William Spanjer III, who founded a ministry that led to the creation of a Christian School near Pine Bush, has died.
“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our founder and president, William “Coach” Spanjer,” read an announcement on the Chapel Field Christian Schools Facebook Page last Wednesday. “Coach went to be with the Lord yesterday afternoon while at home with his family. We are unspeakably grateful for his visionary leadership and for the tremendous sacrifices that he and “Mom” Spanjer have made through the years in service to the Lord. From the early days of the inner city ministry, to the work here at Chapel Field, to the global outreach of Matthew 25 Ministries, countless lives have been blessed through his faithful obedience. While we grieve as a school community, we rejoice that Coach is now with the Lord that he loved and served for so long. Coram Deo. (In the presence of God)”
Spanjer’s bio describes him as a former Marine Corps Sergeant, flight instructor, college graduate (with majors in Philosophy and Theology), former freight airline president. In 1979 he founded Affirmative Evangelism Fellowship (AEF) to, in part, “fight the effects of secular progressivism draining the spirituality out of American Christian youth.”
The AEF spun several ministries, including the Matthew 25 Relief Project.
“Matthew 25 started as a ministry of Affirmative Evangelism Fellowship in 1979. Chapter 25 in Matthew states that when you have helped the most unfortunate in society, ‘the least of my brethren,’ you have helped God himself. Since that time, we have taken on many human need projects in the name of Christ,” Spanjer writes on the AEF website.
The ministry has taken on several projects, including
Operation Laotian Refugees: receiving parents and children out of refugee camps in Laos and settling them with families in the U.S.
Operation Inner City: bringing city kids from the worst environments in Harlem, South Bronx, Newark, and Jersey City homes and school in Pine Bush, to experience true family living and learn about vocational and professional opportunities.
Operation African Container: supporting impoverished orphanages and schools in Kenya with food, shoes, farming equipment, and education to help alleviate starving conditions.
Graduate Missionaries Support: supporting graduates who continue to share the name of Jesus throughout the world. Currently supporting projects in Germany, Spain, New York City, Kenya and Guatemala.
In 1986, Spanjer and his wife Kathleen founded the Chapel Field Academy on a 100-acre campus near Pine Bush. “Coach” Spanjer was the school’s first principal and coach of athletic teams at the school. Kathleen “Mom” Spanjer teaches English. Today, their son Bill Spanjer IV is the head of schools and chairman of the Biblical Studies Department.
It started as a Christian College Preparatory High School, but in the early 2000s, Chapel Field began developing a middle school program and in 2005 plans began for an elementary school building. In 2007, Chapel Field Elementary School began its first full school year. In 2013, the school rolled out its first official Pre K program, making it a Pre K through 12th grade school.
In the late 2000s the school established its international program. As of 2019, students from over 15 countries across 5 continents have attended the school. Chapel Field expanded its international initiative to include a boarding program in 2016, when the school acquired the former Little Sisters Convent in Walden. The boarding program is also available to domestic students. It currently has a staff of 41, according to the Chapel Field website.
A funeral service will be held at Goodwill Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, on Saturday, January 29 at 10:30 a.m. followed by a burial at Shawangunk Reformed Church Cemetery. After the burial there will be a time of food and fellowship back at Chapel Field.