A School for the Community

“I am thankful to have a refuge for students where they can grow and learn about God’s love,” says Carrie Suess, San Marcos Adventist Junior Academy (SMAJA) Principal.

SMAJA is a close-knit school community located between San Antonio and Austin. The San Marcos Adventist Church was founded in 1960 and began with 25 charter members who met in a funeral home parlor. Now, the church has almost 300 members who meet in a beautifully renovated sanctuary and it has its own school with 50 students meeting in a new building.

With a mission to prepare each of the students to look Heavenward, the Kindergarten to tenth-grade program has four full-time teachers, a teaching principal, and a front office manager. The culturally diverse student body is composed of children from an additional four area churches and the community.

“With over 78% of our church budget going to the ministry of the school, our church family understands that this is an investment,” Josue Murillo, San Marcos Seventh-day Adventist Church Pastor, shared. “It’s not only an investment in our future, but could change the whole scenario for our nearby sister churches as we see these children stay close to God and in the church––going onto an Adventist college, and continuing to serve Him wherever He takes them.”

"Not only does SMAJA offer a strong academic program,” said Anthony Stahl, Central Texas Medical Center President and CEO, “but they teach durable, Christian values to our young people who are the future leaders of our community. We are a proud partner of the school and look to the future with great optimism."  

By Kristi Reeves