For the past 17 years, the sounds of youth soccer games, pickup basketball, adult exercise classes and other activities filled the Gathering Place, part of Community Church of Greenwood.
But church officials wanted to go in a different direction with the facility.
This fall, the Gathering Place will have new life, as students and teachers from Greenwood Christian Academy’s high school program move in. School officials have reached an agreement with Community Church of Greenwood to turn the Gathering Place into a school facility.
“I think about our world right now. There’s so much pain, so much hurt, so much suffering in our community and our world. To be able to have a like-minded partner is an exciting opportunity,” said Jason Gallman, pastor at Community Church of Greenwood. “Even though they’re going to be running a school and we’re going to be running a church, we have a shared mission to present the hope of Christ to people and provide bridges to hope and practical hope to our community.”
Greenwood Christian Academy announced this week they are partnering with the church to move all of its academic, athletic and extracurricular activities for grades 9-12 to the Gathering Place complex. Students in preschool, kindergarten and first through eighth grades will continue to learn at the school’s existing campus on Worthsville Road.
The partnership was a way to solve issues for each entity — the school would get the space and facilities to meet its future needs, and the church could help an organization with a similar mission using an existing building.
“(Community Church of Greenwood’s) heart for athletic ministry over the years is a powerful one. Our desire is to make Greenwood Christian Academy a dynamic place and great option for families looking for Christian-based education,” said Mike Chitty, superintendent. “It really is a very sweet partnership due to the like-mindedness that both ministries have. It fits them, and it fits us. It’s a win for both ministries.”
Community Church of Greenwood opened the Gathering Place in 2004 to serve as a sports and fitness ministry hub for the Greenwood community. Youth and adult sports were held inside the facility, which featured an indoor soccer field, basketball courts and other areas for competition.
Fitness classes were held in small group rooms, and the Gathering Place’s weight room was always bustling.
But in September, church officials wanted to figure out a way to maximize the potential of the Gathering Place, by working with another ministry or organization to spread the hope of the Gospel in the community, Gallman said.
Their discussions led them to Greenwood Christian Academy.
“We’ve been praying and praying and praying for a like-minded partner to take us into a new season of ministry,” Gallman said in a video shown during services on Sunday. “Our specific prayer for the last couple months has been, God, show us how you are aligning resources in the community to equip the next generation of ambassadors of Christ. We believe God is answering that prayer in this partnership.”
Greenwood Christian Academy and Community Church of Greenwood have a longstanding connection dating back to the mid-1990s, when members of the church were instrumental in establishing the school. Sports teams used the courts and fields at the Gathering Place. The school, which opened for classes in 1998, now has about 500 students representing 75 area churches.
In recent years, though, growth had become an issue, Chitty said. The planned expansion of Worthsville Road would have impacted their athletic facilities. Some teachers currently had to share classrooms, and the tight quarters prevented school officials from implementing new programs, such as an expanded preschool.
“My vision for the school, even before this became a reality, was a desire to make GCA more of a community school — involved in the community, our students and staff, internships, activities and ministry opportunities,” Chitty said. “That’s a real heart of mine, and I know that’s a real passion for the church as well.”
The agreement between the church and school officially begins on June 1, when work to modify the Gathering Place for student spaces and other facilities will begin. Athletic facilities such as the basketball courts, soccer field and weight room will be retained, while offices and smaller meeting rooms will be converted into 10 classrooms.
“As a school that has elementary, middle school and high school, we have many, many needs throughout the year. I think during basketball season alone, we have 11 different teams that use one court. We’ve been renting courts around the Greenwood community for years, so this streamlines that entire process,” Chitty said.
Greenwood Christian Academy has dubbed the new facility GCA North, with the existing building rebranded as GCA South. The move will allow for significant facility upgrades and program expansions at both campuses, including the addition of preschool classes for 3-year-olds at GCA South, Chitty said.
Not only is the new location set to house the high school program, but it will serve as Greenwood Christian Academy’s primary athletics complex.
Community Church of Greenwood will continue to operate at its current location next door to GCA North. Scheduled fitness and exercise classes will be held at the Gathering Place until May 28, and work will begin in June to get the facility ready for staff and students in August.
“Much of the facility will remain as it is. That’s good for the church, and good for us,” Chitty said. “There’s work to be done, but it’s not like we’re coming in and tearing up the gym floor and creating space that way.”
