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PROFITABLE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Book Review: How to Become a Millionaire in Christian Education

By Anonymous Blogger 9-29-12

This week, I read How to Become a Millionaire in Christian Education by Ellsworth McIntyre. If the best Christian school concept appeals to you, reading this book might prove a good place to begin your quest for excellence.

I have to admit, though, that when I first saw this book advertised over a decade ago in Chalcedon Report, the title put me off. To me, it sounded too good to be true, like all those get-rich-quick schemes.

After the time I'd spent as a teacher and administrator in Christian schools, including one summer that I fed my family from a dumpster in back of a grocery store, the idea that one could make serious money in Christian education seemed extremely unlikely. However, after I read a Christian school manual by someone who borrowed a lot from McIntyre, I decided to read his book as well.

Through the course of the narrative, I found the author's experiences in Christian schools paralleled my own: poverty, exploitation and disrespect from pastors, school boards and parents. He also came to the same conclusion that I did: God's Word presents a very different picture of child training.

He also sets forth Biblical economic principles I found familiar. Here's one that he agonized over as much as I have over the years:

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (1Timothy 5:8)

Here's another that also undermined how I viewed the value of my contributions to the Lord's work:

[T]he labourer is worthy of his hire. (Luke 10:7)

Ellsworth McIntyre faced these truths head on, and he also saw the evil inherent in the way many (most?) run their Christian schools today. He also found a way to make Christian education profitable to parent, student and teacher alike. But most of all, his approach makes the enterprise profitable to Christ's kingdom:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

After all, shouldn't that be our main motivation? McIntyre agrees, and he shows how the reader can retain that motive without sacrificing his family's well being in the process.

http://bestchristianschool.blogspot.com/

Related: “The LORD and You Can Start a Christian School” (http://www.pfce.us/documents/Start_a_Christian_School.pdf) by Dr. Don Gardner.

Also see How Would People Pay for Private Schooling? What about Vouchers? and Why Christian Education Is Important.