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Mar 01

William A. Kirlew Junior Academy Serves as God’s Mission School

Valrey Francis, Ed.D.

Laila Jean Francois (left) and Briana Salmon attend WAKJA. Briana led Laila’s parents to send her to WAKJA, and Laila and Briana were baptized together. Then Laila’s mom and twin brothers were baptized.

Maranatha Child Development Center sits on the campus of Maranatha Church. Visionaries listened to the suggestion of Theslyn Brown, former director, to start a school to further facilitate the students, and Maranatha Elementary School was begun in the church.

A beautiful school building was later erected in 2005 to house students. The name was changed to William A. Kirlew Junior Academy (WAKJA) in honor of William A. Kirlew, D.Min., who is still active at 103 years old.

“The mission of William A. Kirlew Junior Academy is to provide a Seventh-day Adventist Christian education, K–8, in which students may develop and mature spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially.”

WAKJA continues to fulfill its mission. Faculty and students participate in chapel services on Mondays and an Adventist Youth service monthly on Friday. Every fall and spring, there is a Week of Prayer. This year, Karina Scarlett facilitated Week of Prayer for grades K-3. The students were deeply involved in the Word of God by engaging in activities relating to the theme, “Be Strong and Courageous with God.” Grades 4-8 listened intently to Becki Rogers, an author from Idaho. She impacted students with many stories of her conversion from devil worship to accepting the True and Living God.

Before COVID-19, Briana Salmon, now in grade 8, led Laila Jean Francois, her kindergarten friend, to accept Jesus. Both were baptized. Not ending there, Laila’s mom, Sheilene Jean Francois, and twin brothers, Joshua and Elijah, were also baptized. Nellie Holland, a third-grader’s parent, was convinced that Saturday is the true Sabbath and was baptized at Maranatha. Just recently, Glenda Quintero, Raheen Brown, Rodney Brown, and Maneo Lewis gave their young hearts to Jesus.

WAKJA’s mission is to allow students and family members to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. This decision will allow them to be prepared for Earth but more so, for the Kingdom of God. Then and only then will God’s mission be fully accomplished.

Florida | March 2024

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