CLEVELAND — Once an arcade, students now enter the building to learn more about life, relationships, and responsibility.

Nearly four years ago Michael and Teresa Leahey saw the beginning of their vision to reach youth when part of a building adjacent to White County High School became available. The result was Catalyst Christian Learning Center. Since then the Leaheys, both Georgia Baptists, have witnessed more than 400 students volunteer to take part in the biblically-based classes.

“It’s an opportunity for us to show the love of Christ and at the same time teach students to hold themselves accountable for their behavior patterns,” said Michael Leahey. “[At this age] they’re going to make decisions that will impact their lives forever.”

He estimates the center has averaged around 110 students a year since opening. Of that number, more than 70% are unchurched.

The 1952 U.S. Supreme Court case of Zorach v. Clauson opened the door for religious education during school hours, provided the classes took place off campus and no public funds were used. Last year Georgia made national news when the state school board adopted a curriculum on the Old and New Testaments that may be taught in school classrooms.

“We were able to get the [local] school board to approve combining the Old and New Testaments into one class,” said Leahey. “This way a student can receive full credit within one semester course. We offer three classes: Boundaries, Choices and Changes, and The Bible and its Influences.”

 

Alternatives for at-risk students

Seven classes are taught at Catalyst, Leahey added. The Bible and its Influence and Choices and Changes are each taught once while five classes of Boundaries meet daily. Scripture is used to back up the lessons. Verse memorization is checked on Fridays.

“Students today and young people are looking for truth and this is another opportunity for unchurched kids to come here and take a Bible course,” said Leahey. “The environment is not the same as at a church.”

At-risk youth also take part through the S.U.M.M.I.T. program (Students Undertaking a Mission to Make It Through). Rising freshmen at WCHS who didn’t pass the necessary courses but were instead placed in ninth grade can make up the work. Before placement, however, Teresa Leahey, the principal of WCHS’s ninth grade academy, and the director of a local night school must meet with the student and a parent.

Stipulations are the student must attend a Bible course on character education, attend night school to get caught up, and continue to complete their current studies as freshmen. If the parent doesn’t want their child to participate, other avenues to catch up on work are presented.

White County School Board member LaMerle Edwards testifies to the impact of Catalyst, which operates on no public monies but only through individual and group donations.

“They are able to work more on an individual basis with those kids having problems in the normal setting of school activities or coping with the world in general,” she said. “Catalyst meets needs on a moral basis with principles taught from the Bible. You can’t do that in public education.

“Parents love the program,” she added. “Their child might be totally against going to school at first, but eventually change after going to the center. Teresa and Michael communicate to students that they have talents and need to use their gifts.”

Lindsay Davidson first learned of Catalyst through an informational booth at Concord Baptist Church in Clairmont.

“I started talking to them and it seemed really interesting,” she said. “It’s different from normal classes.”

Davidson, a senior, stated the classes taught her more about the Bible and its real-life applications.

“I learned a lot about working with different people and building strong relationships. My family has always gone to church, but I still learned more about the Bible.

“Once [other students] take the classes they like it and stay with it,” she said. “For me the subject focused on my beliefs.”

Another component of Catalyst is life coaching. In addition to classrooms, small counseling areas are available for students to discuss issues with mentors from the community.

A licensed counselor, Jim Gant, minister to students at First Baptist Helen, says the opportunities to make a difference in a young person’s life is open to anyone with the desire to do so.

“Life coaching is different from counseling,” he said. “There are a lot of ramifications of counseling you’re not going to address in this setting. This is more along the lines of helping them set goals for the future.”

Once a week Edwards and her husband, Frank, go to mentor two students.

“We go and work with them for about 30 minutes,” said Edwards. “We talk with them and help them set goals for the next week, hold them accountable for tests they’re trying to pass. We just want them to know people care.”

Another highlight of the week is on Fridays, she added, when students have a roundtable where they evaluate their progress.

“They discuss their week and how they’re doing. It forces them to do some soul-searching and plan for the future.”

Michael Leahey sees the impact of Catalyst lasting longer than after spring commencement.

“We feel the reason we’re seeing so many unchurched kids have success with this program is because we’re modeling agape love. We want kids to see what means to have a Christ-centered life.”