ELYRIA- Elyria Christian School celebrated the kickoff of its Vision 2012 Campaign Friday night with a tribute to grandparents and inspirational speakers.
“It’s a campaign where the board and administration had a vision of where they wanted the school to be three years from now,” said Elyria School Board President Greg Fields. “Some of it includes bringing on additional staff, like an elementary school principal.
‘Some of it is capital campaign projects, such as new windows and doors in the building, new bleachers for the gym, an activity center and a new scoreboard for the soccer field. Almost half of it will go toward past debt for the school, and also having a program in place so that we have a reserve fund.”
Fields also said that 10 percent of what is raised through the campaign will go toward helping Christian schools that are located in third-world countries.
The campaign has its roots in a prayer meeting, held more than a year ago, which focused on the needs of the school.
“From that, a few of us got together and worked toward coming up with the fact that we wanted to accomplish some major things with the school,” said Elyria Administrator Rick Roberts. “Lord willing, over the next three years, by the end of 2012, we will have generated funds. Whatever we get, we’ll thank the Lord for.”
The crowd, which numbered around 450 people, was standing room only. Organizers had to eventually turn people away, and not everyone who came out Friday night was able to get in.
They were entertained by comedian and author J.J. Jasper, and bluegrass and gospel performers The Franz Family.
“It’s a very exciting evening to see what Vision 2012 is going to be,” said event co-coordinator Gina Chandler.