Save New Jersey United Christian Academy

Friends,

I hope this finds you well. My name is Coach Jim Ford. I am the Dean of Students and Athletics at New Jersey United Christian Academy in Cream Ridge, NJ. I am writing to you today to share the story of a small Christian school right here in your area with a deep history and solid educational foundation that is in need of financial assistance in order to stay open and continue its mission. The school was built on a Christian educational and moral foundation, and we have great students and teachers with huge hearts. However, we have recently fallen on difficult times due to gross mismanagement of funds by the previous Principal who has since been terminated.

United Christian Academy opened its doors in a church basement in September 2003 with twenty-seven students and four full-time staff members. During this first year, the students and staff prayed for the school's future and for a new building to house the school. God answered their prayers. A letter addressed to United Christian Academy was mistakenly delivered to Dr. Shinn, the founder of New Jersey Christian Academy. Dr. Shinn had a vision of beginning a Christian high school on his Cream Ridge, NJ property. The purpose of this school would be to develop Christian leaders. He asked UCA to partner with him in his vision. New Jersey United Christian Academy was started in September 2004 and twenty years later it is still training young Christians to be confident leaders both academically and spiritually. Dr. Shinn is the man who is responsible for making NJUCA what it is today. Dr. Shinn devoted his life to building and supporting this school through his leadership and vision. It all began when he provided his land to the school and built brand new facilities for the students, creating the NJUCA we know today. Dr. Shinn was a pillar in the school. He was a humble man of God whose main focus was to train young students to be strong Christian leaders. You can read more about Dr. Shinn and his vision in his book “God’s School” by Shin Jung Ha.

The school has been left in a significant amount of debt due to the gross mismanagement of funds by the former Principal and stands in jeopardy of closure, at least temporarily, until the financial management can be rectified and funding sources secured. A closure of any kind would significantly impact our students educationally and emotionally and our teachers financially. As of the writing of this email, our teachers have not been paid in three (going on four) pay periods. Yet, these dedicated servants continue to come to work each and every day to teach and support our students. I give them “cups of water” every chance I get, but I don’t know how much longer they can keep smiling and saying “Thank you.”

I am a proud employee of the school and it is with a humble heart filled with love for the students that I make this request. Proverbs 3:5 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on our own understanding.” We fully trust in God and His plan, and pray for wisdom and understanding at this time. Even the wise fisherman may trust God to bring him fish, but he still must cast his nets. That is why I prayerfully come to you now and humbly request any financial assistance and support that you or any philanthropic individual or organization may be willing to provide to help save our school.

I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you or anyone else in person and discuss further details of our financial needs and ways anyone might be able to support our school. Recently, Elder Sang Park, President of IWISH, Inc. and former EVP of Geo Cotech Corp., has voluntarily stepped in as our new Chief Operating Officer. Elder Park is working closely with our board and leadership team to find strategies for success. Elder Park has stated that he welcomes the opportunity to speak with anyone in person as well to discuss his vision and the vision of the school. I look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration. Be well.