Alumni

My name is Chris Jury, and I graduated from Temple Baptist School in 1999. I attended Temple from K5-12th grade. Temple’s education standards prepared me to be the employee I am today. The teachers’ godly example, as well as their desire to push me to succeed, set me up for success. The dress code, though I may have fought it some while attending, prepared me for a successful and professional career. Our education was Christ-centered and based on God’s inspired word, forgiveness and loving everyone-but also wanting to see their souls saved. After graduating from Temple, I went on to get a degree in Information Systems. Due to the education I received at Temple, college was much easier for me than others who were not as prepared. Temple’s high school classes were equivalent to many of my college classes. This allowed me to excel in college and I graduated at the top of my class.   I am now employed as an IT professional at a large healthcare facility.  After I got married in 2006, my wife taught K4 and K5 at Temple for nine years. During this time, we had the awesome opportunity to work with the high school students as well as coach the softball team. I also serve on the school board, as well as the deacon board, and stay very actively involved. Also during the course of my years attending and working at the school I have seen many graduates go on to be pastors, missionaries, doctors, lawyers, nurses, and accountants.  I can say, without a doubt, nothing about this school has changed. A quality education is still a high priority at Temple, as well as preparing the students to be successful wherever the Lord leads them in life.  

—Chris Jury 

My name is Laurel Owenby and I attended Temple Baptist School from K5 through twelfth grade. I graduated from Temple in 2017 and from Pensacola Christian College in 2021. I am now pursuing a master’s degree in graphic design at PCC. I am extremely grateful for the education that I received at Temple Baptist. Not only did it give me a great foundation for my personal walk with God, but it also prepared me for college. Because of the standards set by the staff and faculty at Temple, the rules at PCC were not as overwhelming for me when I began as a freshman as they were for many of my peers. Not only was I used to the dress code already, but I already had a good study routine and knew how to quickly adjust to different teachers and each of their teaching styles. Because of the preparation that Temple gave me, I already knew the majority of the things my Bible, English, science, history, and math teachers were teaching me. By God’s grace, I have made the dean’s list or president’s list every semester. 

Besides preparing me educationally, Temple also taught me the importance of God in my life. I am so thankful for the teachers that I had growing up. Though most of them aren’t teaching at Temple anymore, their legacy lives on in the now-grown children whose lives they once touched. They lived every day by God’s strength. I know that they would agree with me when I say that without God there is no way that they could’ve taught all of those misbehaving children and teens for as many decades as they did. They showed me the importance of daily Bible reading and how to look at life through the “glasses of the Bible.” They taught me to love God and others. They encouraged me to trust Him with my decisions, big or small, and to always pray, even when things seem to be going my way. I didn’t always do what was right in school, but my teachers always made sure to correct me in love. My teachers were always willing to help me, whether in my studies or in my personal life. If I had a problem, I knew they were there to listen and that they would give me Biblical advice, whether it was what I wanted to hear or not. It is no exaggeration to say that I would not be the person I am today if I had not attended Temple. I am so thankful for the school and the teachers that have worked so hard to keep it running. It has been a help and encouragement to so many families for years.

To the current staff at Temple, thank you for being the godly influences that you are and for standing for the Truth, even when you are surrounded by adversity. Asheville needs you to be the shining light on the hill in a world of darkness. I pray that you understand the level of influence that you have on your students and their families. Know that they are always watching you and that even though they misbehave now, they will look back one day and thank God that He put you in their life. Trust God to help you through each day as He guides you step by step. Pray for your students. They need it. And pray that you will have patience with them. The kindness that you show them now is what they will remember when they look back. I am praying for each of you. Keep up the hard work! 

—Laurel Owenby

I began my schooling days at Temple Baptist School in 9^th grade, in the year of our Lord 1983.  I did not understand what this decision (to leave public school and come to Temple) would mean for my future.  I was able to get a great education, participate in athletics, and socialize with other Christian young people, and I didn’t have to deal with the temptations in the public school system. Not only did it strengthen my faith, but it set me on a course toward a Christian college, which changed my life forever. After college I came back and started teaching and coaching at Temple while attending graduate school. As a faculty member, it has been a privilege to work at a place where the colleagues pray for each other and genuinely care for the students they teach.  In addition, getting to travel across the state, I can honestly say that Temple Baptist is one of the most highly regarded schools in Christian education circles.

In the summer of 1996, our family was blessed with a baby girl. It was a given that she would attend Temple Baptist School. She is now a junior, and along with her freshman and 6^th grade brothers, is truly thriving in academics, athletics, and fine arts activities. As it did for me, Temple is preparing them for college and beyond.

It was a long-standing dialogue with our late founder, Pastor Joe Olachea, that Temple Baptist School gave me an education, sent me to the college I was suppose to attend, gave me my first career employment, gave me my wife, and is now educating my children. Pastor Olachea called me the “full-circle kid.”  I truly thank God for starting Temple Baptist School. God has led it to greatly influence my life, and many others just like me. 

—Bryan C. Harwood, Coach

I came to Temple for only my senior year, but it was by far the best year of school I enjoyed.  I was saved as a five-year old boy, and had answered the call to preach at the age of 13.  God, in His grace, had helped me stay on the right path throughout my high school years, but I was weary of the wickedness I was subjected to each day in the public high school, and desired to be in a Christian environment.  How refreshing it was to have teachers each day pray in class, teach the Bible, speak openly about the things of God, and personally speak to me about God’s working in my life, because they were personally interested in my life.  God allowed me to have a measure of influence in lives that year, but He also placed people in my life that had an influence on me, not only for just that year, but for the rest of my life.

Some years later, in 2001, God granted me the desire of my heart by allowing me to join the faculty of TBS as a teacher.  I cannot express the joy it has been to have the opportunity to influence lives for Christ at Temple over these past 12 years.  I have often thought of the teachers who God placed in my path here at Temple, and I have asked God to allow me to affect the lives of my students just as my teachers affected mine.

It is also a great joy to now have both my daughters attending Temple.  How wonderful that God would allow me to give to my children a Christian education.  I am so thankful that these many years after I graduated from Temple, the school is still here providing a quality Christian education to young people.  I feel it is my responsibility as a parent to Biblically educate my children, and it is a blessing to have Temple to assist in that area.  True Christian education upholds its responsibility to teach the required academics to each student, but it provides so much more than mere academics.  It helps to set the course for the lives of boys and girls, and often is the impetus that a student needs to choose to give their lives to the service of Jesus Christ.  I thank God for Temple’s influence in my life, and for the influence it is now having in the lives of my daughters.   

—Pastor Bruce Robinson

I first came to Temple Baptist School as a fifth grader after attending a public school for first through fourth grades. The difference was truly amazing. The teachers cared about the students not only academically but most importantly, spiritually. I graduated from Temple in 1990 and would not trade those eight years for anything. I am so very grateful that I have parents that were willing to make that investment for me. When I had children of my own, I knew I wanted them to have the same priceless experience of a Christian education as I had. My husband and I have two daughters that have attended Temple since they were in K-4; the oldest is now in high school and the younger in upper elementary. We are so thankful for the administration and faculty of Temple Baptist School. We know they are in a place where they are receiving an excellent education that will prepare them for whatever college and career the Lord may lead them to and where the Biblical truths and values they learn at home and in church are reinforced every day. 

—Stephanie Moore Chambers

I am so thankful I had the opportunity to attend Temple during my high school years. I made so many wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. Being a smaller school allowed us all to get to know each other so well. I graduated almost 10 years ago, but almost every close friend I have even now went to Temple with me. I wouldn’t trade the friendships I made there for anything! One of my Temple friends was actually the one who introduced me to my husband! I often miss my days as a student at Temple Baptist and I thank God he brought me to that school. Go Eagles! The teachers at Temple Baptist School are amazing and deserve encouragement. The older I get the more I realize how blessed I was to be surrounded by godly teachers every day who helped prepare me for college and life. 

—Ashley Brooke Plemmons

I am thankful that I got to attend Temple Baptist School from 7th-12th grade. It continued to strengthen and build the Biblical foundation that my parents had started. The teachers not only taught the different subjects but they showed that they cared about each student. What a wonderful privilege to be able to go to a school where it is possible to talk about the Bible and pray anytime throughout the day! I am thankful that the Lord allowed me the privilege to go to a Christian school and that now I get to teach in a Christian school in SC.

—Angie Downs Clark

My time at Temple was one of the most memorable times of my life. Through the dedicated teachers and the strong Christian atmospheres, my life has been touched ever since. I started attending public school in the 6th grade and I could feel the void then and still feel it today, 22 years later.  Through faith and principles I learned so long ago, I am a better man today. Thank you so much for keeping such a great thing going. I still drive by occasionally just to check up on the place and reminisce about the great times I had there.

—Ryan Roberson

I attended TBS from 1987-1992 (1st – 5th grades). Temple means a lot to me because the Lord used a chapel service to show me that I needed to be saved. I didn’t get saved that day, but I did get saved a few months later at my church. Thank you TBS! Keep up the good work-teaching students about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Your labor is not in vain in the Lord!

—Amy Downs

I am a graduate of Temple Baptist. I was there from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade (1998 Graduate).  I was blessed to attend TBS and consider my time there an honor and joy. I appreciate my education and the positive influence by teachers, coaches and friends while I was there.

—Rachel (Gregg) Samsel