Thomas touts role of Christian schools

GAINESVILLE - Nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas sang the praises of Christian schools during a visit to Gainesville Friday night.

Thomas, speaking at Maranatha Christian Academy's first ever fund-raising banquet at First Baptist Church in Gainesville, encouraged those in the audience to contribute to Maranatha as he personally also supports the school. "I think Maranatha Christian Academy like many other Christian schools and home schoolers around the county give young people this foundation that they so desperately need."

Thomas also urged them to even double anything they planned to give. “I want to challenge people to do exceedingly abundantly above all that they ask or even think. This is a worthy investment I don’t know what else you could invest your money in that would produce the kind of results of a stable and foundational life built on spiritual principals and the word of God.”

The Oakwood school's president, McEver Road Baptist Church pastor Rod Bell, Jr., explained that tuition is a source for the school’s funding but due to the recession, enrollment is lower than expected, thus, that source of revenue is down.

At one time at the end of the last school year in May, school officials were not sure it would re-open in the fall. That followed the theft of thousands of dollars that had been raised to help fund the school's operation.

Bell hopes to raise $50,000-$75,000 for this upcoming school year. He also hoped to focus the efforts of those funds to the pre-school portion of Maranatha, which encompasses grades Kindergarden through 12th grade.