Why Christian Education?
In our extensive travels around the country visiting with pastors and Christian school leaders, we frequently encounter programs that stand-out as premier examples of ministries that are "getting it right." When leadership strikes a proper balance between wise stewardship of current resources, vision for the future, and a passion for quality improvement, God's blessings become evident is a remarkable way.
Has the modern Christian education movement lost the message? With enrollment numbers shrinking across the country, Christian schools are beginning to realize the consequences of failing to educate parents and church members as to why a Christian school education is so important.
In some recent articles on our website, we have focused on Christian education and some of its difficulties and dilemmas. It is undeniable that there are many young families who cannot afford these days the tuition to put their children in a Christian school. It has been my experience that many pastors are reluctant to share these needs with the congregation because they view the very mention of needs like this as "begging."
A number of years ago I heard an evangelist preaching a message on personal evangelism and he made a statement to a group of pastors that made a lot of sense. As he contrasted the various programs and opportunities in a local church to be involved in personal evangelism, he mentioned that we ought to spend a significant amount of time and effort "fishing our own ponds." There are probably a good number of things your can do to market your Christian school in your community, but what about "fishing your own ponds?" You know there are families in your church and school constituency who do not have their children in your Christian school. You may or may not know the reason why. Aren't these folks the ‘primest of prime' candidates for your Christian school?
The modern Christian school movement is in serious trouble. The voices of concern and solution seem to be few and far between. Can a generation of leaders who have been trusted with carrying the banner of this noble cause just stand there and watch the Christian school movement die?
Our extensive work with the pilot schools in our program has revealed that the condition of tuition dependence exists universally in Christian education. On average, the pilot schools in our program generate more than 86% of the schools' total income through tuition and fees. While most school ministries are supported by some limited fundraising efforts, a modest church contribution, and other miscellaneous income sources, the conclusion is undeniable that tuition provides the crucial measure of support for the ongoing operations of the ministry.
Now consider where those dollars are going. Right at 90% of our pilot schools' operating budgets are devoted to paying personnel expenses!