Pastor Mark Burns announced that he plans to create a Christian military academy to combat woke ideologies.
The South Carolina pastor announced his plans in a Facebook post on October 5.
“In response to the growing influence of the ‘woke’ agenda in American public schools, I am proud to announce the upcoming establishment of BURNS MILITARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY in Easley, SC, slated for the 2024-25 academic year,” he wrote. “Our mission is to provide an affordable, pro-American education with a strong emphasis on biblical teachings, and to create an environment where children can learn and grow without the need for discipline or court-ordered attendance.”
“Our goal is to keep our rates extremely low at $200 per month per student,” he added.
He described that the academy will “instill good morals and a love for our country” while ensuring students will not be exposed to “LGBTQ, CRT, or ‘woke’ teachings.”
Describing the project to Newsweek, Burns said, “I believe it is the obligation for the Body of Christ to protect our children from such liberal unbiblical ideologies, which is why I’ve founded the Burns Military Christian Academy. Our focus is not to wish harm on any LGBTQ persons but to pray for them and show them the love of Jesus Christ while teaching against that and other sinful lifestyles that the Bible warns us against.”
The term ‘military’ is used because Burns believes Christians are to be the “Army of the Lord.”
“We are not affiliated in anyway with the US Military,” Burns noted. “Our Goal is to give our students a pro-American education with a Christian emphasis to prepare them for college, technical school or apprenticeship in a skilled position and to grow into adults that have good high morals.”
The move comes as the United States Military Academy at West Point is pushing its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agenda by offering a “Diversity and Inclusion Studies Minor.”
“The Diversity and Inclusion Studies Minor (DISM) exposes cadets to varied perspectives & methodologies for understanding and studying the humanities,” reads a description of the minor. “By carefully drawing from existing courses in multiple departments, the DISM complements and enhances the core curriculum, academic majors, and several West Point Centers and committees.”
“Moreover, the DISM at West Point offers cadets a framework for critically and creatively thinking about the broader impact of diversity and inclusion at the individual, organizational, societal, and/or global levels – providing them with knowledge and insights that can help prepare them to lead in today’s Army.”
