By David Harry
Staff Writer

At least twice a week, John Chesebrough helps set up the music room at Cornerstone Baptist Academy.
“We are constantly setting up and tearing down,” said the senior about carrying folding tables and cloth covers into the sanctuary at Cornerstone Baptist Church on Route 1.
If the Planning Board approves a church site plan at its Feb. 1 meeting, the sanctuary at Cornerstone will be expanded and more classrooms added to the church located between Len Libby Chocolates and the Irving gas station.
“We needed space yesterday,” said the Rev. Ken Endean about the lack of worship and classroom space for a congregation of about 180 and a student body of more than 35.
The proposed site plan shows Cornerstone Baptist Church has 8,250 square feet. An additional 6,750 square feet will be added to a building that has been used as a tractor dealership and fitness center.
The cost of the proposed expansion has not been fully determined, and Endean declined to give an estimate.
“The problem with giving a ballpark figure is the ballpark lines keep changing,” he said.
Cornerstone Baptist Church was chartered as an independent Baptist church in 1989 and first held services at a school in Portland. Before moving to its current location in 1992, services also were held in the Knights of Pythias building on Route 1 near town hall, Endean said.
In 2003, congregation members contributed money to allow the church to buy land behind its current location and expand the property to more than 13 acres. It may take a decade to achieve, but Endean said the long-term plan is to build a new church and school on the land stretching back toward Scottow Hill Road.
Expansion will add seats to the sanctuary for worshippers from as far away as Standish and Limington. New science, art and music classrooms will be built and the church entrance shifted as well, Endean said.
Independent status means the church is not affiliated to a governing body such as the American Baptist Churches or Southern Baptist Convention.
Endean said the price of independence means the church cannot turn to a larger governing body for financial assistance in its expansion, but also allows the church to provide its own biblically based message to the congregation.
“Our folks are friendly and preach the Bible clearly and kindly,” he said.
The clarity of the message attracted Lori Wagstaff and her husband, Ron, when the couple moved from North Carolina about 2 1/2 years ago, she said.
Chelsea Morse, a senior at the academy, said her family attended church in Standish before a friend recommended Cornerstone. Morse has been a student at the academy since fourth grade. Before that, she said she was home schooled.
“Being around Christian fellowship has made me strong in everything I do,” the Limington resident said.
Academy students do not wear uniforms, but dress is demure and skirts go below the knees.
“We provide a warm spiritual climate with strong academics,” Endean said.
An emphasis on building on parental guidance, character development and instruction in liberal arts and arts programs comprise “four pillars” the pastor said are the basis for academy instruction.
Cornerstone Baptist Academy educates students of all ages, but only accepts children of congregation members and charges $2,875 in tuition, said pastor Rob McIlwain.
McIlwain, who previously served with Endean at First Baptist Church of Troy in Michigan, is the academy administrator.
The school has eight full- and part-time teachers, including Endean’s wife, Judy, the school’s music instructor. The science teacher has a master’s degree and the math teacher is a former certified public accountant, Endean said.
“We believe God is the creator and true science will acknowledge we live in a complex universe,” Endean said. “All facts are interpreted facts – at some point there has to be a belief system.”
Students also take national standardized tests to measure academic achievement, Endean said.
Chesebrough has been attending classes at Cornerstone since fifth grade.
“I love it, we learn from a biblical perspective,” he said. The enrollment size limits sports activities, although Chesebrough said he has run in cross-country meets. He plans to attend Bob Jones University in South Carolina next year and perhaps studying accounting. Chesebrough said he is looking forward to some more extra-curricular activities.
Morse said she plans to attend Maranatha Baptist College in Wisconsin to study nursing.
She said she has never felt like she was missing anything by attending a smaller school about 30 miles from her home. She has heard stories about public schools and peer pressure that make her feel glad to be part of Cornerstone.
“We are so loving and like a family,” she said.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219