Our History

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It was in the spring of the year 1980, when Don and Ruth Nichols began their search for a suitable school for their first child, who was approaching kindergarten age.  They were troubled with limited options, and Rev. Nichols was especially concerned for the members of his church, Lima Pilgrim Holiness Church, as the church covenant directed its members to give their children a "guarded, Christian education."  How could they fulfill this directive when there was not a local school that met the criteria? 

Through the next couple of years, God saturated Pastor Nichols' heart with a burden to fill the need of a conservative, Holiness Christian day school in Lima.
With the support of the church board, Pastor Nichols and his wife, Ruth, began the work of preparing for the opening school year.  Accelerated Christian Education was chosen as the curriculum provider. 

 

 

 

 

 

In August of 1983, Pilgrim Christian School opened its doors with 25 eager students.  Classes were held in the church basement, the Nichols' camper was used as a lunch room, and the church yard on the busy corner of State Routes 501 and 117 was the playground.  Memories of those early days are sweet.  God's presence often saturated the chapel services as students minded the promptings of His Spirit.  The Lord's blessing was on the new school, and it was evident that the burden He had placed months earlier was now bearing fruit.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1985, after outgrowing the little church on the corner, the members of the church voted to purchase a larger facility at 797 West Robb Avenue on the north side of Lima.  School enrollment rose.  The building was a constant bustle of activity.
Within a couple of years, the school experienced growth and more staff members were hired.  The first edition of the school annual, Pilgrimage, was published in 1988, and the school began offering a Senior Class Trip in the early 1990's. 
In 2006, the Lima Pilgrim Holiness Church purchased a church/school building with eight acres at 2100 West Breese Road in Shawnee.  This purchase allowed the church and school to function under the same roof but have separate areas for ministry.  The current situation allows the school to have three classrooms, and additional two rooms for extra-curricular activities, a storage room, restrooms, a kitchen/cafeteria area, and a main hall, the Commons, where the students have lunch, chapel, parties, and recreation during inclimate weather.  In 2011, a preschool class was added to the K-12 offerings.