CARLOS J. ORTIZ/Courier-Post The Rev. James A. Benson is struggling to find more students for his 23-year-old Christian school.

The walls of Valley Bible Word of Faith Church and Christian School are papered with articles, photos, letters, maps. Most are centered around black history and the surrounding neighborhood of Lawnside.

About 16,000 books are crammed into every corner, some in cases with glass doors, some stacked neatly on homemade shelves. Side by side, computer stations vie for space with relics from the past such as old sewing machines, a baby buggy, antique farm tools, a guitar.

Among the notes pinned to the wall are thank-you letters from the school's former students who have gone on to college and careers.

In the midst of it all, the Rev. James A. Benson is struggling to keep it going.

"We're not helpless," said Benson, who is also pastor of an African Methodist Episcopal church in Cinnaminson, "but we need help."

Because what is a school without students?

There are a handful who come for tutoring and to take the SATs. Benson has a half dozen church members-volunteers ready to do more.

If only more would come.

Among his volunteers is a retired probation officer and substitute teacher, Dolores Streater-Logan. Gervine Bell, 47, helps with the clerical work and computers.

There is also Walter Gaines, 65. He is a retired school teacher with 37 years in the Lawnside school system still in his heart. For the last two years, he has offered his services to Benson's 23-year-old school for nothing.

"There's such a wealth of information here," said Gaines, former mayor of Lawnside. "We just want to get it into people's hands to benefit them."

These days, that's a hard sell.

When he taught, Gaines recalls listening to his seventh- and eighth-graders rattling off every word of their favorite rap songs.

"Why can't you do this with English?" he would ask them.

Then, he'd hear about former students dropping out of high school. He'd say, how can people raise a family on a McDonald's salary? You don't want to do this for the rest of your life.

Benson isn't sure how much longer he can afford to turn on the building's lights and the electric heat. The facilities need improvements and repairs. An architect is assessing the building's condition, but there is no money for renovations.

The 70-year-old has poured his own belongings, time and cash into this venture.

When he started the nondenominational church in his living room in 1980, it was supposed to be a teaching mission. At one point, he had 18 full-time students and a dozen regulars attending his 8 a.m. church services.

Retired from construction, he expanded a three-room bungalow on Pine Street, adding a large sanctuary upstairs with wooden pews, a pulpit and an altar cushion he salvaged. That was in 1987.

It was supposed to be a place for worship, a place for singing and skits. Today, the pews are draped with donated clothing and shoes. Sometimes, Benson said, mothers "who aren't too proud" pick through them for their families.

Now, he holds services downstairs in the school, a warren of rooms crammed with curriculum.

Benson has been working with area groups and churches to get the word out about his school. They've held tours. They' ve offered services and programs for free or lowered cost for those who can't afford to pay.

They want to partner with the school system, county, anyone who wants what Benson and his volunteers are offering. Already, Valley Bible administers the SATs at Lawnside's public schools.

They'll give music lessons, computer lessons, individual instruction for students of any age or ability. They'll offer after-school tutoring, whatever help is desired. They' ll do it off-site, at schools or at home.

Benson remains hopeful.

"You know that old saying, `You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink?'" Benson asked. "Our job is to keep splashing the water."

On the Web

Valley Bible Word of Faith Church and Christian School offers programs for students pre-K through 12th grade. For more information, call the Rev. James A. Benson at (856) 547-0112 or visit the school's Web site at http://rsts.net/ christianschool/vbcs.