Garden State Academy to Close

[CGMedley]

After 98 years of ministry, Garden State Academy in New Jersey will close at the end of the school year. Read the latest details in this week's Adventist Review. http://www.adventistreview.org/2004-1546/news.html#a

Check out these other stories

Southeastern California Holds Historic Election http://www.adventistreview.org/2004-1546/news.html#2

American Church Leaders Evacuated from Ivory Coast http://www.adventistreview.org/2004-1546/news.html#b

[Fran]

When I read about Garden State Academy, I had a good cry. I used to live close by. Everyday I drove the children to schools. We had 6 children. Some were in the Church School next to the church. The rest attended the Academy..

To drop them off, I went down the most beautiful lane in the world; especially when all the trees began to turn into golden colors. The leaves would fall and it was so picturesque. The children went there for several years.

It sits in the middle of God's beautiful country. Even though it was out of my way, on the way home sometimes I would drive to a lookout, get out and say some prayers. I would just sit there and meditate on heaven actually. The early beams of sunlight would glisten off the rocks or snow. Some mornings were pitching dark and I could see only see all the surrounding lights and shadows. These were wonderful times with God.

Some week ends we would go to the Delaware Water gap. It was several miles west on the border of New Jersey and PA. We would spend some Sabbaths there. We would stay until we couldn't see anything. The kids loved it. So did I.

All of those Academy memories are here, but I can never go back and drive that lane ever again as Garden State Academy.

I understand that money is not an object with God. He has all the money he needs, but He allowed it to close, so I can except that, but was that His will?

The education of our children is very important. A Christian Education does not COST, it PAYS. I worry about today's Adventist children. Many parents are not willing to sacrifice to see that their children receive an education where they can be a true part of a Christian group of peers.

After sitting on many a school boards and watching them try to bring in more non-Adventist students because they give more bang for the buck! The church had no strong desire to make sure all the students within the church were in a seat at the school.

In fact, I have seen churches decline help to its member’s because of some small something. Being a single parent making $700 a month and not being able to give it all plus some more for tuition was a minor fact. The kids did not receive help! They were put in public school.

They ended up in gangs and trouble. Now the church doesn't want them around. They are unsavory kids and evil! When they were in the school they were ideal obedient students and children.

Our children are our leaders of tomorrow. Those we neglect and leave to the world will become our greatest opponents.

On Holiday Sabbaths those boys come to church with their mom. The members are revolted at their appearance, speech, and their behavior and lack of respect. The mother has been close to God and has asked for prayers and help, but was not helped..

We must see that our children, (that includes all of those in our church family because they are ours,) be given every opportunity to attend our schools.

We close for lack of students. We have lack of student’s because of money. God has all the money he needs. So what is up?

Then reading on I read about the Ivory Coast! Are these clues that the end is near? I think so! God may be preparing to rock our world! Hold one for one big ride!

[Jeannieb43]

That was a beautiful memory and appeal, Fran. I could just picture the roads you described and the inspiration you received there although I've never been to Garden State Academy.

The appeal re: Christian education is totally current. When I was growing up I didn't know any family in church whose kids attended public school. Nowadays it seems the majority of Adventists are out of touch with Adventist education. The young people are paying the price. They're growing up in a secular environment in spite of their parents' dedication to the faith. So they in turn place their own children in secular schools, and it's a snowball effect.

I didn't know about the Ivory Coast. But I do believe Christ's return is imminent. Does our faith mean enough to us that we'll be willing to suffer torture and humiliation and yet hold fast? I don't fear God, because He's already paid the price for me, but I do fear man -- man's inhumanity to man.

But God will give us strength to meet the tests ahead of us.

P.S. You should be commended for rearing six children!

[Michelle]

I agree with Fran about church members not putting their kids in church school. The school we left actually has so many church kids on "scholarship" it can hardly afford to operate and will lay off a teacher at the end of the year (declining numbers of kids and increased numbers on scholarship). "Scholarship" in this case means the church pays lip service to putting money on these kids' accounts but in actuality, they don't have the money but won't ask the kids to leave and the school gets stuck. I am not in favor of asking poor kids to leave, but what is the school to do in this situation? The schools are getting squeezed by the churches and are getting the blame for making hard decisions.

M

[aldona]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

After sitting on many a school boards and watching them try to bring in more non-Adventist students because they give more bang for the buck!

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I was a student at Adventist schools from kindergarten through to the end of high school. There was always a mix of Adventist and non-Adventist students. I was the shy fat girl who was always teased and bullied, and let me tell you, it was always by the Adventist kids. (Mostly by those whose parents held the highest positions in the church and conference.) It always seemed to be the Adventist kids who acted tough, smoked and drank to try to look cool, dropped out due to pregnancy, had the foulest mouths and the most disrespect for the church and its institutions.

And yet, whenever the teachers tried to crack down on misbehavior, the first scapegoats were always the non-Adventist kids. (It just wouldn't do to discipline the Conference employees' little darlings - Mommy and Daddy might complain, or worse still, might start paying less tithe.)

Many of the non-Adventist parents in the surrounding comunity recognized a good school when they saw it, and wanted a good Christian education for their kids. An SDA school is not just a secure little fortress where the saints can barricade themselves in against the EVIL FORCES out THERE. It is meant to be a missionary institution, a way of reaching children and youth for Christ and giving them an education that will equip them to be good citizens. (Regardless of whether they choose to then join the church or not.)

aldona

[Joe_in_RP]

In Philippines the there are many poor Adventist schools run by laypeople. The ratio is normally 60 - 80% non adventist.

I have a friend who went to a Adventist colledge for one semester. She was a non Adventist. Many years later her husband anounce they were going to follow the bible. We then we are in the wrong church she told him. She has been an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist church for years now.

[Dottie]

Fran,

I went to GSA the first two years it was opened. What a wonderful place it was! The "manor house" for us girls, and the "stable" for an ad building and boys' dorm. We had such great times.

My childen went to TAS and GSA when we lived in the area.

I too, was saddened by the news. I have been told that the problem is not the money, but the number of students. That seems right. We have had five children attend SDA schools, and one coming up who will be in kindergarten starting 2006. Not once did anyone come to our house and ask us personally if we were planning to send our children to a church school. Only when my youngest daughter reached college age did someone speak to her, but then it was a recruiting day at academy.

Does anyone ever emphasize Christian education from the pulpit and stress its importance, or do they just have a "brag day?"

It seems that the need for a strong foundation in our children's lives is not emphasized enough.