We are passionate about our students!

In 1974, five churches in Southwestern Michigan saw the need for Christian education and joined together in faith to establish Grace Christian School. What started as a few classes in a church building has grown to a 20 acre campus where GCS provides a non-denominational Christ-centered education for students from all over Southwest Michigan. From the first day of preschool through high school graduation, Grace Christian educates students from a Biblical worldview, equipping them not only for academic and professional success, but also to recognize God’s truth in a changing culture. An education at Grace Christian combines high-academic standards, small class sizes, sports and humanities programs, mission trips, community service opportunities, and most importantly, a focus on Biblical truth. A dedicated staff, commitment to partnering with families, and a diverse community of believers truly set Grace Christian apart.

In the 50 years since Grace Christian was founded, the need for Christian education has only increased. If you believe GCS is the right fit for your family, please contact us to schedule a tour.

Meet our awesome staff

Excellence in Education

Benjamin Williamson

Administrator
School Board President

Leslie Colford

Principal

Robin McBride

Elementary Music
Band
Choir

Kip Wellin

Social Studies/History
Athletic Director

Our History

1973

The year is 1973. The Vietnam War continues, Nixon is President, Roe v Wade is settled and prayer in public school is illegal. The “Open Classroom” and “New Math” experiments were taking place in public school systems.

Teachers who once were concerned with student behaviors like making paper airplanes, chewing gum, or running in the halls were now facing the social ills of divorce, teen pregnancy, violence, drug use, disrespect, and decreased SAT scores.

Christian parents in southwest Michigan were beginning to ask themselves if this erosion of standards could line up with a desire to teach and train their children to know and obey God’s Word or to stand firm on a foundation of Christ becoming young men and women of principle. As parents began to pray and seek solutions, it was evident that there was a need for Christian education in the rural tri-county area of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties. A place where God’s truth in science, history, math, and literature could be taught. A place where the Bible could be proclaimed and studied and hymns sung. A place where prayers could be spoken without reprisals. A place where teachers could be good role models and speak against wrong doing. A place that reinforced the standards and beliefs of the home and church. The people of Southwest Michigan wasted no time by just talking about Christian education, but they quickly took action.

In a true grass-roots effort, a local Pastor’s Association, composed of five local churches was formed and devoted to pursuing a Christian school for Southwest Michigan. This association worked tirelessly to raise funds and obtain an Education Administrator who could help navigate the group through the complicated maze of legal and governmental requirements of opening a school.

September 7th, 1974

On September of 7, 1974, the school opened its doors being initially housed at the Midway Baptist Church in Watervliet, MI with 64 students and thus Grace Christian School (GCS) was born! School leaders were grateful for the space at Midway Baptist Church, but dreamed of having an official school campus and building. Board members and administrators discovered a 24-acre tomato field which would be a perfect site for the school.

1976

With God’s grace and guidance, the association members prayed, sacrificed, worked, and donated resources in order to obtain the humble tomato field. In 1976, what once was a dream, became a reality and a permanent facility was constructed.

1978

Addition of the high school wing. As the building grew, so did the student body.

1996

In the fall of 1996, a ten year labor of love was completed when the multi-purpose gymnasium was inaugurated. The GCS varsity girls’ basketball team won the very first home game played in that gym.

2007

GCS continues to grow and thrive after more than 40 years. The most recent program additions are the creation of the GCS preschool program in 2007.

2009

Young 5s program begins.

2020 Virtual Learning & Covid

As fear gripped the world over an unfamiliar disease the staff at Grace Christian rallied to provide homework packets, set up daily correspondence, and building their online classrooms.  Despite the circumstances, students at Grace were inspired to continue learning even when the rest of the educational world seemingly sat on their hands.

2022 Expansion of Preschool

The summer of 2022 involved moving classrooms and modifying the modular to be the home of our expanded preschool for 3 and 4 year old’s.  Each age has their own room and teacher.   This resulted in a net loss of a classroom for the secondary school and left the band and choir classes setting up in the cafeteria, a promised temporary solution.

GCS is a private, non-profit Preschool through 12th grade school associated with the Association of Christian Schools International which offers high academic and spiritual standards.

We are currently the only non-denominational school in our tri-county area serving more than 15 communities and 50 churches. GCS is a unique educational experience which combines family values, spiritual growth, and quality academics. The school’s philosophy is built on five pillars: the supremacy of Christ, the learner’s need for a relationship with Christ, the primacy of the parent-child relationship, the commitment to a non-denominational evangelical philosophy, and the importance of an excellent education. The mission of GCS is to “inspire students to impact the world for Jesus Christ through an excellent educational experience from a Biblical worldview.” We teach truth in a caring, creative Christ-centered environment. A secular worldview holds that every student has truth within them.

At GCS, we believe that truth must be sought and ultimately found at the foot of the Cross. We equip students with skills to discover that truth within their studies and their everyday lives. We offer small class sizes and engaged instructors to develop a strong bond of trust, love, and faith. GCS has a wholesome family environment with a close-knit community where each member is important. Parents are an integral part of the GCS family and parental involvement is encouraged. Eight out of ten graduating seniors point to close relationships as their favorite memory of GCS. Each child is seen as an individual and teachers help them meet their God given potential in academics, fine arts, athletics, and spiritual growth providing a firm foundation for adulthood and responsible citizenship.

Graduates are serving in many leadership capacities locally, across the United States, and around the world. They serve as pastors, teachers, business owners, service men and women, missionaries, engineers, and artists. Some have returned to GCS to serve as teachers, coaches, board members, and parents of current GCS students. GCS stakeholders consider being entrusted with the education of children of alumni to be the most significant indicator of the school’s success. A few programs that make GCS unique are Buddies in Christ, Spiritual Emphasis Week, Elementary Speech Competition, and Community Service. The cornerstone of GCS is actively living for Jesus through community service and mission trips. Grace students learn the importance of leadership through service as they are involved in many community service projects including a Junior/Senior mission trip every two years as well as ministering locally to various groups throughout Southwest Michigan. They learn first-hand the hardships and challenges of others in which compassion and empathy are fostered within the hearts of GCS students.

With Christ at the center, GCS serves parents in fulfilling their responsibility of educating their children from a Biblical worldview. God took a humble tomato field and produced a fruitful Christian school, harvesting hundreds of graduates and still educating children’s hearts and minds in Michigan’s great southwest. It is our desire to reach even more families to share the rich education and experience that GCS has to offer.

About Our

Statement of Faith

About Our

Philosphy of Education

“Inspiring students to impact the world for Jesus Christ through an excellent educational experience from a Biblical worldview.”