ST. CROIX —Way of the Cross Church has confirmed it is under contract to purchase the former Good Hope School property on St. Croix, with plans to transform the 30-acre site into a broad-ranging community hub called Bethesda — a “house of grace, healing and mercy.” Senior Pastor Enoch King spoke about the vision during an interview at the church on Wednesday, September 17, emphasizing both the scale of the undertaking and its potential to serve generations of Virgin Islanders.
Pastor King said the project is a leap of faith for the ministry, noting that the multimillion-dollar redevelopment will take years to complete and require widespread support. “The purchase of this property is not just something we’re doing because we feel like it’s a cool thing to do,” he said. “If you’re not invested in your heart with this, then it doesn’t make sense. But because we know if we’re going to impact change on this island, we need to get to the core of it and establish a solid foundation.”
The property, which stretches from the highway down to the beach, was originally developed as a hotel in 1958 before housing Good Hope School in 1972. In 2013, Good Hope merged with St. Croix Country Day School following the closure of the Hovensa refinery, which had significantly reduced enrollment. The combined school now operates at the Country Day campus, leaving the Good Hope site unused until now.
Vision for the Property
The Good Hope campus includes multiple existing buildings, including a former hotel, auditorium, library, and theater. Pastor King said these will be repurposed into spaces addressing pressing needs across the island.
Plans call for:
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A retreat center in the former hotel to host camps, sports teams, church groups, and conferences.
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A multimedia auditorium with capacity for 1,000–1,500 people, serving as both sanctuary and community event space.
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An elderly daycare center in the old library, offering day services for seniors between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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A crisis intervention and mental health facility providing short-term housing and care for individuals facing abuse, trauma, or urgent mental health needs. Psychologists, therapists, and counselors are already lined up to staff the program.
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Youth and sports facilities, including a gymnasium, beach volleyball courts, soccer fields, basketball courts, and pickleball courts. The Island Heat Volleyball Club is partnering with the church to host camps and tournaments.
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A theater and community event center, revitalizing an existing facility for graduations, performances, and cultural programming.
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Prayer gardens and agricultural spaces integrated into the grounds to provide healing and reflection.
Phased Development
Pastor King said the property is now being secured, with inspections underway as part of the process. Once this step is finalized, the first major effort will focus on renovating the gymnasium into a multipurpose space serving as both a sanctuary and community event center. Later phases will include development of the elderly care facility and the crisis intervention center.
Books lie scattered across the floor of the abandoned library, one of the existing structures on the former Good Hope property slated for redevelopment into the Bethesda community facility. (Photo Credit: Way of the Cross)
“This is a multimillion-dollar project that’s going to take several years to complete,” King explained. “Securing the facility is the first step. But beyond that, we know we’re going to need continued support.”
Community Call and Partnerships
The pastor emphasized that the initiative is not just for the church but for the island as a whole. “We have an opportunity to create a space that is safe… where children can experience true love and fellowship, where young people can receive mentorship, and where the elderly community can come together and get the healing they need,” he said. “This is for generations to come.”
A structure at the former Good Hope property, one of several existing buildings slated for renovation as part of the Way of the Cross Church’s Bethesda project to transform the 30-acre site into a multi-use community and faith-based facility. (Credit: Way of the Cross)
Support is sought at all levels — from individual donations to larger strategic partnerships. King said partnerships with agencies, hospitals, and government entities could help expand counseling and transitional housing services. “We’re willing to find anyone that shares the vision and purpose,” he said. Those interested in supporting the effort can reach Way of the Cross at [email protected].
Bethesda: A House of Healing
The overarching name for the redeveloped property will be Bethesda, derived from scripture as a house of grace, healing, and mercy. It will serve as the new home for Way of the Cross, while also housing sports groups, recovery services, and community programs.
“The island needs healing. The island needs hope. The island needs grace,” King said. “There are people who are coming from broken lives, family crisis, so many different things happening that they need love and someone to walk with them through that healing process. At the end of the day, there will be no Bethesda without Jesus.”
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