Pastors and Teachers Partners in Kingdom Growth Presented by: Larry D. Blackmer, NAD Vice President

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11)

Ministry What is ministry?What is ministry? Who delivers ministry?Who delivers ministry? What is the goal of ministry?What is the goal of ministry? Who is the target of ministry?Who is the target of ministry?

Education as Ministry Youth ministryYouth ministry Adventist EducationAdventist Education Mission of the ChurchMission of the Church

It is all the PASTORS fault! Enrollments are decliningEnrollments are declining Budgets are tightBudgets are tight Commitment to Adventist Education seems to be waning.Commitment to Adventist Education seems to be waning. It is 100% the pastors fault!It is 100% the pastors fault! It is 100% the teachers/principals fault!It is 100% the teachers/principals fault!

Research ValueGenesis North American Division Office of Education Financial data

ValueGenesis

Faith Maturity Three supportive environmentsThree supportive environments –Family/home support –Church support –School support 54% of high school students reported no significant support in ANY area54% of high school students reported no significant support in ANY area ValueGenesis p. 360

Number of Support Systems ValueGenesis p. 362

High Faith Maturity ValueGenesis p. 361

NAD EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Purpose To identify why the majority of SDA students are not enrolling in SDA schools.To identify why the majority of SDA students are not enrolling in SDA schools. To determine how best to market SDA education throughout the North American Division.To determine how best to market SDA education throughout the North American Division.

Focus Groups Focused On Three Questions 1.What are the strengths/selling points of Adventist education? 2.What are the weaknesses/fix-it points of Adventist education? 3. How do we market for the future?

Unions Represented Atlantic UnionAtlantic Union Lake UnionLake Union Pacific UnionPacific Union Southern UnionSouthern Union Southwestern UnionSouthwestern Union

Number of Focus Group Responses by Union Atlantic Union = 76 Atlantic Union = 76 Lake Union = 198 Lake Union = 198 Pacific Union = 160 Pacific Union = 160 Southern Union = 160 Southern Union = 160 Southwestern Union = 119 Southwestern Union = 119

Number of Responses by Focus Group Superintendents and Associates = 154 Superintendents and Associates = 154 Principals/Teachers = 156 Principals/Teachers = 156 Parents/Lay persons = 212 Parents/Lay persons = 212 Pastors = 191 Pastors = 191

Responses Were Grouped Into 21 Categories SDA/Christian Beliefs SDA/Christian Beliefs Safe Caring Environment Safe Caring Environment Quality Academics Quality Academics Teacher/Student Ratio Teacher/Student Ratio Leadership/Administration Leadership/Administration Cost versus Value Cost versus Value Extra/Co-Curricular Activities Extra/Co-Curricular Activities Instruction Instruction Other Other Student Discipline Student Discipline Promotion Promotion 12.Ethnic Diversity Parent Support/Loyalty Parent Support/Loyalty Communication Communication Enrollment Enrollment Identity/Image Identity/Image Physical Plant Physical Plant Special Education Special Education Technology Technology Customer Service Customer Service Pastor Support/Loyalty Pastor Support/Loyalty

Top Strengths/Selling Points (3% or more of total responses) 62 SDA/Christian Beliefs 61 Safe Caring Environment 27 Quality Academics 24 Teacher/Student Ratio 10 Leadership/Administration 9 Cost versus Value 7 Extra/Co-Curricular Activities 6 Instruction 6 Other 5 Student Discipline 5 Promotion 4 Ethnic Diversity 3 Parent Support/Loyalty 2 Communication 2 Enrollment 2 Identity/Image 2 Physical Plant 2 Special Education 2 Technology 1 Customer Service 1Pastor Support/Loyalty _________________________ 243Total

90 Leadership/Administration 37 Cost versus Value 33 Quality Academics 31 SDA/Christian Beliefs 23 Extra/Co-Curricular Activities 22 Identity/Image 22 Special Education 19 Safe/Caring Environment 19 Promotion 18 Teacher/Student Ratio 17 Physical Plant 14 Parent Support/Loyalty 14 Pastor Support/Loyalty 13 Other 13 Teachers Wages 11 Enrollment 10 Customer Service 10 Instruction 10 Technology 9 Home School 8 Ethnic Diversity 7 Student Discipline 6 Transportation 5 Communication 3Constituents ______________________ 464Total Top Weaknesses/Fix-It Points (3% or more of total responses)

Top Strengths vs Weaknesses Atlantic Union (176 total responses) Strengths Weaknesses

Top Strengths vs Weaknesses Principals/Teachers (156 total responses) Strengths Weaknesses

Top Strengths vs Weaknesses Parents/Laypersons (212 total responses) Strengths Weaknesses

Top Strengths vs Weaknesses Pastors (186 total responses) Strengths Weaknesses

FINANCIAL RESEARCH

It cost to run a church school

Churches with and without Schools

Bottom Line Youth are safest spiritually when home, church and school work togetherYouth are safest spiritually when home, church and school work together Schools are strongest when the pastor and teacher(s)/principal are equal partners in ministrySchools are strongest when the pastor and teacher(s)/principal are equal partners in ministry Teachers should be involved with the church-Pastors with the school.Teachers should be involved with the church-Pastors with the school.

TWO GOOD REASONS TO ENSURE THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH THROUGH MINISTERIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

Two of 50,000+ great reasons! Enough Said?

God Bless!