The RenewaNation Review 2018 Volume 10 Issue 1 | Page 37

wealthier families, although demand exists in rural areas as well. At the training session, a woman with a face darkened from working in the fields spoke of starting a church school that had low tuition—$320 per year—and couldn’t pay enough to keep its teachers. She tried raising tuition to $400 a year, but the parents (mainly farmers) balked: four teach- ers left, leaving only two teachers for 60 students.   Many of these schools only go up to middle school, so parents and students still must figure out what to do for four years after graduation. So far, most Christian school grads have gone overseas to U.S. Christian colleges, yet the high cost makes it an unrealistic option for many. Christians have started a few colleges in the country, including a three-year program to train future Christian teachers. Graduates can also attend technical schools, house church seminaries, or directly enter the workforce.   Even though students at Christian schools are unable to take the college entrance exam, some schools are making sure their students are academically prepared for the test, should the law ever change.   Yet even with the uncertainties and setbacks, the educa- tors I spoke to believe local, small Christian schools are here to stay. One principal noted that even if government officials quashed the schools, they’d keep popping back up: “Christian education will grow the same way the house church grew, which is to say the house church grew without a center. They just rent a building and start it, and when they fill it, they rent another one.”  90% of America’s children spend 16,000 hours of their young lives in schools that fail to teach the truth about God and His Word. Give to the cause that is teaching children biblical truth. Your gift to Renewanation will: • Bring the hope of Christ to many children • Start new Christian schools • Revitalize existing Christian schools • Grow our Church & Family Ministry Division & more! Used by permission from WORLD Magazine, Asheville, NC - wng.org. Listen to June Cheng discuss Christian schools in China on The World and Everything in It on wng.org. renewanation.org/give 1-855-TO-RENEW 37