Blackpool
A rollercoaster ride in Blackpool.
As far as we are aware, Emmanuel Christian School in Fleetwood was the first ACE school to open in the UK. Our founder and senior minister Dr. Michael B Smith had been approached by a number of parents who were uncomfortable with the increasingly godless education their children sat under in local state schools – one of whom was himself a teacher in one such school.
A visit to the States, the discovery of ACE, the determination to sacrifice time and money and an unassailable confidence that our God is a mountain-moving God were the seeds of a miracle – ECS opened its doors to 22 well scrubbed children from a dozen or so church families. They were all pioneers in every sense of the word.
That was be 30 years ago last January. I don’t think anyone can quite believe that so much water has passed under the bridge!
A detailed history of the school would read a little like the route of the ‘Big One’ down at the Blackpool pleasure beach. I think it’s described as a white knuckle ride! It is definitely not for those of a nervous disposition. God has never allowed us to be comfortable for very long. We outgrew the church quite some time ago and have seen God do amazing miracles in providing premises, teachers and finance and time and time again these things have come through prayer and tears and we have learned that God has a different timescale to the one we use!
It seems that God has different paths for each of us. He knows what He is doing and He knows what we need better than we do. The last thirty years have been rich. We have prayed much, stayed close and sensed His hand upon our offering and ‘Praise God’ we’re still here. What is more, over 500 children have had the opportunity to learn to see life from God’s point of view.
So what are our current challenges? We are busy developing our own bible-based curriculum and we are working hard to share our vision with anyone and everyone who will listen. We believe that if there was a need for Christian education 30 years ago, the need is stronger now than ever. Perhaps our greatest challenge is to convince the local Christian community of this need.
Oh! I nearly forgot to mention the other little blip on our horizon. The site we currently operate on is being sold for development. This means that we may need a new home in the next 12 months or so. God of course may have other plans – all we need is a few million pounds and a group of likeminded Christians to join with us and we could transform this 100 acre site into a multi-Christian agency complex housing numerous projects and missions. Do you know anyone who might be interested?
God is already answering prayer in wonderful ways and although we can’t see the inheritance He has reserved for us just at the moment, we welcome it at a distance and in the meantime we continue to run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2).
We are very pleased to be a CST member school and would like to extend a warm invitation to like minded schools to make contact, visit even! We can surely do more together than we can apart.
Rob Guinney
Post script. Emmanuel Christian school is currently looking to recruit a new Head teacher due to Rob Guinney's move into church ministry. If you know someone who may be interested please ask them to contact the school on (01253) 882873 or email admin@emmanuel-christian-school.co.uk
As far as we are aware, Emmanuel Christian School in Fleetwood was the first ACE school to open in the UK. Our founder and senior minister Dr. Michael B Smith had been approached by a number of parents who were uncomfortable with the increasingly godless education their children sat under in local state schools – one of whom was himself a teacher in one such school.
A visit to the States, the discovery of ACE, the determination to sacrifice time and money and an unassailable confidence that our God is a mountain-moving God were the seeds of a miracle – ECS opened its doors to 22 well scrubbed children from a dozen or so church families. They were all pioneers in every sense of the word.
That was be 30 years ago last January. I don’t think anyone can quite believe that so much water has passed under the bridge!
A detailed history of the school would read a little like the route of the ‘Big One’ down at the Blackpool pleasure beach. I think it’s described as a white knuckle ride! It is definitely not for those of a nervous disposition. God has never allowed us to be comfortable for very long. We outgrew the church quite some time ago and have seen God do amazing miracles in providing premises, teachers and finance and time and time again these things have come through prayer and tears and we have learned that God has a different timescale to the one we use!
It seems that God has different paths for each of us. He knows what He is doing and He knows what we need better than we do. The last thirty years have been rich. We have prayed much, stayed close and sensed His hand upon our offering and ‘Praise God’ we’re still here. What is more, over 500 children have had the opportunity to learn to see life from God’s point of view.
So what are our current challenges? We are busy developing our own bible-based curriculum and we are working hard to share our vision with anyone and everyone who will listen. We believe that if there was a need for Christian education 30 years ago, the need is stronger now than ever. Perhaps our greatest challenge is to convince the local Christian community of this need.
Oh! I nearly forgot to mention the other little blip on our horizon. The site we currently operate on is being sold for development. This means that we may need a new home in the next 12 months or so. God of course may have other plans – all we need is a few million pounds and a group of likeminded Christians to join with us and we could transform this 100 acre site into a multi-Christian agency complex housing numerous projects and missions. Do you know anyone who might be interested?
God is already answering prayer in wonderful ways and although we can’t see the inheritance He has reserved for us just at the moment, we welcome it at a distance and in the meantime we continue to run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2).
We are very pleased to be a CST member school and would like to extend a warm invitation to like minded schools to make contact, visit even! We can surely do more together than we can apart.
Rob Guinney
Post script. Emmanuel Christian school is currently looking to recruit a new Head teacher due to Rob Guinney's move into church ministry. If you know someone who may be interested please ask them to contact the school on (01253) 882873 or email admin@emmanuel-christian-school.co.uk
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