private education. Other programs,
such as educational savings accounts
and vouchers, may also be an option
in your state to explore. Additional
details on these programs are avail-
able at edchoice.org.
Evaluate priorities through
budgeting
mation on the powerful spiritual
impact grandparents can have on
the lives of their grandchildren, see
Dr. Josh Mulvihill’s article, Giving
Grandchildren the Gift of a Christian
Education, at renewanation.org/
giving-grandchildren-the-gift-of-a-
christian-education.
Choosing an educational path for
Communicate with your church
your children should be incorporated
Pastors are rapidly gaining a greater
into your family budgeting process.
appreciation of the worldview deteri-
For those that may not qualify for
oration in our society and its impact
financial aid or scholarships, parents
on their ministries. As a result, many
must evaluate their current spend-
churches are providing financial
“The difference between
ing against their priorities. The
support to families investing in
parents that are committed to
difference between parents that are
biblical worldview education, while
versus interested in a biblical
committed to versus interested in a
others are connecting with Christian
worldview education is how
biblical worldview education is how
schools to offer discounts to their
they
choose
to
allocate
they choose to allocate their funds.
congregations. Communicate your
For young couples with infants or
educational plans for your children
their funds.”
with plans to have children, ensure
with your pastor and explore whether
a biblical worldview education is
these options are available.
included in your long range planning, so that mortgage and
Offer to teach or serve at the Christian school
automobile payments do not overburden your budget. In
Many Christian schools offer significant tuition reduction or
fact, budgeting to pull these amounts out of your income
even tuition-free offers for their faculty and staff as a benefit
prior to the need and establishing an educational savings
for teaching at their Christian school. Christian schools are
account will help provide future funds when the expense is
often in need of support services such as bookkeeping, IT
incurred.
support, cafeteria workers, and janitorial services. Meeting
Consider homeschooling
The option to homeschool may be a more financially viable
path for your family, especially for parents with a strong
passion for education. While this decision still has a finan-
cial commitment for curriculum and homeschool group
fees, these costs are typically less than full tuition at most
Christian schools. However, this option often requires one
parent serving as the primary educator, reducing the overall
income potential to the family. An overall cost and benefit
assessment is appropriate when considering homeschooling.
these needs can provide the opportunity to offset a portion
of tuition expenses.
These various financial options should be considered as
you explore covering the costs of a biblical worldview educa-
tion for your child. While affordability may seem the most
critical issue facing you today, the longer term implications
of educational choice are far greater to your child both
on earth and for eternity. As parents, we need to focus on
answering the most important question, “How can I afford
not to provide my child a biblical worldview education?”
Engage grandparents
In many cases, grandparents with an affinity for Judeo-
Christian values will be open to supporting the biblical
worldview education of their grandchildren. They have
witnessed the drastic changes in the culture of the United
States over their lifetime and are concerned about the future
of this nation and their grandchildren. For additional infor-
Ron Gordon is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of Renewanation and brings strong education and
executive experience to the cause. Ron holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering and an
MBA from Virginia Tech. Ron’s wife, Tonya, is a trained and
passionate educator. They have twin boys, Caleb and Jacob,
and a daughter, Gracie.
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