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Are the public schools an educational "neutral zone," or a humanistic program designed to undermine the influence of the Church and the family?
One of the most effective ways to support Christian education for all families who desire it is to find ways to help fund Christian education for those who cannot afford it. Parents seeking a Christian education for their children, and needing financial assistance, should consider several available options:
Inquire at the school that you are considering. Many Christian schools have need-based financial aid programs.
529 plans can now be used to fund K-12 education. These may be a source of tax savings for you. Check with your tax advisor.
School choice programs vary from state to state. Check at EDchoice to see if your state has (privately funded) Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) or a Tuition Tax Credit program. These two programs allow parents to withdraw their child(ren) from the government system and choose Christian education, providing them access to funds if they qualify. There is now a version of the Tuition Tax Credit program in 18 states and some parents are able to receive significant scholarships (half of the tuition or more) through this program. I wish to make it clear that I am an advocate for only those programs that place authority and monies in the hands of parents, not civil government. I do not support programs which provide government funds to private education or homeschooling such as vouchers, government funded ESA’s or any other similar program.
Church scholarship programs. This will be explained below.
Church scholarship programs are not widespread in America, but we can change this. Every church is interested in the Biblical discipleship of its children. A church Christian Education Scholarship Program (CESP) is an excellent way for churches to help accomplish this vital task.
The idea is simple and not difficult to implement but can have a tremendous impact over time.
Personal Testimony
I will share my own experience to demonstrate how powerful this program can be in blessing and encouraging Christian education in one congregation. I have been a member of my church since 1998. The scholarship program was first envisioned by a church elder who had attended a series in the church that carefully explained the mandate for Biblical Christian education. God gave this elder a vision for a church program that could assist financially needy parents to be able to afford Christian education. He approached the church leadership with this vision and a plan for implementation.
Our church’s Christian Education Scholarship Program was approved by the Session (ruling Elders) and started in 2005 to assist family members to receive a distinctively Biblical education at the elementary, high school or college level. Many families in our church are persuaded that Christian education is a Biblical mandate according to passages of Scripture such as Matthew 22:21, Colossians 2:3,8, Isaiah 54:13, Proverbs 10:27, Jeremiah 10:2, Proverbs 13:20, I Corinthians 14:20, Proverbs 9:10, II Corinthians 6:14, Proverbs 6:20-22, II Timothy 3:14-17.
How does the program work? Tax-deductible contributions are made to the CESP by donors and distributed to qualified church members and their families for use for Christian elementary, secondary, homeschool and higher education expenses. Applications for assistance are submitted to a committee that approves and distributes assistance according to Session-approved guidelines. It is a means of connecting those in the church family who wish to support Christian education with those families who are in need. The goal is to lessen the financial obstacles for those parents sincerely seeking Biblical Christian education for their children.
Results? This program has impacted a significant number of families in the 15 years (2005-2010 and 2013-22) when these scholarships were offered. Since 2005, scholarship awards have been made totaling over $410,000 to 335 students, with an average award of $1,194.
Parent Testimonies
Following is representative of the impact that this program has had upon the lives and families of participants at our church:
“Thank you for helping me to our Christian school. I know that this school will be fun, exciting, and a Godly learning experience. I could not have gone to a Christian school this year without your help. I will keep you updated on how the rest of my school year goes!” (4th grader)
“Thank you for the generous scholarship and all you have given our son. It has always been our heart’s desire for our son to attend a Christian school, not only to get a great education, but also to mold him into the person God has made him to be. Your gift will allow us to gain a Christian education this coming year, and for that we are truly grateful.”(Parents)
“Thank you for extending the generous gift of education dollars! Our children are in the Lord’s hands. As we see them provided for, we give thanks to God. We know that these dollars come from faithful lovers of His kingdom. We pray that they are blessed in the giving of their resources.” (Parents)
“It is with a heart of gratitude that I write this on behalf of my family. In 2009, my husband lost his job in the business sector, subsequently allowing him to follow a call that the Lord had placed in his heart from a very young age, to teach. With a great longing to make a difference, and an even greater longing to follow the Lord’s will, he was able to receive his teaching degree from a Biblically- based college. This has been one of the greatest adventures of our life together.
“The realization of a dream not only affirms God’s call on our lives, it also imparts an amazing example to our children…Don’t give up; if it’s the Lord’s will He will make a way.
“From the tender age of five our son pleaded and reasoned why we should become a homeschool family. We put him into the public school system for kindergarten and first grade. In May of his first grade year, we prayerfully agreed that we would try homeschooling under the strict guidance of the Lord. We are grateful for the decision we have made.
“So, as you may have guessed, my husband is a relatively new (public school) special education teacher, and I stay home to educate our two young children, and the Lord provides. Most recently His provision came as a gift and blessing from our church’s Scholarship Fund. We are humbled. We are humbled because no matter how impossible this journey seems to our human understanding, He always makes a way, always.
“We are so very grateful for the generosity of our fellow church family members, our family in Christ. We are beyond blessed and pray that the Lord will give us the opportunity to pay this outpouring of support forward.” (Homeschool parents)
How it Works
The Christian Education Scholarship Program idea is straightforward but with profound and long-lasting results, as we have just learned from these testimonies. Once a program is approved and a committee is formed to administrate the program, churches market the program and receive gifts from the congregation that will be used exclusively to fund Christian education for eligible church members. This can include Christian education in K-12 schools, colleges or Bible school. You may want to include Christian homeschooling.
This is similar to fundraising campaigns that churches do regularly for things such as mission trips, outreach programs, building needs, etc. Assuming that the church is tax-exempt, givers will receive a tax deduction. The church forms a small scholarship committee to administer the program and give annual reports to the church leadership.
Steps to Implement the Program
An individual in the church approaches the church leadership regarding implementing a Christian Education Scholarship Program as a regular part of the church’s ministry. This document can serve as an outline for advocating for this program.
The church decides to begin this program. (See Description and Guidelines, and Statement on Christian Education)
A small committee (4 or so) is formed by the church, with a leader appointed to administer the program.
The church markets the program and receives donations to the Scholarship Fund.(See sample marketing timeline, bulletin notice and marketing PowerPoint presentation)
The Scholarship Committee makes applications available in the early spring for the next school year. (See sample application)
The Scholarship Committee receives applications by the deadline and meets to award the scholarships.
The Committee notifies families of the scholarships and requests the Thank You letter. (See Award Notification)
Funds are dispersed to schools.
Thank You letters are used to make a report to the church leadership and for marketing the program for the next year. (See sample report to church leadership)
Sample Description and Guidelines for Church to Adopt
Description
Tax-deductible contributions are made to the Fund by donors and distributed to KPC members and their families for use for Christian elementary, secondary, and higher education expenses. Applications for assistance are submitted to a committee that approves and distributes assistance according to Session approved guidelines. The Fund is not simply a means for families to channel funds and get a tax-deduction, and the application/approval process assures that gifts are not simply earmarked. Rather, it is a means of connecting those in the KPC family who wish to support Christian education with those families who are in need. The goal is to remove the financial obstacles for those parents sincerely seeking Christian education for their children.
Guidelines
Checks are payable to Kempsville Presbyterian Church and directed to a line item in the budget titled “KPC Christian Education Scholarship Fund.”
The Session will approve a committee to include an active Elder. The committee will convene as frequently as is necessary and report at least semi-annually to the Session at its regularly stated meetings.
Applications for the upcoming school year will be available in February and due the next month.
The committee will receive and review applications for assistance. Award recipients will be notified in May.
Annual assistance per student shall not exceed $2,500. Annual assistance per family shall not exceed $5,000.
Criteria for grants will be based on approval of the school, demonstration of need, active involvement of parents in their children’s education, and membership at KPC.
The committee will create and maintain a list of approved institutions for which assistance is available. In general, these shall include private Christian schools, colleges and universities, and homeschools.
Financial assistance will be made payable to the institution or, in the case of homeschools, to the family after verification of use of funds for school materials.
The committee will see to it that effective communication about the program is being made with the congregation and the Session.
Resources
Documents referred to are in Dropbox here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tjbza77so9rd9o0/AADML3dfO1GjFfYOn1tb7HFHa?dl=0
If you have questions, or would like to discuss this idea further, please don’t hesitate to call Max Lyons at 757-488-6601 or email max@face.net.
Dr. Max Lyons serves as Director of Teaching Services at FACE. He is a teacher, curriculum writer, and conference speaker, specializing in the areas of Bible, history, government, law, economics, and Biblical worldview. He has taught a Biblical worldview adult Sunday school class for two decades and served as teacher and administrator in three Christian schools since 1979. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, a Masters in Christian School Administration, and a Ph.D. in Christian Education.
This collection of resources is curated to equip you with the knowledge and guidance you need to guide your family through the vital work of home education.
