Christian school finds new home in former gentlemen's club: 'A story that only God could write'
A Christian school in Wisconsin says that its prayers have been answered after finalizing the purchase of a new building, taking the place of a surprising former business.
Ozaukee Christian School tells Yahoo Lifestyle that they’ve leased several spaces since they were founded in 1990 and occupied one location for the last 19 years. But they say that their next location, which was formerly a Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen’s Club in Trenton, Wis., will finally be their home.
“The unusual building conversion is an answer to prayer that ends a years-long search for a building to call our own,” a statement from school administrator Kris Austin reads. “We have felt God leading us to a building of our own that will allow us to grow, to expand our ability to work with special needs children and to reach more families in Washington County, all the while maintaining strong ties with our families in Ozaukee County.”
The unconventional connection between the former and future property owners goes back to the beginning of 2017 when several school leaders became aware of the space before it was even for sale, and felt it would be a great fit. Over the next couple of years, Spearmint Rhino owners decided that they were ready to turn the space over and the school launched a fundraising drive in April 2018 to gain financial support.
“After months of phone conversations, emails and the abundant prayers of God’s people, we were
blessed with a signed purchase offer,” Austin’s statement continues. “It is a journey unlike anything we could have imagined. It is a story that only God could write.”
However, it’s not just the blessing of a permanent space that school administrators are excited about. But also the opportunity to turn the gentlemen’s club into a space with a bigger, more godly purpose, according to school board president, David Swartz.
“Women were turned into objects and to say now we’re going to transform that place into a place where boys and girls are raised to be our next leaders with character, right? Following God, is a story that you hear in the Bible,” Swartz told Milwaukee, Wis., news station WISN.
Before the transformation can take place, Austin says that they’re looking for a total of $2.2 million to complete the purchase and initial renovation.
“We are trusting God to provide the funds for this project,” his statement reads, “just as He cleared the way for us to buy this building.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
• Catholic school fires guidance counselor after almost 40 years because she married a woman
• Catholic school counselor says her career was ‘forcibly ended’ because of her same-sex marriage
• Catholic school denies enrollment to child of same-sex parents
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