Many are aware that Faith Baptist Christian Academy of Ludowici recently experienced an investigation by the U.S. Homeland Security Department. We wish to express, first of all, our deep regret that such a situation has occurred. It has never been our desire to bring any undue attention or embarrassment to our ministry, our church or our city. We would, however, like to set the record straight on a few items.
Faith Baptist Christian Academy’s primary goal is to help the youth of southeast Georgia and any other youth we come in contact with. We strive to reach the heart of the individual and establish a Christian environment in which that individual can learn. We have educated students from over 20 different countries. These students from all across the world contact us by email and/or phone.
On Wednesday, March 25, Homeland Security showed up on our premises here in Ludowici. This was a direct result of an interview of four students in Lake Wales, Florida, who were mistreated by a school in or near Stockbridge, Georgia, more than 200 miles away from Ludowici. We are deeply saddened about those four students and how they were treated; however, those students were not mistreated by the staff or church of Faith Baptist Church or Faith Baptist Christian Academy in Ludowici. After reviewing the property and facilities of FBCA, the Long County Fire Department found several fire-code and safety violations. Once those violations were found, we had to remove the students from their dorm rooms. We have several dorm rooms on our campus. Some sleep six to 10 and others sleep four to eight, but none of them sleep 14, 16 or 20 as reports have alleged. Can we improve? Yes, we can. However, we do not, and never have, mistreated students.
Another misconception is that we charge students astronomical prices to come to our school here in Ludowici. We do not charge them the amount shown on the news. Many schools across America set goals for their tuition, but seldom are those goals met. Our international students here at Faith Baptist Christian Academy pay a reasonable tuition fee per month. This amount includes their food, boarding and education.
After hearing the news that we had to remove the students from their current living arrangements, we had the students placed with families in our church in less than 24 hours. All of our students have valid student visas, and still are attending school and participating in school activities. Our students are a part of our family here at Faith Baptist Christian Academy and are loved by those that come in contact with them. Do our students make mistakes? Yes, they do. But they still are loved and cared for, regardless.
Over the years, some students have left our school, and most of them left for personal reasons. When something like this incident with Homeland Security happens, all those people who have left us come out to tell everything they can to put down the parties involved. You cannot be in operation for more than 35 years and not have some critics. Please consider the following items:
• All students were fed on a regular, consistent basis and continue to be.
• All students were attending daily classes on our campus and were allowed back the very next day following the “raid.”
• All students attended Sunday school and Sunday-morning and Sunday-night services and Wednesday-night prayer meeting before and after the “raid.”
• All students had access to staff and teacher assistance whenever needed.
• Bathroom facilities were available and adequate to meet the needs of all students.
• We have been in complete and total cooperation with the Homeland Security Department and local law enforcement.
• We have been in complete and total cooperation with the Department of Family and Children Services.
• We have made mistakes, we are not perfect, and we are repairing the problem areas regarding fire and safety issues.
• We plan to continue reaching these young people for Christ while providing them with a quality Christian education and an opportunity to use their athletic abilities in extracurricular activities.
We are providing this written statement to acknowledge that Faith Baptist Christian Academy had several things wrong with our gymnasium facility, but that we are meeting those problems head on with full force. Many people ask why we didn’t take care of those problems before the “raid,” as news media called it. We were attempting to do so before the incident and have continued making significant progress in fixing those problems since. Our gymnasium has been a voting precinct for Long County the last two years and has been the main gymnasium for the Long County Recreation Department basketball league for the last four or five years and as recently as a month ago. Our facility has been a central hub for the community and will continue to be when these problems are repaired.
Faith Baptist Christian Academy is deeply saddened that anything of this magnitude would ever be attached to our ministry. We do not want to present an attitude of innocence or blame toward anyone else. This is our problem, and with the help of our church family, we will repair the necessary problems.
We want to thank the Long County Fire Department, the Long County Sheriff’s Office, the city of Ludowici Police Department and the local Department of Family and Children Services for helping our ministry in this time of need. Faith Baptist Christian Academy has the desire to help the youth of our community and the world and will continue to help all those we come in contact with. Faith Baptist Christian Academy has been operating for more than 35 years, and with the Lord’s help, and the help of our local community, we hope to be here for another 35 years.
Sellars is the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Ludowici and administrator of its school, Faith Baptist Christian Academy.

Sellars is the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Ludowici and administrator of its school, Faith Baptist Christian Academy.