CLC: Organization depends on volunteers
The Fannin Christian Learning Center (CLC) is celebrating 25 years of bringing the Gospel to high school students in the county.
Over 3,000 students have studied at the CLC, and many have gone on to be pastors, doctors and parents, which is the ultimate calling, Executive Director Tina Lee said.
Lee, who has been director since the organization’s inception credits God and the community for its success.
“The community really does support us well,” she said adding they have remained debt free through their support. “I have never experienced community in my life until I moved here (from Texas).”
Additionally, she expressed gratitude for the 18 churches, 49 businesses and numerous individuals that have supported their efforts this past year alone.
The CLC has three staff members aside from Lee: teachers Jared Herum and Caitlyn Lindley and Office Manager Alyssa Hooper.
Lindley is a former CLC student, and there are also a couple board members who were CLC students, Lee remarked.
Volunteerism is big for the organization, Lee said, as all their maintenance and landscaping is done at the will of volunteers.
“We are not a church or typical school,” she said before stating that she would call it a combination of class and youth group.
At the CLC, building relationships is key. Lee added that they try to “invest in the students” through prayer and attending ballgames, plays and concerts.
She recalled attending a basketball game when a former student called to let her know he had proposed to his girlfriend and wanted to tell her how it went.
She said she hears from former students “all the time” and recalled a student’s testimony of witnessing to someone on the bus.
Ultimately, she said, “raising disciples is what it’s all about.”
Of the curriculum, Lee said they do “require them (students) to learn,” and this past semester students have dived into a complete overview of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
Operating as a “special-purpose school,” students are released from the high school to the CLC for class, and the course shows up as a transfer credit on their transcripts.
She said students can take the course up to eight times or twice per year. Those who do take the class throughout high school receive a $5,000 scholarship.
Lee hopes to expand the CLC’s mission of “enabling students to apply the Bible to their lives” to the middle school. In order to do so, they will need the school board’s approval as well as “double” the support, she said.
“There’s no reason to think God won’t provide,” she added.
She explained that today’s middle school students are exposed to more thus her desire to get involved with that age group.
Lee said they will host an anniversary celebration this coming spring; although, nothing has been solidified yet.
The CLC is a non-profit organization. Learn more about them or donate on their website, www.fanninclc.com.