Ekklesia Christian School

Developing servant leaders through an excellent academic
and Christ-centered education.

SINCE 1994

In January 1994, Pastor Caver  “thought” God was telling him to start a school for people who couldn’t afford a Christian school education.  Because of an earlier failure of a day care project, he realized that if God were not calling him to start a school, the school would follow in the same footsteps of the day care. The school would close.

He called a meeting with a few friends to seek counsel on whether or not this idea was of God or not.  He called Pastor Jim Hilton of Lake Country Baptist Church, Pastor Ron Oliver of Keystone Baptist Church, Tim Meisner a staff member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, and Pastor Ronald O’Guinn of Sonset Baptist Fellowship.  He told them of his uncertainty. They went to God in prayer in that meeting.  At the conclusion of the prayer session, ALL AGREED that it was indeed God speaking to Pastor Caver.  They said that Pastor Caver should start a school.  They discussed various names for the school and finally settled upon the name “Ekklesia Christian School” which was suggested by Pastor O’Guinn.

Next, Pastor Caver suggested that by January 1995 we should open the school. To the contrary, all the others said that we should open it in September 1994. This was just 8 months away.  Pastor Caver was surprised by their recommendation of starting in just 8 months, but he went along with their faith and said, “Okay.”

World Missionary Baptist Church had no money to start a school, but Pastor Caver indicated that we would do it based upon our faith in God.  First we had to find a teacher who would believe God for her/his salary.  Second, we had to have our church building renovated to meet the City code for a school building.

After one month of sending letters to retired teachers (who probably would not require much money) and advertising in other venues, not one person applied.  Finally, the daughter of Pastor & Sister Caver, Michelle Chambers, came forth and said that she and her husband, Andrew believed that she should accept the teaching job. Mrs. Chambers and her husband had agreed for her to resign from her public school job and trust God to provide her salary.

Next, a local general contractor, Mr. Lewis Stevenson, whom Pastor Caver had met through Habitat for Humanity projects agreed to renovate our building.  Knowing that we only had $2,500.00, he agreed to accept the $2,500.00 at the beginning of the project and he and Pastor Caver would believe God to provide the balance of $2,500.00 by the time the project would be finished in two weeks.

This set the stage for many financial miracles in starting and operating Ekklesia Christian School.  Mrs. Chambers began work in preparing the curriculum and schedule on the first Monday in July 1994. The contractor began his work the same week. Two weeks letter it was time to pay both Mrs. Chambers and the contractor a total of $3,100.00. World Missionary had received no money to pay either.  In the Sunday service before the Monday both bills had to be paid, Pastor Caver told the congregation that the money was due tomorrow. There was no money to pay the bills and that God would have to provide. Unexpectedly and about 15 minutes after he made that statement, almost he whole congregation of James Ave. Baptist Church came into the service.  Pastor Caver stopped the service as we gave the visitors our seats because there was not enough room for all to sit down.  When one of their pastors was given an opportunity to address the group, he stated that on the previous Sunday James Ave. Baptist had agreed to give 100% of this Sunday’s offering to Ekklesia Christian School. He stated that their offering on this day was a record offering for their church and that they had all come to deliver the check. Pastor received the check and read the amount to the congregation. The check was for $8,991.61!  This was enough to pay the bills on tomorrow and have enough left to operate the school for the next three months!!!!

Ekklesia Christian School began classes in August 1994 with students, Andrew Chambers, III, Ashley Simpson, Marcus Jackson, Jr., and Andre’ Mapps, and Dominique Allen; Mrs. Michelle Chambers as the teacher; Mrs. Cignoray Allen as the volunteer teacher aide, and Pastor Caver as the administrator.  Later that school year, Mrs. Verna Anderson was hired as teacher aide. In 1995, Mr. Dimitri Caver, the pastor’s son, was hired as the second teacher.  In 1997 Sister Clara Caver, the pastor’s wife, joined the teaching staff as the 1& 2 grade teacher. In 1999, Mr. Randy O’Neill joined the staff as Administrator for Development. In 2003 Steven Renfro became a teacher to replace Clara Caver.  In 2003 Mr. Randy O’Neill resigned as administrator and rejoined the school board.

All students were on reduced tuition and financial miracles continued to flow. In the spring of 1995 as the first summer approached, Pastor Caver was concerned about how could we pay the teachers during the summer months since all tuition payments would cease for the summer. In May 1995, the son in law of Sister Ella Montgomery who was the grandmother of Andre’ Mapps sent Ekklesia Christian School a check for $20,000.00! Numerous financial miracles have occurred since. In 1998 alone and without a major fund raising effort various people and organizations gave $60,000.00. Financial miracles continue from year to year to keep Ekklesia Christian School ministry.

By 1999 the school had grown to 39 students, 3 teachers, and 1 teachers’ aide. A portable building, The Michelle Chambers Building, was added to the campus in January 1997. Mrs. Chambers and Mr. Dimitri Caver developed over 40 scripture songs to help students memorize scripture and these songs were produced the Hide The Word CD in 1999. In 2002 Mr. Dimitri Caver donated over $300 from the sale of  the Hide The Word and It’s All About You” CD’s to Ekklesia Christian School. In 2002, Pastor Howard Caver donated $2,500.00 from the sale of his book, “Unhandcuffing God”

All students who remain at Ekklesia Christian School until they understand God’s salvation plan accept Christ.  Ekklesia students give over $1,000.00 each year to Christian schools or hospitals or other worthy causes. Students learn to joyfully give back.

During the first nine years of Ekklesia Christian School, Pastor Caver has assisted First Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas and Agape Christian Fellowship develop their own Christian schools.

Wednesday offerings of Ekklesia Christian School are given to schools the same size or smaller. Monies have been given to schools in Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, a school in an African village, and a school in Mexico. In 2003 students raised over $4,000 to dig water well in an African village through the James Robinson’s Life Outreach Ministry. The school and its contribution were featured on the James Robinson’s worldwide TV program in 2004.

On May 30, 2003 Andrew Chambers, IV and Ashley Simpson became the first 6thgrade graduates that began during the first year of the school and stayed until 6 grade graduation. Kourtney Brice who was the first non-World Missionary Baptist Church member to enroll at Ekklesia Christian School also graduated on May 30, 2003.

In 2004 Michelle Chambers became principal of Ekklesia Christian School. Having been board president since 1994, Pastor howard caver stepped down from that position in 2006. Sara Drummond became President in December 2006.

Future plans call for the building of a larger facility so that we may minister to 100 students.  While, at present, we have no money with which to get a larger facility, the World Missionary Baptist Church 2002 sale of the Immanuel’s Nursing Center building has made it possible for the church to purchase 6 acres on which to build the new church/school building. We have learned our FAITH lessons of the past.  GOD will also provide for the future.

2008-2009 FOUNDER’S MOST PRESSING NEEDS

FOR

EKKLESIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Developing servant leaders through an excellent academic and Christ-centered education.

1. Volunteers to sponsor 1 or more students by donating $300.00 a month for 12 months. Goal: scholarships for 15 students.

2. Approximately  6 millions to build a new school/church building.