Johnston Christian Academy will close its doors after about 20 years, according to Interim Principal Chris Dentel.

The academy, located at 923 E. Booker Dairy Road in Smithfield, is the only Christian school in Johnston County that teaches students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, Dentel said.

The church First Assembly of God, which provided funding for the school, decided to end the relationship because of financial problems, Dentel said. Enrollment dropped by about 30 students since last year.

The decision leaves about 145 students and 30 staff members not knowing where they will be next year.

"A lot of good, committed parents. A lot of good, committed students. And so it's definitely a heartbreak to leave them without a home," Dentel said.

Bryan Walker, the school's athletic director, said, "Parents had no clue as of, until the week before school was out, that the school was actually going to close."

Walker's two children were students there. He sees a Christian school as the only option for his family.

"The sex, the drugs in public schools... that's one thing we don't have to worry about on a daily basis," he said. "I feel safe with my kids going there."

A group of parents and teachers are trying to find another location to reopen the school independently of the church, Dentel said.

NBC 17 reached out to board members of First Assembly of God. They did not want to comment.