Kendra LaRose

Tree of Life Expands ‘Church Unusual’ with College Bridge Academy

A new charter high school is up and running on the campus of Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church.  Thanks to a partnership with the nonprofit, Los Angeles Education Corps (LAEC), the church houses the College Bridge Academy where more than 120 students attend academic and vocational classes and eventually graduate with their high school diploma. The collaboration is part of Pastor Marcus Murchinson’s and the congregation’s philosophy of doing “church unusual” in that they seek opportunities to offer services and programs that benefit the local community. Those activities include a youth feeding program, substance abuse treatment, a nurse managed