3 minute read
Unity Christian School
from October 2021
Unity Christian School For Eleuthera
When Athletic Director Russ Dyer came to Unity, he knew that the Lord was calling him to a special, specific ministry. For Dyer, athletics at Unity is about much more than the competition—it is a means of discipleship. To that end, Dyer began challenging his coaches and teams to think of creative ways to serve their community, and it was not long before God laid a mission trip on his heart. Partnering with Rob Davis, Unity’s Director of Spiritual Life, Dyer began to consider the opportunities available to Unity students.
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“I wanted a place where our students could use not only their athletic abilities but also the theology and communication skills that they’ve learned during their time at Unity to share the Gospel. Because many of our students have never been on an international mission trip, we wanted to find somewhere that was easily accessible and 22 // October 2021
organized in such a way that our students could find many opportunities for service in the community,” said Dyer.
“I immediately thought of my former pastor, Bill Landers. Bill served as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Lindale several years ago, prior to his call to serve in Eleuthera, Bahamas, as a missionary with the Caribbean Ministries Association. I reached out to him, and he immediately responded with a resounding yes.”
Bill and Teresa Landers spend their time in the Bahamas training and equipping pastors and church leaders, supplying food and other resources for those in need, and providing a safe place for kids of all ages to engage in athletic activities. After five years of ministry in Eleuthera, their mission complex has grown to accommodate teams of short-term missionaries who desire to partner with them in serving the people of Eleuthera.
A flurry of emails and phone calls later, and the vision for a partnership with For Eleuthera was formed. In addition to formulating a plan for strategic ministry opportunities in the Bahamas, Unity administrators also considered how the school could partner with local families who expressed a desire for their children to receive a Christian education.
“We had only been talking for a few weeks when Bill told me about a student who wanted to be in a Christian school. The only Christian school available to her was accessible by ferry—about a four-hour round trip—and was shut down due to circumstances surrounding the pandemic,” stated Dyer.
In May of 2021, a team of Unity administrators, led by Eric Munn, Unity’s Head of School, visited Bill’s ministry facility in Eleuthera to lay out the plans for a partnership with For Eleuthera. While they were there, they met dozens of students who expressed interest in studying in the states at Unity. Out of those nearly thirty students, four students applied for admission and committed to attending Unity for the 2021-2022 school year.
“I’ll never forget the young man who stopped me on the bus and asked, ‘Coach Russ, did I make it? Can I go back to the U.S. with you?’” said Dyer, emotion clearly visible on his face. “It’s such as blessing to be able to partner with parents in the Bahamas in providing a Christ-centered education for their children. When we started thinking about this, we set out to meet a need in a community, but we had no idea that we would be the ones who would be blessed by seeing these four awesome kids walking our halls at Unity every day.”
Ondreo Sawyer, a freshman from Harbor Island, stated, “I love Unity because everyone is so kind, the education is advanced, and I have the opportunity to play sports.”
“My teachers care for me and encourage me to do well. They always help me when I need it, and they model Christ in the classroom,” said sophomore Quintaesha Johnson.
Drevonte Smith, a sophomore, added, “The environment at Unity helps me focus on my work.”
Jeremy Davis, also a sophomore, stated, “Teachers give me one-on-one support when I really need help. In Unity’s small classes, I can focus without distractions. Additionally, all the people are so nice.” A distinctly Christian institution, Unity Christian School focuses on four main pillars: Academics, Athletics, Fine Arts, and Spiritual Development. For more information, visit www.exploreunity.org.
