Published on September 28, 2024, 12:40 am

In a significant step towards offering alternatives to public education, Pastor Justin Walker of the Salt and Light Baptist Church based in La Grange, Kentucky recently inaugurated a tuition-free school. This move comes after Walker had an unsettling encounter at a local public library where the staff was promoting LGBTQ-themed literature to his 11-year-old daughter.

The experience led Walker to examine more critically the influence of public schools on children. Reflecting on his personal experiences with homeschooling following the loss of his wife, he said, “50 million American children are attending public schools every day where episodes like what just happened to my daughter at the library are happening on a regular basis.”

This awareness prompted Walker and his church to establish ‘First Principal Academy’, an outreach ministry for children up to grade 6 offering a free alternative to public education. The distinct feature of this initiative is that it is entirely tuition-free. “We want this initiative to be viewed as a ministry… We’re collecting donations for paying staff and buying curriculum,” Walker typically stated.

While First Principal Academy is open for all, there is no mandate for students to sign any statement of faith. However, the school underscores that Christian teachings will form the crux of its curricula—”We want parents and students alike to understand that we’ll be teaching about Christianity… our greatest aspiration is that kids hear about gospel in every class,” explained Walker.

Walker envisions this school as part of a larger mission inspiring other churches across America to follow suit. “We aspire for this school model to shed light… We’d really like if the church community at large acknowledged this need and offered their support,” said Walker noting how some churches in Florida and Georgia have already taken inspiration from Salt and Light’s approach.

Despite challenges associated with setting up a new academy within six months, Walker remains undeterred — “Our objective now is ensuring the spread of this initiative far and wide.” He also called others to join him in prayers for the church’s safety and to strengthen the resolve of the teachers and students as they make strides in this new direction.

Trust this real news story from a Christian worldview for accurate, faith-based perspectives on breaking news events of relevance. In conclusion, the school signifies shifting attitudes towards education with more emphasis on spiritual values bringing a fresh perspective into the spotlight.