Accelerated Christian                  Education

In 1996 a Steering Committee was formed to do all the preparatory work needed for starting an independent Christian School, as a ministry of Eshowe Christian Community Church.  Of course, starting a school involves a financial cost, and prayer and fundraising was initiated, with Pastor and Mrs Warren trusting God to supply the finance, but prepared to do their part in whatever way God led them.

Unbeknown to them, God was speaking to the heart of a “little old lady” far away in England.  Her daughter, Joyce le Fevre, was a member of the church for many years.   Margaret Warner had been managing to live frugally on a British Government pension since her husband passed away, and when she unexpectedly received an amount from a small insurance policy, she felt that she could continue to live as she had been, and sought the Lord about where He would like her to direct the money.  He prompted her to donate the money to the Eshowe Christian School.  This lady hadn’t previously known  about the finance needed for the school, and with the favourable Pound/Rand exchange rate, her gift was the exact amount needed to purchase the necessary equipment for the school.  Talk about a confirmation from the Lord!  I should like to add at this point that the school later established a special Award in honour of this lovely Christian lady - the Margaret Warner Compassion Trophy.  This floating trophy is presented annually to the learner who is observed to most demonstrate this character trait of Christ.

Pastor and Mrs Warren attended their first Administrator/Principal Training Course in Durban in 1996, and in January 1997, Eshowe Christian School opened its doors with 45 learners, Pastor Warren as the Administrator and Mrs Warren as the Principal.

At that time, most of the school was housed in the church hall, with the desks (we call them offices) arranged against the walls.  Every Friday, at the end of the school day, the learners would close up their desks, move the various pieces of furniture out of the way and set out the chairs for the Sunday Service.  After church on Sunday, members of the congregation would reverse the process on our behalf and set things out ready for school on Monday.

Sharing the church facilities worked very effectively, but the weekly packing and unpacking of the Learning Centre was quite a task, and we were delighted and most appreciative when the church built our lovely big airy learning centre and ablution block in 2012!  What a blessing!

Over the years, the younger grades have been housed in different parts of the extended buildings adjacent to the Manse, and these were renovated, as needed, by the church. 

Our Computer Centre was started in 2000, using the Futurekids / Skillspro program to equip our learners with technological skills. Mrs Jan Wiltshire ran the A+ course at one stage, and on several occasions ran the Computer Graphics course which was also attended by learners from other schools and even some adults.  We have had instances where the computer skills are what “tipped the scales” for a learner to land a job, over other applicants!  Jan ran our Computer Centre for us until March 2016, when she retired to focus on her Coffee Break magazine, and Kevesh Govender and Gerrie Wagenaar took over and are successfully running what she started.

Our school has always stood out in Sports amongst the ACE schools in Zululand.  For a number of years we held the School Spirit Trophy, and we have had many learners who obtained Northern Coastal colours, KZN Christian School Colours, and even South African Christian School Colours in a variety of sporting codes.  We have also had various staff members who have served on the KZN Christian Schools Sports Association Committee, which organizes and runs the Christian schools sporting events in KZN.

ACE National Office has a team of Regional Representatives (now known as Eduzone) who assess all schools on an annual basis, to ensure that standards are being maintained.  Schools are eligible for Status after being in existence for a year.  We are very blessed to be able to say that we have been awarded Quality Status every year since 1998.

In 2007, Mrs Warren was asked to join the team and become a Regional Representative in the Zululand area, and to assess and assist the ACE schools in Zululand.  She has done this most ably, with Pastor Warren’s assistance, since then and up until now.  This has entailed traveling as far north as Jozini, and visiting a range of schools, from the quite well-off to those making a difference under very challenging conditions as Mission Schools in rural areas.  Generally, Mrs Warren would meet with the staff and assess the school and give advice, and Pastor Warren would meet with the Pastor and bring encouragement and prayer.

The year 2000 saw our first graduates complete their Grade 12 requirements and receive their accredited certificates from School of Tomorrow.  We celebrated their success at the first of our annual Graduation Dinners.  It was a special and momentous occasion.  That evening, and at each subsequent  Graduation Dinner, we have honoured our learners for their achievement and glorified God for what He has done in their lives.

Many of our learners have attended the annual All Africa Student Convention, where ACE learners from all round South Africa, other African countries and even Scandinavia, meet and compete in a wide variety of events including sport, academics, stage performance, preaching, art, photography, carpentry, engineering, handwork, etc.  Our first attendee was Cynthia Bishop.  That was in 1998.  Since then, learners have attended every year and have won many awards during that time - but the biggest reward in our eyes is the life-changing effects that this Convention has had in the lives of our learners as God has touched their lives in the “week that lasts a lifetime”, as it is known.

Over the 20 years that we have been open, we have seen God at work in the lives of both students and staff.  As a Ministry of the Eshowe Christian Community Church, God has enabled us to reach not only the children that have passed through our school, but also their families and friends and even the surrounding community.  We may not fully realize the impact that has been made until we find out in Heaven one day.