What coulda been

Charlene dreamed of building a first-class Geezerville to compete with our worn and broken appearance. Driving by the old Madison Hospital one day, I thought about what a wonderful possibility was there. It could be an independent living retirement/assisted living/nursing home and motel for visiting relatives under one set of connected roofs.

The owners sold it cheap to the owner of Hobby Lobby. He, in turn, gave it to Bill Gothard Ministries for a massive tax write-off. The building sat fallow for years with an empty parking lot the size of a Super Wal-Mart's.

Driving by yesterday, I saw a sign for Accelerated Christian Education. Naturally, I came home and Googled the phrase. It is Bill Gothard's baby.

"Accelerated Christian Education, which provides curricula for home schools and church-based Christian schools, has moved its corporate headquarters from Tampa, Fla., to Nashville, Tenn. The company will employ 250 people in Nashville, including 100 at the corporate headquarters and 150 to be hired at a future distribution facility.

The corporate headquarters will be staffed by 62 employees making the move from Tampa and another 38 to be hired locally. The company's headquarters will be located in the former Memorial Hospital building at 610 W. Due West Ave., in Madison.

Founded in 1970 in Garland, Texas, A.C.E. assists local churches in starting Christian schools, providing K-12 curriculum and staff training. The A.C.E. curriculum and program are used in more than 6,000 Christian schools in 138 countries providing services to more than 1 million students a year with more than 1,000 contract affiliate employees."

Even when they have all 100 employees, there will still be room for an independent living retirement/assisted living/nursing home and motel for visiting relatives under one set of connected roofs. Then, they could really minister to folks who need them. All we need is a visionary dreamer with money.

AsA/DaD
"I like Ike" for President!