building is underway. Also, something of special interest to me, is that the high school students are studying some of the basic Bible institute courses in their religion classes.

The district is investing $50,000 in this project. The current changes are just the beginning phase of what they hope to be able to do. I am excited by what is happening as it seems that the La Paz district has finally gotten a vision for the impact the school can have in its neighborhood.





Please pray for the needed financing to cover this first phase and for the future phases. Pray for the teachers to show Jesus' love to the students. Pray for the students to be receptive to the Gospel as they see the love of Christ in their teachers.

Finishing this building is part of the future phase. Currently the lower level is being used.