Marion New Life Academy

Yesterday, Shami and I were invited by the mayor to come and speak at a meeting about poverty in our area and how together we can make a bigger difference than alone.

For the first time other than Sundays at New Life, we shared publically about the dream of starting a boarding school in our area called Marion New Life Academy.  The dream is becoming a reality.  We have purchased our first home that will house about 6 young girls who will be entering Kindergarten in the 2013-2014 school year.

Here's the part of the article from today's Chronicle Tribune that was about the Academy...

The impact of the Aug. 3 Synergy forum on poverty is being seen in new community initiatives.

Mayor Wayne Seybold told a group of Synergy participants at a follow-up meeting Wednesday that a boarding school for Marion children is being developed as a means of fighting child poverty.

Seybold introduced David and Shami Grieve, who plan to start a housing program for youth in community. The couple, who are involved with New Life Community Church in Marion, previously worked with teens in Las Vegas for several years. They will be the first set of host parents for Marion New Life Academy.

Modeled after the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Penn., the house will host six to eight girls in kindergarten in Marion Community Schools. The girls will live there full-time throughout the nine months of the school year and their parents will be able to visit. Shami Grieve said the program will focus on developing skills such as nutrition, personal hygiene, personal responsibility and spiritual formation.

“We want their families to be able to participate with them,” she said. “(It lets) them know that their mom and dad love them, but so do other people.”

David Grieve, father of young daughters, said it made the most sense to start the academy with a group of girls. They plan to build more ranch-style homes in the future that will host groups of boys as well. Shami Grieve said that students in the academy might progress from house to house each year.

Seybold said that no child would be forced to go to the academy and that it would not be free. Professionals from local organizations may develop qualifications for children to enter the academy. It is planned to open for the 2013-2014 school year.

Now for this to become a reality in that time frame, we need help getting the home ready with remodeling and renovations.  What can you do?  Pray for God's resources to come to New Life, or become aware of where His resources are.  Let us know if you can come help.  Tell us what expertise you have or people who have expertise that you know that can come help us!

It's amazing how we jump at the cause of helping rebuild lives that were devastated by natural disasters.  I loved being able to help those who were impacted by a tornado that devastated Henryville, IN.  But what if we jumped at the cause of building lives at Marion New Life Academy!  What if the same people who go help with natural disasters were able to come help prevent the disaster that poverty brings on children!

I call out for your help!  Will you respond to the call?