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Aug 24, 2016 · A relationship with a school changes the lives of students and transforms a church. How can churches engage their local schools effectively? 1. Preach and value the work of educators. Someone in your church is already working in public education. Through worship and Bible study, share their stories and affirm the calling of these women and men. 2.
- Go Shopping
- Be A Mentor
- Buddy Read
- Build Community
- Help with Homework
- Lead A Club
- Adopt A Teacher
- Stock The Staff Room
- Stock Classroom Libraries
- Participate in A Uniform Drive
Around this time of the year, there are sales on clothing and school supplies. These discounted items could be purchased now and dispersed at your local school as needed, or stored for later in the year when supplies are low and in high demand.
Many students need a caring adult to be a consistent presence in their lives. Consider being paired with a student who could benefit from a little one-on-one time on a regular basis. Something so simple as eating lunch with a child on a routine basis and having genuine conversations will instill a sense of self-worth that can’t be measured.
With so much to accomplish during the instructional day, there’s just not enough time to sit and read with every student who needs support. We know the more we read, the better readers we become. Time spent supporting a student reader during the school day is an invaluable investment in their future.
Many schools have events such as “Muffins for Mom,” “Donuts for Dad,” and Grandparents’ Day to build community and encourage family involvement. These events require planning and support. Consider being an extra pair of hands, providing baked goods, being a greeter, or even a member of the clean-up crew for these events.
Is math your bag? Are you a science or history buff? Maybe you’re a word nerd. Put those interests and your skills to good use! Afterschool programs across the U.S. have many students who could use a homework helper.
In many after-school programs, local churches are allowed to hold Bible school clubs. Check with your local school’s administration and after-school program director to see about the possibilities. This may be a unique opportunity to share the Word with children who would otherwise never hear about God’s love for them.
Consider ways you could be a blessing to an educator. Teaching is a big job, and the days seem to get longer as the workload and responsibilities increase. Provide small, meaningful gifts to your adoptive teacher on his or her birthday, Teacher Appreciation Day, and on one or two ordinary days. You can’t imagine the joy a new pen and a pack of stic...
The school staff is a hard-working crew. Keep their spirits high and their energy up by providing snacks. Granola bars, fresh fruit, popcorn, water and juice bottles make the perfect pick-me-ups just when they need it. Providing an occasional breakfast of fresh bagels and coffee or a lunchtime pizza buffet does much more than provide a meal. It sen...
Remember how important it is for kids to read? Another way you can serve your local school is to donate to a classroom library. Teachers spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets each year to buy things such as new or gently used books for their classroom libraries. First-year teachers especially need a little help building their collectio...
Many students attend schools with uniform policies. Check with your local school to see if there are students who may need a couple of new shirts, pants, skirts, etc. There may be only a couple of students in need, or you may find there’s a need to organize a larger event to provide support to these students.
- Begin with prayer. The apostle Paul wanted to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him in order to send him to Macedonia. “During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”
- Determine to serve. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to give Himself as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). So, begin by asking educators what they need, and commit to working that plan.
- Establish a relationship at the district level. It may be tempting to begin with the principal of a school near you or one you already know. But principals are responsible to the director of schools.
- Prepare volunteers to meet the needs of the school. Good intentions are not enough. Educators operate in a world of systems, processes, and measurables.
Or serve your school all year by putting together a team of volunteers who offer breakfast or lunch at the school once a month all year. Take a six-hour workshop through the National Church Adopt-A-School and learn the building blocks for offering social services to urban youth and their families, along with the process for adopting public schools and creating programs such as school-based ...
- Recommit to becoming a welcoming church. September could be the month where you see a greater regular flow of guests. Families often move in the summer, so their children can start in a new school at the beginning of the school year.
- Dedicate a part of a worship service to praying for students and teachers. We recently did that at our church. And we followed the service by writing brief thank you letters to the teachers at one of the schools near us.
- Adopt a school. Request a meeting with a local school principal. Ask him or her what your church could do to best help the school. If it is within the scope of what the church can do, organize a ministry to meet that very need.
- Revitalize the groups in your church. Regardless of what you call them, community groups, life groups, Sunday school classes, or many other names, these groups are the lifeblood of assimilation, ministry, and stewardship in your church.
Sep 3, 2018 · Do whatever is necessary with a new school year beginning to re-energize and grow your groups. 5. Re-Cast the Vision of the Church. Many church leaders re-cast the vision of the church at the beginning of the calendar year. Consider casting the vision at the beginning of the school year. You will likely have more new members and guests in ...
Jul 25, 2023 · Remember, a unified vision comes from the top. The synergy between both the church and school will become very difficult if there is any disunity between the leaders of the church and the school. A school serves as an avenue for evangelism, and so to a degree, your head of school serves in a pastoral role.
