JACKSONVILLE, Ark. (KATV) — After a long and challenging journey that started with a viral social media post and a sudden scramble for a new building, Kingdom Christian School is ready to open its doors in Jacksonville.

School leaders said the turning point came after they arrived at their former campus and learned the building had been sold and they needed to find a new place. J. Travis Larison, president and executive director, said that day, “Next to the school sign was a construction sign, and it said, ‘Be prepared to stop.’ And I took a picture of that, and that post went viral.” He said the school has “come a long way since then,” and now has a new building in Jacksonville ahead of the upcoming school year.

Larison said the school’s motto is “educating minds, growing disciples,” and described the campus as faith-based, with Bible taught daily along with other core subjects. He also said all teachers have college degrees in their field.

One of the school’s biggest selling points, leaders said, is small class sizes. Larison said the school caps classes at 15 students “so your child can get the attention they deserve,” calling smaller class sizes “our secret sauce.”

Kawai Mullen, principal, said the school is also focused on building something new in the community and welcoming families in. “We’re in a new location. We’re in a new building, so we’re building something new in that community,” Mullen said. He added the school wants to support students “not only academically but also in a community aspect as well.”

Larison also addressed common misconceptions about private and faith-based education. He said, “We’ve never turned anybody away because of finances,” and emphasized that the school is not a micro school or homeschool co-op. He said the school’s teachers “do have to have the same certifications that a public school teacher would have to have,” and said families can “have both” a quality education and a Christian environment.

He also said the school is not trying to compete with other schools in the area. “I believe a rising tide lifts all boats,” Larison said, adding the school wants to be one of several good options in Jacksonville and has already partnered with a charter school in town.

Kingdom Christian School will serve students from pre-K through sixth grade and is still enrolling. Leaders said there is no hard enrollment deadline, but once a class reaches 15 students, additional students will be placed on a waiting list.

The school’s official opening day is August 12. An open house is set for August 10, and the school also holds open houses every Thursday, including one this Thursday and another next Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.

More information is available online. Families can also call 501-424-4952, search “Kingdom Christian School Jacksonville” online, or find the school on Facebook.