Teachers give more than just their knowledge to their students; they give their hearts and lives to their students. Our hearts were broken and distressed when Hurricane Dorian devastated and almost wiped out  our beautiful island of Abaco, September 1st, 2019. We lost a lot, especially our fellow Abaconians.
   Just after Dorian, there were no primary schools ready to open and none seemed likely that they would open.  Mrs. Lydia Hill saw the urgent need to get as many of our children still on the island back into the classroom. She began discussions with various teachers who were still on the island at that time. I  had left the island for a month after Dorian so I was not in the early discussions. After my return back to Abaco in mid October, I became involved in distribution at New Vision where I learned about what Ms Lydia and some teachers were trying to do. It was at this time that I was asked to spear head getting a school open as the previous person who was spearheading it was leaving the island. A number of our present team here at Lifeway Academy came together and Rise Academy rose from the ashes of Dorian.
   The leadership of New Vision Ministries graciously allowed us to operate in their facilities and we are  ever so grateful to them. Everything that was needed - student supplies, teacher supplies and even snacks and food was graciously provided by God through local and foreign donations. God provided enough that we were able to share with other schools that were trying to re-open their doors.
  The doors of Rise opened in January of 2020 but due to Covid everything shut down just two months later in March 2020. There seemed to be no school that would be ready to open in September so we the teachers, continuing to follow Gods lead, checked into what would be needed in order for Rise to continue. This was not an easy feat as Covid was causing major problems and getting the necessary paperwork was difficult. Nothing was able to materialize for the rest of 2020. We did locate the present site for school to continue and I approached Mrs. Cecile about being Principal for Rise Academy whenever we were able to open. Meanwhile, I had not been successful in acquiring all of the proper paperwork and licenses needed for Rise to continue but God had a plan. God had been leading Mrs. Cecile and Mr. Troy to open a school and so what was once Rise merged into Lifeway Academy. We were all out of work once again, but we chose to “wait on the Lord” as we all felt this was God’s will. We agreed to take a pay cut, keep the tuition as low as possible to help out countrymen get back on their feet and educate our students to God’s Glory.‍
  In the meantime, in the summer of 2021, Mrs. Cecile, along with some of Lifeway’s teachers, were able to provide Summer school for 5 weeks at New Vision’s facilities. God continued to supply  from all over the world furniture, school supplies for students and teachers, appliances, walls, labour, toilets, sinks paint fire extinguishers, etc. for Lifeway Academy. Some items were in storage with various people waiting for the day they could be used. Other schools opened. The pandemic slowed receiving building supplies down to where we had a few weeks without any work being done because of lack of materials. The  devil tried to discourage us, but we looked to and prayed to God who not only finished the job but opened us in His name in October 18th, 2021. We praise God!
   People donated from $10  to hundreds of thousands of dollars in what you see here today. Chairs were sent for teachers, the benches now in the office came in our uniform colours when the senders did not know our colours. Enough equipment came that we were told, by Convoy of Hope, to share what we could not use with other schools. So a number of private and public schools, along with a few churches, received equipment from two drawer filing cabinets to conference tables, teachers desks, student desks, file folders and so much more. God is Good! He supplied even the little things.‍
   On July 15th, 2022, we closed for the summer break. God is Awesome! We want to thank Mr. Daren Albury for working with us to house Lifeway Academy here. Head Knowles, Convoy of Hope, ADRA, Rotary Bahamas Disaster Relief, Mr. Skip Smith, along with many others who have helped us open our doors, keep them open, and prayed for our service here. We serve God by teaching our students. Thank you for your help and for being here today. We praise God for all He has done!