SMART Academic & Enrichment Program

Shalom Community Christian Church | Greensboro, NC Initiative: Spiritual, Social & Emotional Formation for At-risk Students 
2023 Grant: $20,000

Providing a Safe Environment for Christ-Centered, Whole-Person Learning

More than twelve years ago, Dr. Eric Cole approached local school leaders and principals in his community of Guildford County in North Carolina, asking them how his church, Shalom Community Christian Church, could support local students. He found that many children were from low-income families and often lacked access to or didn’t take advantage of academic support, resulting in deficiencies across several school subjects, including math and reading.

At the time, there were few summer academic programs in Guilford County that could support at-risk students and help them hone and develop grade-appropriate skills. Dr. Cole, the senior pastor at Shalom Community Christian Church, saw the opportunity to fill that gap by creating a summer enrichment program based on the specific needs shared by school leaders.

“When we first moved into our building, we knew that part of our ministry was going to be in education—there were several schools within a three-mile radius of our location,” says Dr. Cole. “Around that time, the former superintendent of the school system held a Faith Summit to bring the faith and school communities together and brainstorm about some things we could do together within the parameters of state law. We knew we were not going to walk away from the summit without coming up with a tangible way to make an impact on students in our community.”

The SMART Program

Shalom’s SMART (Science, Math, Art/Agriculture, Reading, and Technology) Summer Academic and Enrichment Program launched in 2010, serving students from kindergarten through sixth grade all summer long. Pastor Dionne Cole, Dr. Cole’s wife, oversees the program as pastoral administrator. Many students begin SMART at least one level below their respective grade level in math and/or reading skills—but by the end of the summer, they often have the skills they need to be at or above their grade level.

Today, the SMART Program has grown beyond academics, providing lessons in spiritual formation, character development, and more. One challenge the Coles have faced in administering the program in past years is making the program accessible for the most at-risk students in the area. Many children don’t have transportation to the program or require unique support through individualized education plans (IEPs).

Shalom Community Christian Church received $20,000 through the Kingdom Advancing Grant to fund SMART initiatives that will support more underserved students in Greensboro. With the funds provided, the Coles and their team can purchase bus vouchers and hire support staff for students who might otherwise not be able to attend the SMART program.

“We want our program to be accessible to all students in our area—students who live in homeless shelters, students who have IEPs, students who face food insecurity, and more,” says Pastor Dionne. “This program is an opportunity for us to offer whole-life support and whole-life ministry to local families.”

Summers at SMART

The Coles designed the SMART Program with input from local Christian principals, administrators, and teachers who know the importance of ministering to the whole individual—not just the academic side. As a result, the program has been recognized as a "Guilford County Schools Approved Gold Summer Camp," indicating its high standing with the school system. At SMART, students receive enrichment opportunities in the morning, including spiritual formation, character development, nutrition, and financial stewardship. Afternoons consist of academic support and tutoring in the afternoon.

Most importantly, students at SMART receive an invitation to know Jesus.

“I teach finance classes to students, but I also get to share God’s love with students—I like to talk about how our classes are taking place in the House of God,” says Pastor Dionne. “In one of our classes this summer, I had a little first-grader come up to me and say, ‘Guess what Pastor Dionne. This is God’s house—and I belong to God.’ It’s so heartwarming to hear things like that.”

SMART is the only program in the Greensboro area that combines and includes spiritual, academic, nutritional, financial, and social components within an established program. The Coles and their team don’t just want to help students succeed in school, but also help them recognize their identities in Christ and encourage them to live as disciples for the Lord. The primary goal of the program is for students to experience whole-life enhancement through their relationship with Jesus, their academic capabilities, their nutritional intake, their financial stewardship, and more.

Dr. Cole and Pastor Cole believe planting seeds in their students will make a lasting difference for the wider community as SMART participants share what they’ve learned with their families. Additionally, the Coles have already talked to local administrators about replicating their summer program in other communities and offering an after-school program. Their focus on whole-person growth and achievement meets students where they are and encourages them to grow not just in academics, but in social, emotional, and spiritual health.

shalomword.org/s-m-a-r-t