Perception is in the eye of the beholder. Vision is created with the eyes open or closed. The dictionary defines “vision” as a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination. This tells the story of how “Vision 2007″ came to be.
For the past 27 years, children in the Middletown, CT area have been blessed to have the opportunity to attend Fellowship Christian Academy (FCA), a faith-based Christian school offering grades Preschool through 9th grade, owned and operated by Fellowship Church. In the Fall of 2006, the founding Pastor announced his plans for retirement.
Enter James Rodriguez – Having relocated his family to the Middletown area from Texas, he felt blessed to have found a worship home in Fellowship Church and a sound Christian-based and exemplary educational institute in FCA for his daughter, then in the 5th grade. With continuing growth and an amazing foundation already established, Jim approached his pastor and presented him with a five-year progression plan that would take Fellowship Christian Academy and transform it into an independent community Christian school. In turn, this would continue to provide children of Middletown and its surrounding towns the opportunity to grow academically and spiritually in a Christian-based foundation which will enable them to continually be examples while pursuing successful Christian lives. To Jim’s delight, the blessing was given and on March 4, 2007, the first committee meeting was held consisting of current students’ parents, local business people, friends, and members of the Christian faith, all who shared the same vision – to create and maintain a community Bible-based school in Middletown, CT. From that day on, this vision was referred to as “Vision 2007″.
With a vision and a team of enthusiastic, dedicated, and forward-thinking individuals in place, the next step was to start raising funds in order to become incorporated as the Connecticut Christian Academy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. On February 9, 2008, the 1st Annual Sweetheart Banquet and Silent Auction was held at the Cromwell Crowne Plaza. Through the cash and in-kind donations of individuals, local businesses and committed members of Fellowship, the fundraiser was a tremendous success, raising over $15,000, quite a feat considering this venture started out with no funds whatsoever. By the time the band had loaded their equipment in the truck, the Cromwell Crowne Plaza had already committed to sponsoring the banquet room for the 2nd annual event for a school that was still non-existent. That’s faith at work! Another fundraiser, the 1st Annual Wheels Making a Difference, a motorcycle run, is slated for August 17, 2008 and will raise funds for the tuition assistance program.
The Connecticut Christian Academy held its first Open House on April 19, 2008, welcoming interested families from the community, sharing Vision 2007, and offering an opportunity to meet the faculty and staff and walk through the campus. On June 11, 2008, the transfer from Fellowship Christian Academy to Connecticut Christian Academy became official and construction began on campus to take the vision from visualization to reality. Again, the donation of building materials and services came flooding in, reinforcing the community’s desire for this Christian-based school. Renovations are expected to be complete by August 15, 2008 and enrollment is well under way to meet our goal of 100 students for the 2008-2009 school year.
Connecticut Christian Academy is accepting applications into the Enrichment Tutoring Program as well grades Kindergarten through 9th grade. In addition, a structured After-School care program will be available.
For more information, to schedule a guided tour of the campus, or to request an application packet, please contact the Admissions office at (860) 347-6757 or visit us on the web at www.ctchristianacademy.net.
“…Let us arise and build.”
Nehemiah 2:18b
