Founded in Faith. Standing on It Still.
Founded in 2006, Agape Christian High School partners with home and church — a cord of three strands — to shape students of faith and character in Southern Illinois.
Three schools. One statement of faith.
In 1978, Brother Ralph Brandon founded Unity Christian School. For fifteen years he carried a bigger idea: that the region’s scattered Christian schools could come together into one high school — stronger academically, deeper spiritually, harder for the world to pull apart.
In 2005 the timing was finally right. Three separate Christian schools merged. Each gave up its own name, its own colors, and its own teams to do it.
It wasn’t easy for them to give up their sports identity. But it was a big statement of faith for all of the schools.Brother Ralph Brandon, Founder
Why We Exist
A cord of three strands.
Brother Ralph’s founding vision was simple: a child is shaped by three voices. When home, church, and school all say the same thing, the cord holds.
Home
The parents hold the beliefs. Everything else reinforces what begins at the kitchen table.
Church
The local church disciples on Sundays. Agape partners with congregations, not around them.
School
Five days a week, in every subject, the same voice: listen to Him.
Do not despise small beginnings.
Agape opened in a rented church basement. No windows. No cafeteria. Barely enough students to field a basketball team. The teachers came from the three merged schools; the first science lab was whatever chemicals could be found in a kitchen.
Agape Christian School is a miracle. There’s no way in the natural we could be where we are. He did not teach us how to swim just to watch us drown.Brother Ralph Brandon
Our methods may change, but our message will never. You’ll have many roles in life — but you only have one purpose, and that purpose is to glorify God.
Brother Ralph Brandon, Founder
The main thing stays the main thing.
Twenty years on, the basement is a building on Route 13 with a real science lab and a reputation families drive past and trust. What hasn’t changed is the reason any of it exists.
Brother Ralph founded it. Seth Knox carries it now. Same vision, same voice, same cord of three strands.
Read our mission & vision →Come see what God built here.
Drive by on Route 13 and you’ll see a sign. Come inside and you’ll see the reason. Schedule a visit and spend a morning with us.
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