About BCA

History

In September, 2002 eleven Haverhill, Massachusetts area families committed to meet monthly for one year to pray for students in our community. We recognized that academic instruction is the dominant activity in a child’s life and we prayed that education would combine faith and learning giving our children the biblical perspective necessary to relate their faith to contemporary culture. We prayed that our children would develop their skills and gifts to reach their full potential in academics, the arts, and athletics. We prayed that children would form healthy Christian friendships and in doing so would experience the joys of a nurturing faith community. We did not pray about founding a school. We maintained an attitude of excited expectation believing that God would answer these prayers as He saw fit.

After several months of corporate and individual prayer, we were approached by two men who wanted to share with us the story of the founding of Beacon Christian School in Salem, MA. God provided everything Beacon Christian School needed to open its doors for kindergarten through eighth grade in a very short period of time. They told us that the Merrimack Valley and North Shore areas needed a Christian High School desperately and they encouraged us to think about starting one. At the same time we were made aware that the recently vacated Bradford College campus in our community was available for lease or sale to an educational user. Inspired by the success of Beacon Christian School and the potential space available at Bradford College, we surveyed the community to determine whether area families would use a Christian middle and high school. Survey results were very positive. After further prayer, we decided to found Bradford Christian Academy, a college preparatory middle and high school. We announced our intention publicly in newspapers and area churches in September 2003. We set an opening date of September 2004.

As we worked to establish BCA, God provided everything we needed exactly when we needed it, and not one minute before! The events and circumstances that came together went far beyond mere coincidence and proved to us over and over that God was leading firmly and decisively. God provided the funds needed through the generous gifts of many people. He provided a wise, seasoned Founding Headmaster by sending Larry George. He provided excellent instruction in the classroom by sending gifted, experienced teachers. He provided for the purchase of our first academic building, the former Knipe School in Bradford. He provided all the desks, chairs, lockers, office furniture, computers, printers, and other school equipment. He provided a state-of-the-art athletic program at Cedardale Health and Fitness. He provided a lively, creative drama and music program with Acting Out. And above all, He sent wonderful families who filled our classrooms with their precious children. These students and their pioneering parents are why we are here. As our student body grows with each passing year, we remain thankful for the founding families who were the first of many generations who embody God's answer to prayer at BCA.

Written by Victoria Kennedy, BCA Founding President