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How to Begin a Church Christian Education Scholarship Program

By Dr. Max Lyons

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:

>Check with 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.

>School choice programs vary from state to state. Check at EDchoice to see if your state has Educational Savings Accounts (ESA) or a Tuition Tax Credit program. These two programs allow parents to withdraw from the government system into Christian education and can give them access to funds if they qualify.

>Church scholarship programs

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 critical 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 Kempsville Presbyterian 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.

The KPC Christian Education Scholarship Program was approved by the Session and started in 2005 to assist KPC family members to receive a distinctively Biblical education at the elementary, high school or college level. Many KPC families 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.

Tax-deductible contributions are made to the Program 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. 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 lesson the financial obstacles for those parents sincerely seeking Christian education for their children.

This program has impacted a significant number of KPC families in the eleven years (2005-2010 and 2013-18) when these scholarships were offered. Since 2008 scholarship awards have been made totaling over $320,000 to 285 students, with an average award of $1,098.

Parent Testimonies

Following is representative of the impact that this program has had upon the lives and families of participants at KPC:

“Thank you for helping me to Norfolk Christian School. I know that Norfolk Christian will be fun, exciting, and a Godly learning experience. I could not have gone to Norfolk Christian 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 send him to Norfolk Christian 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 went to Regent and received his teaching degree. 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 the KPC 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 KPC family, 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)

The Basic Idea

The Christian Education Scholarship Program idea is simple but with profound results. Once a program is approved and a committee is formed to administrate the program, churches market the program and collect funds 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 all the time 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

1. 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.

2. The church decides to begin this program. (See Description and Guidelines, and Statement on Christian Education)

3. The church forms a small committee with a leader to administer the program.

4. The church markets the program and receives donations to the Scholarship Fund.(See sample marketing timeline, bulletin notice and marketing Powerpoint presentation)

5. The Scholarship Committee makes applications available in the early spring for the next school year. (See sample application)

6. The Scholarship Committee receives applications by the deadline and meets to award the scholarships.

7. The Committee notifies families of the scholarships and requests the Thank You letter. (See Award Notification)

8. Funds are dispersed to schools.

9. Thank You letters are used to make a report to the church leadership and for marketing the program for the next year.

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