Welcome to Maranatha Christian Academy

Our goal is to shape Knights of Faith by offering an education that will prepare students to impact the world for Christ through the career or personal opportunities they will have as adults.

Legacy of Leadership

In 1979, Maranatha Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Wallace Smith, purchased four acres of land on Oakvale Road with plans to build a new church, relocating from Highland Avenue in downtown Princeton, WV. Initially, the church had no intention of starting a Christian school, though Pastor Smith personally hoped for one for his children. Read full message >>>

Messages from MatherMom

Dear Knight Family,

As we step into our second year as the Maranatha Christian Academy Knights, my heart overflows with gratitude and pride for all that God is doing here. Yes, I could spend this space listing our accomplishments from the past year—the thousands of dollars donated; academic goals met; students excelling in difficult subjects because a teacher took time to learn how they learned; standardized test scores well above the state requirement; athletic achievements; and exciting facility improvements. And while all of that matters and I am truly thankful, it is not what I want to focus on today. What matters most is this: 13 students accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior this past year. That is what MCA is all about—helping young people not only learn and grow but build a relationship with God that will last for eternity.

When families come to us for admissions interviews, it is always encouraging to hear why they chose MCA. Several families seeking admission for this upcoming year specifically mentioned that our focus on presenting the gospel to our students was a primary reason for enrolling. Two of them spoke of our pillars of truth—Faith, Knowledge, and Love—and how much they wanted their children to be in an environment where those values are lived out daily.

I also treasure the grandmother who called to say how encouraged she was by the photos on Facebook of the many young families active in our school. She said it gave her hope to see a new generation committed to Christian education. And then there was the young, single mother of two little boys who told me, with tears in her eyes, “The most important thing in my life is for my babies to go to heaven with me, and people have told me you all focus on that—so I want them here.”

Last year, shortly after becoming the administrator, I stumbled upon an old green spiral notebook tucked away in a cabinet. At first, I thought it was just outdated forms, but to my surprise, it was filled with handwritten notes and typed pages from the early days of MCA. I became absorbed in reading the questions our founders asked themselves about why to start a Christian school. Though written over 40 years ago, their words are still profoundly relevant today. One line in particular captured my heart. In the very first student handbook, which was just 17 pages long, they wrote: “Teaching is training. Training is life, and it must include training for eternity.”

I wrote that down, and it has become my prayer: that 40 years from now, long after those of us serving today are gone, our successors will look back and find proof that we remained faithful. We produced graduates who are ready for college or a career; we provided an environment where students thrived; but above all, we trained for eternity.

Looking forward to another great year as a family of Knights.

Warm regards,

MatherMom

Cathy Matherly