Maranatha Christian Academy (MCA), located in Princeton, West Virginia, is a new school with old roots. Dating back to 1980, as part of Mercer Christian Academy, we serve students from preschool (K4) through high school. We’re excited about MCA’s inaugural 2024–25 school year!

A Legacy of Leadership

In 1979, Maranatha Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Wallace Smith, purchased four acres of land on Oakvale Road with plans to build a new church, relocating from Highland Avenue in downtown Princeton, WV. Initially, the church had no intention of starting a Christian school, though Pastor Smith personally hoped for one for his children.

Later that year, a high school senior approached Pastor Smith, urging him to consider starting a Christian school. Though he was hesitant, her words resonated with him, and he couldn’t shake the idea. After much prayer and reflection, Pastor Smith proposed the idea of starting a Christian school to the church deacon board. His vision was to build a caring environment where children of every ability were offered Christian leadership training with a solid academic education based on God’s Word. The deacons joined Pastor Smith in praying for two weeks before unanimously recommending to the church to establish Maranatha Christian Academy. The church fully supported their recommendation, trusting in God’s guidance and provision, and construction of the church and school building began on January 15, 1980. Maranatha Christian Academy opened on September 2, 1980, with 66 students. In 1984, Johnston Chapel Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Jimmie Jones, partnered with Maranatha to form Mercer Christian Academy, a joint venture that successfully served the community for 40 years.

In May 1995, Marvin and Cindy Mills moved to Princeton, WV, with a desire to find a church that had a heart for children. When they visited Maranatha Baptist Church and met Pastor Smith, they knew they had found the right place. In 1996, Marvin felt the Lord’s call to preach the gospel, and Pastor Smith became his mentor. Together, they prayed for the opportunity to expand the Christian school with a new facility, not knowing what God had in store.

In 2011, after Pastor Smith went home to be with the Lord, Marvin Mills became the pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church. Like Pastor Smith, he had a deep passion for Christian education and a vision to see the ministry thrive. He often encouraged the congregation with Matthew 17:20: “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Under Pastor Mills’ leadership, Maranatha broke ground in 2013 at the Wallace Smith Family Ministries Center, a facility dedicated to both church and school activities. Throughout his ministry, Pastor Mills was known for his humble declaration: “To God be the glory!”

In 2024, Maranatha and Johnston Chapel concluded their joint partnership and committed to supporting Christian education in their own unique ways.

In the spring of 2024, Maranatha Baptist Church voted to continue its commitment to Christian education by reopening Maranatha Christian Academy. Maranatha Christian is dedicated to continuing the legacy of beloved leaders by training children with our core values of Faith, Knowledge, and Love. Our mission is to see students reach their full potential by providing a solid academic foundation rooted in a Christian worldview, ensuring they grow in their faith in God and His Word, advance their academic knowledge, and understand that without love, nothing else matters.

Classes will commence on September 3, 2024.

Our Mission

Maranatha Christian Academy is a Bible-centered educational ministry dedicated to assisting parents and the local Bible-believing church in the task of training their children to reach their fullest potential, both academically and spiritually, recognizing each child as a unique creation of God.

More About Our History

Maranatha Christian Academy, a ministry of Maranatha Baptist Church, was founded by Pastor Wallace Smith and the congregation of Maranatha Baptist Church in 1979. It opened its doors in the fall of 1980 as an A.C.E. (Accelerated Christian Education) school. In the summer of 1984, Johnston Chapel Baptist Church, under the ministry of Pastor Jimmie Jones, became a co-laborer with Maranatha to begin a joint ministry in the Christian education of children. The name was changed from Maranatha Christian Academy to Mercer Christian Academy. At the start of the 2024–2025 school year, Maranatha Christian Academy became a K–12 school on the campus of Maranatha Baptist Church, where it will remain.

Statement of Faith

At Maranatha Christian Academy, we have identified 26 Christ-centered statements of belief to which all staff and students adhere. The first is:

We believe that the Bible, consisting of Old and New Testaments only, is verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit, is inerrant in the original manuscripts, and is the infallible and authoritative Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20-21; John 10:35).

We invite you to read and ponder all 26 beliefs as stated in the MCA Parent-Student Handbook.

Educational Goals

  • Spiritual: to present the Gospel in such a way that each child may independently give his/her life to Jesus Christ and have a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
  • Academic: to help the students discover and develop his/her God-given intellectual abilities, promote high academic standards, and help students gain a thorough comprehension and command of the fundamental processes used in communicating with others.
  • Personal/Social: to develop, within each student, a balanced personality based upon proper understanding and acceptance of him/herself as God made him/her and on the full development of his/her capabilities in Christ.
  • Physical: to promote fitness, maintenance, and respect for the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Please see the MCA Parent-Student Handbook to read our full statement of educational goals.