High quality secondary education is an urgent need in Tanzania. That, combined with the fact that our standard seven graduates will have very few opportunities open to them come January, 2006, has led The Lion of Judah Academy board of trustees to cast the vision for The Lion of Judah Academy Secondary School!

When secondary school teachers visit our school, they consistently remark that our 5th and 6th grade students have already surpassed virtually all of their high school students in their knowledge base. What that means is that when our 7th grade students are finished at the end of the coming year year, going on to most secondary schools will actually be a step backward for them. And the few secondary schools which might be able to challenge them will be far beyond the financial means of our students.

With the urging of our parents, the board of trustees has set the goal of opening Form One classes (equivalent to our 8th grade) in January, 2007. After that, the board plans to add one new grade each year, for the next four years. To accomplish that goal means that, in January, 2007, we must have a classroom, qualified teacher, required laboratories and equipment (thankfully we already have more lab equipment than most secondary schools in the country), textbooks, and other essentials.

On the one hand, we know this is the next important step for the school.

On the other hand, we have no idea where the funding for this project will come from. But then, if we knew where it was going to come from, we wouldn't need to look to God for yet another miracle!

One very exciting development is that our parents' association has taken the initiative to help raise funds to build the first classroom. They have 'aimed high'! Tanzania is in the midst of a campaign to elect its next president. The parents' association approached the man who, very likely, will win the election, inviting him to come to the school for a large event designed to raise funds for this project. He has agreed to come, after the election is completed. Who knows what will actually happen? But we can only imagine the impact it might have upon the school if the President of Tanzania were actually to visit to help raise money to begin a secondary school. Who knows what God may 'have up His sleeve' next? Please pray!

In addition to its plan to begin a secondary school, the board of trustees is praying about and considering other needs and possible plans.

A particularly intriguing possibility has to do with teacher training. One of the school's great challenges is finding and holding on to qualified teachers who have strong Christian values, can teach in English, and are committed to the ministry and mission of The Lion of Judah Academy. Part of the problem lies in the way Tanzania trains and deploys its qualified teachers, and part of the problem lies in the area of Christian commitment, in a nation where the gospel was first heard only a little more than 100 years ago.

In any event, the board believes the solution to the problem might be to establish our own 'Christian teacher training college,' which would train teachers not only for our school, but also raise up scores of dedicated and committed Christian teachers who would teach in schools throughout the nation.

There is no shortage of hopes and dreams!