HISTORY

In 1996 there were approximately 100,000 first-generation Chinese in Panama and only 2 evangelical churches that preached the gospel in the Chinese language. One was in Panama City and the other in Colón. There were less than 100 members in the congregation. Both functioned under the name of the Chinese Christian Mission of Panama.

During the 1997 Easter Retreat, these 2 churches created Vision 2000/2000. This vision consisted of evangelizing and discipling 2000 people (especially Chinese) by the year 2000.
To fulfill this vision, 9 goals were set that would contribute to making this vision a reality. Among these goals was the creation of an evangelical school. So in 1998 we started a pilot program called “After School Classes” and an English program for adults. They did not have much results.

 

 

In 1999 the procedures and application for the creation of the Panama Christian Academy began. A company was opened by the name of Panama Christian Academy. Work was also done on the proposal and curriculum design to submit it to the Ministry of Education. However, the year 2000 came and went and the request within the Ministry of Education was already in place. It took 2 more years for the Ministry of Education to approve the curricular design and give us the resolution where officially PCA could start classes. In December 2001, in a meeting, it was agreed that if we received the approval of the Ministry of Education before January 31, 2002, that year we would start with the Academy.
The Lord gave this permission. On January 28, 2002, we received approval from the Ministry of Education to begin work. Classes began the first week of March 2002 and we had NOTHING. The Lord Himself provided funds to purchase furniture and the curriculum. The Chinese Evangelical Church granted us the use of its facilities for the beginning of classes… Now the students were missing.

That year, 2002, we officially started the Panama Christian Academy with 27 students in grades K4, K5, and 1st grade. It was an exciting year as well as stressful. We had 2 teachers of English, 1 of Spanish and 1 of Chinese, in addition to the administrative and cleaning staff.
First, we give thanks to Our Lord Almighty, who has allowed us to get to where we are. We know that the Panama Christian Academy is here because God wants it to be. We thank the parents who have trusted PCA as an educational alternative for their children. Also to our students for being willing to learn what we have for them. To our teachers and collaborators for always giving the “extra mile” to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.