‘Educating for Eternity’: Murfreesboro church dedicates renovated school building after years of closure

After closing its operations for eighteen years, the Murfreesboro, Tenn., Church re-started its school program in September of 2020. Two years later, on February 5 of 2022, the church held a dedicatory ceremony for the recently renovated school building.   

The Murfreesboro School had originally opened in 1973, but a decline in enrollment forced the school to close in 2002. According to Pastor Brian Milano, the members and church board of Murfreesboro wanted to see the school functioning again.

“They wanted [the school] to be part of the mission that I brought as a pastor,” Milano said. “And of course, I have I always embraced Adventist education. By September of 2020, God miraculously opened the doors to fulfill this dream.”

With the guidance of Pegi Flynt, Kentucky-Tennessee Conference (KYTN) Superintendent, KYTN approved to open the school in August of 2020. Two weeks later, the Murfreesboro School was operating again.

Though the school had a building of its own, it was in desperate need of renovation and needed to be brought up to code. For a year and a half, students met in the church’s fellowship hall.

The Murfreesboro church only had $2,300, but they calculated that it would cost over $60,000 to complete all repairs. Through the donations of church members and support of the KYTN conference, funds were raised, and all renovations were completed by Christmas of 2021.

“The total cost was nearly $62,000 and we actually had $2,800 leftover,” Milano said.

The renovation provided the school with new floors, windows, doors, cabinets, counter tops, bathrooms, fixtures, and a new library. During the Christmas break of 2021, volunteers helped Linda Dickinson, head teacher at Murfreesboro School, move to the remodeled classrooms.

“I know the church was just very dedicated to seeing [the school] open,” Dickinson, said. Dickinson began her education career in 1981 in the Murfreesboro School and returned from retirement in 2021 to help the school again. “There has been a lot of volunteer work as well as financial and spiritual support. We have been very blessed.”

Currently, the school has seven enrolled students. Milano says the goal is to eventually have 20 to 25 students.   

On Saturday, February 5, The Murfreesboro Church held a special church service where Milano talked about the importance of Adventist Education. This was followed by a special fellowship meal and a school tour. Flynt and Matt Pacer, KYTN associate superintendent, conducted the dedicatory ceremony and prayer.

“[In the long-term], I would like to see our school filled to capacity with young people that want to learn about Jesus,” Milano said. “Because that has to be the goal: It's not just about educating them for careers but educating them for eternity.”