A classical Christian education is coming to Kinston.

A dessert social was held at Spilman Memorial Church in Kinston to raise awareness and funding for HOPE Preparatory School. The school will deliver a classical Christian education built on a solid foundation proven effective in other locations.

Dr. Vernard Gant, Director of ACSI A.C.E., Student Success Center in Colorado Springs spoke at the social. He posed this question: “If Christ were coming to a Christian school. What would it look like? Which children would he target? What would be his admissions policy?”

His message spoke of reaching children often missed because of various socioeconomic factors.

Diane Spear, a Member of the HOPE launch team and HPS Head of School, believes HOPE Prep will be a powerful and strategic solution to problems she sees around them in the community; poverty, crime and hopelessness.

The plan is for HOPE Prep to be an academically rigorous, classical Christian school that will be affordable to any child living in Kinston. HOPE will feature small classes of about 12 students and will range from kindergarten to second grade.

One of the most powerful speakers of the dessert social was a young man named Kenneth Granados, a 2018 graduate of HOPE Academy in Minneapolis, Minn. He said the education he received changed his life.

“I was spiritually starving,” he said, adding his teachers fed his mind and his soul.

An anonymous donor approached HOPE Prep leaders and told them if they raised $25,000, they will match it so that the total amount is $50,000. That seed money will help launch the school but they need monthly sponsors to ensure the school can continue to grow and prosper.

Those interested in donating directly to the school or by sponsoring a child can do so at the school’s website: http://hopepreparatory.org

Local businesses are also getting involved, Tom Vermillion, owner of Down East Protection Systems, has challenged other business owners to sponsor a child and get involved with this project. Gayla Vermillion, one of the HOPE teachers, also issued a challenge to parents who sent their children to private school. She hopes they will want the same level of education they wanted for their own children, to be available to another child.