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Germany is located in Central Europe, shares borders with nine other countries, and has access to both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. It encompasses a large variety of topographical features, including flatlands in the north, hilly regions in the center and west, and mountains in the south. Black Forest Academy is located in the southwestern corner of the country in the state of Baden Württenburg.
Prior to WWII, Germany consisted of a conglomeration of diverse states with a common language and traditions, which were unified into one empire in 1871. This unification only lasted 74 years, during which time Germany grew into a strong industrial and military power. After its WWII defeat in 1945, Germany divided into four sectors. In 1949, the sectors controlled by France, Great Britain, and the U.S.A. became the Federal Republic of Germany. The Soviet controlled sector later became the German Democratic Republic. October 1990 marked the re-unification of the two Germanys, creating the nation with the largest population in Europe west of Russia.
Having one of the world’s strongest economies and the common currency of the Euro with the Common Market, Germany has become a leading power in the European Community.
The German people are traditional in culture. Religious holidays are observed with family activities, church services, and the closing of all businesses. Sunday is set aside for rest and leisure. But there appears to be a spiritual emptiness and tolerance for any "wind of doctrine." The German people are generally financially secure and materialism is quite normal. The need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is evident as the German people search for a sense of worth and purpose in their lives
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Black Forest Academy is located in the southwestern corner of Germany, a 20-minute drive from Switzerland and France. This location provides excellent opportunities for academic field trips to cultural and historical sites in these three countries.
The junior high, high school and administrative offices are located in Kandern (Kahn-duhrn), a town of 4,000 residents. The elementary school is located in Sitzenkirch (zitz-ehn-keyrkh), a small village 1½ miles north east of Kandern. There are seven student residences located in other small villages. These facilities house between 12 and 32 students each. All the administrators, faculty, residence staff and support staff are missionaries sent to BFA by co-operating mission agencies.
The Academy’s decentralized facilities, located in the rolling, wooded hills of the Black Forest, offers students and staff the benefits of small town living. Yet, big-city shopping and services are a short drive away in Germany, France and Switzerland. Rail connections to points throughout Europe are located in these cities, and the Basel International Airport provides convenient air transportation.
The Academy has a distinctly Christian philosophy of education, which strives to develop the full potential of students in academics, spiritual and social areas. The focus is Christian education and the training of Christian young people into a Christian worldview in which values, beliefs and attitudes are rooted in Biblical teaching. Such an educational program develops a biblical perspective of life in students and trains them in godly living, so they can fulfill God’s purpose for their lives personally and vocationally.
Black Forest Academy is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International and the European Council of International Schools.
All staff members are missionaries, with most serving under the mission organizations, which make up the school board. As such, they must provide their own financial support through gifts from churches, family, friends, or personal savings.
Black Forest Academy has a well-developed guidance program, which assists students with their college planning and application process. The Academy is a site for PSAT, SAT, and Advanced Placement Testing, and makes arrangements for students to take the TESL (Test of English as a Second Language).
The Academy has a truly international body with over 45 nationalities. The majority of students are citizens of the United States and Canada who have spent most of their lives outside North America. The school plans to have an enrollment of 350 students for the 2004-2005 school year. Two hundred students live in student residences. The remainder of the students live with their families in the Kandern area or commute from Basel, Switzerland, Germany, or the Elsass region of France.
Soccer, basketball, volleyball and co-ed cross-country and track teams are offered subject to staff availability for coaching. The Black Forest sport teams are part of the Department of Defense Dependents (DoDDs) league. This league is formed with the high school students from the American Army bases located in Europe.
The opportunities to serve are almost endless. The emotional, social, academic, and physical needs of the students are great. Between teaching, administrative tasks, working with the boarding students, discipleship with young dorm staff, and support and service roles one can not but help find the unique niche of ministry here at Black Forest Academy in Germany.