Starting a School

People often want to know, "What does it take to start a school like the ChASM Project?" That's a great question, for a few reasons. First, as someone starting a school, it's great to be able to tell people what's happening. Second, people are better able to help when they understand our specific needs. However, it's the third reason that I'm going to talk about today.

As our name suggests, the Christian Alternative Schools for Men (ChASM) Project exists to operate Christian alternative schools for men, and the first step in operating those schools is to start them. We have a strategic growth plan, but the need for ChASM schools is so great that nearly every community needs one.

So how can you get a ChASM school in your community? The legalities vary by state, but in general, the first step is to get a location. Of course, most people aren't just sitting around with an empty school building waiting to be filled, but most people interested in starting a Christian alternative school are affiliated with a church. While many of these churches are full on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, they sit empty during school days. Not every church owns its building, not every building is large enough for a school, and not every building meets the state's regulations for operating a school, but many churches do meet these requirements.

If you see the need for a ChASM school in your community, the most important step you can take is to find a few churches willing to open their doors to boys in need. If you aren't ready to take that step yet, you can still help by supporting other locations, beginning with our first ChASM school, which is expected to open next month. You can help with this by giving towards our launch, sponsoring a student, or pledging your future support. Your help makes a huge impact, and I'm excited about how God is using all of us to transform the lives of young men!