At Our Daily Bread, Missions, we know the challenges you face when starting a Christian School or Pastoral Counseling Center. This brochure, written by an experienced school and pastoral counseling administrator, was designed to guide you step-by-step through the process. Our mission is to provide the best resources to help make your ministry a success.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to start a Christian school? Consider the benefits to our community, our church, and last, but certainly not least, our children." You may be motivated to ask the question "why is a Christian school so important in the scheme of things?" Here at Our Daily Bread, Missions we believe that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We all agree that Jesus is the head, but we are the body that makes up Christ. Jesus gave His life so that we may be able to overcome all things and all of the needs of the community, no matter how large the need. God through His Son gave us all of the tools, but our part is to learn how to use the tools and learn how to work together to accomplish His will on earth as it is in heaven. We are His chosen people to carry out His forgiveness, love, grace, and justice and if we do not, it is not His fault for the way things turn out, but ours.

We all know that God wants to supply all of our needs according to His richness in glory, but we need to learn how to do our part to help stop the insanity. It is that insanity that causes the problems that we have today. Just like the farmer, we have been given all the tools to resolve all things and all problems, but we must be committed to learning how to use the tools that we have been given and use them, working together to establish His kingdom here. It is the only way out for any of us. We are called to live be faith, but faith without works is dead. We all have a purpose, a calling, and gifts to carry out the work that we have been given, but not many know how to stand in the authority that we have been given.

As the farmer has been given the tools to work the soil, sow the seed, caring for the crop, and finally, harvest the crop, the farmer needs to learn how to use the tools that he has been given. It is up to the farmer to seek the information to get the job done and be resolved in getting the job done. We are all told to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all things will added unto you." It come down to learning how to put God in our lives, seeking the information, and learning how to work together as one body with many parts through Christ and accomplish the job.

Step One: Be resolved that the only long-term solution to the problems is through Christ (Christ defined as Jesus the head and we are the body). It is salvation for us and all those we meet. Anything else or is a short-term fix and not of God.

Step Two: Learn and relearn what it will take to do what we have been called individually and corporately as a body to do. The kingdom of God is not over here, nor is it over there, it is within you and you walk in it as you walk through life either focused on the things of God or everything else that interferes with our personal relationship with God.

Step Three: Take responsibility for outcomes. Adopt a new attitude that states, "if it is be, it is up to me." Most of us spend more time planning our vacations than spending time seeking God for solutions. He is Our Daily Bread, and we all need to learn how to trust Him for the answers to all things and then act upon the answers we receive. Many of us come to seek God when we are in crisis, because He always has come through in the past, but are we seeking God when we are not in crisis? Perhaps that is one of the reasons why crisis reoccurs.

Step Four: Once we understand completely what we have been given, it is then time to use the tools and spread the Word. It is important for all of us to understand who we are in Christ, our position, authority, and our responsibilities to God, each other, and all those that we meet as individuals and as the body.

Step Five: Establish Christian schools and Pastoral Counseling Centers that teach the truth about what we have been given, the responsibilities, and help others go in the direction that God has called them to. Training is a key. It is learning how to have a heart for God and learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit. It is all a chain reaction. Once the change is in us, God effects everything that we do, our hearts, desires, purpose, direction, and how we see and hear things. Pastoral Counseling can change individuals, marriages, communication, relationships, and help bring resolve to local problems such as homelessness, and put an end to hunger while bringing an understanding and purpose to our children’s future through a quality Christian education. We believe that through Christ, by establishing Christian Counseling Centers and Christian Schools it helps to reach out and solve the problems of the community today and through our children, begin to solve the problems in the future.

Step Six: Learn to work together as one body with many parts. Once we understand the tools and how to use them, then it is time to learn to work together to accomplish His perfect will. His will is first, that no one is lost, secondly we love and care for our neighbor(s) as we would for ourselves. He wants no one to go to bed hungry. He wants us all to have shelter, and He wants all of healed. In the Christian community, we have been given all the resources to get the job done. There is enough of everything to be able to reach everyone in the world and help those in need. What is lacking is the knowledge and the desire to work together to resolve the needs.

Step Seven: Once you have learned it is then time to begin to walk and learn to walk with others encouraging, exhorting, counseling, and teaching. In doing so, we walk in the light that we have been given. It is what Christianity is and the job cannot be left to others to do. The job is to each one of us individually and corporately as a body to work together. The change will effect you, your children, home, and your community, one step at a time.

What kind of financial resources are necessary to begin a school or Pastoral Counseling Center? Notice that this is the first question addressed. That is because it is the one question that is always certain to be asked. While it is definitely beneficial to have an abundance of financial resources, it is not always necessary. The first step is to be willing to be used by God for His purpose. Once trained to do the job, God will open doors for you. Unfortunately, many schools and centers are never established because, rather than considering the available resources, attention is given to what is not available. Do you have a building to use? Can you use your church’s Sunday school rooms? Are there people willing to offer their time and talents to teach, administrate, and run the school or center? Are there others in your church or community who would like to have a Christian school or counseling center? Are you willing to use your time and talents? Rather than focusing on what is not available, take an inventory of your available resources.

How many students are needed to begin a school? That depends on you! Once you begin, God will give you small things to do, perhaps one, two or ten will come your way and they may be of all ages. It is coming to an understanding that if God is in control of your life, the person in front of you is there because God put them there. As it is said success brings success, failure brings contempt. A Christian school or counseling center may be run in connection with a church or typical school. A school may be started with any number of people and or children. It can be started at home, church, school, or even prison. Counseling and teaching is about finding out who your students are, their needs, helping them, walking with them, and supplying alternative solutions than what the world will give them. It is about caring for the needs of others and intercession. Where there are adults and children who need to be taught and those willing to walk with them and teach them, you will have the number necessary to begin. The key is to not get in over your head. You may begin with any number, but be sure you are able to serve the number you do begin with. A great advantage of the Our Daily Bread, Bible Institute curriculum is its flexibility. Whether your school or service has classes that are large or small, mixed grades and ages, conventional one-grade classes, or a combination of all of these, Our Daily Bread, Bible Institute has the right curriculum.

Who will administrate the school and teach the classes? Remember that you can only start with what you have or what God puts in front of you. If you begin with several people willing to help, select your teachers, counselors, and administrators from among these people. If you are the only one available at the outset, … well, you get the message. Be careful not to employ staff before the financial resources are available to do so. Again, the key is not to get in over your head. When I personally made the commitment, God and I were the only ones involved. We were principal, teacher, janitor, and "you name it." However, we began with only a few and were able to accomplish what needed to be accomplished. It was a lot of work, but God blessed it, and the rewards continue to be immeasurable.

How do we promote our school or counseling center? Obviously, paid advertising, such as newspaper and yellow page ads, is wonderful. However, this is not always affordable, especially when just beginning. Surprisingly though, the best form of advertising is free – word of mouth. Everything that you receive was designed to help you get started and keep focused on what you have been called to do. The courses, brochures, forms, methods of outreach have all been designed to help you get started and established, in a step-by-step method. Experience is a good teacher and that is one of the reason why Our Daily Bread, Bible Institute and school can be a valuable asset and resource. We are on the front lines with you. It is important that you set goals for growth, your primary focus is always on those students who are already a part of your school.

In starting a Christian School, which curriculum should we use? There are more Christian school curricula on the market today than ever before. Choosing the best curriculum for our school was one of the most difficult tasks. The Our Daily Bread, Bible Institutes focus, of course is on Biblical studies on how to deal with life’s problems, challenges, and situations and how to overcome them. Our Daily Bread, Missions can help further with supplying you with a complete curriculum if you are starting a traditional Bible and also help those interested in starting a traditional school or for those that are interested in teaching their own children at home. We can even help, if you choose, in raising funds for your school, counseling service or help you with an income to help you stay focused on what God has called you to do. Programs and services offered can be customized to meet your particular needs or situation.

What age should our school or center serve? Traditionally we think of students according to an age group. This unfortunately puts people in a box and limits the ability to teach and to learn. The truth is, learning is a life long ambition which is usually created by events or situations where individuals need to obtain information. We all start in the cognitive years of our lives at an early age learning basic skills, i.e. touch, smell, feeling, etc. We send our children off to school as we believe that the answers to life are obtained by knowledge or information that will get us the job that we believe that we need in order to be successful of happy in life. Many of us go through this and end up getting married, having children, only to continue a never-ending cycle. Some of us come to realize that the information that we receive does not give us all of the information that we need. For example, basic education does not teach us God’s purpose for us or how to get along with others or our spouses or God.

A Christian education is the best education for people of any age. The point of a good Christian education is to help a student prepare for life, its challenges, needs, and problems giving them the information that they will need in order to resolve life’s intricacies. We have found there are more students and people in need than teachers, counselors and mentors available. What is needed in teaching and counseling is the ability to deal with people whatever their need, age, or situation. Understanding this will allow your school or center to grow. It is also important to understand that you will have the tools available to you through Our Daily Bread, Missions to help meet the needs of most individuals, no matter the age, situation or circumstance. This is one of the great advantages of the Our Daily Bread, Bible Institutes curriculum. The ODB Curriculum is available for preschool children through adult, with every subject necessary for a complete Christian education.

All in all, a successful Christian school or Pastoral counseling center will provide the student, young or old with the tools to fulfill the summary of the law, as given to us by Christ. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:7-40) Not only will the Christian school be instrumental in changing the lives of its students, but families of these students will also be ministered to. It is about coming to maturity in Christ and students will mature and people will see a difference. Why? Because once touched by the Holy Spirit, perspectives, attitudes, desires, outcomes and lives are changed. The rest is learning how to do what God has called us to and then walking with mentors, teachers, and counselors until they are established in their own purpose and work. This focus impacts the students, the home, church, and community. Christian schools will have a direct impact on its community and the world at large. Students graduating from a well-operated Christian school will go on in life with a biblical world view, leadership skills, strong Christian morals and principles, and a zeal to spread the message of Christ no matter what the age of the student.

Before beginning such a venture, we must be certain of our purpose. Many Christian schools are established because of a negative reaction to what may or may not be taking place in non-Christian schools. Surely, we ought to be concerned with such matters; however, a philosophy of Christian education reaches far beyond mere reaction. In order to develop a proper philosophy of Christian education, we must examine what the Bible says about education and counseling. Look up and study verses having to do with the training of adults and children, the responsibility of parents, and the duties of the body, Church, and the family. With a concordance, look up words such as father, mother, children, son, daughter, teach, learn, discipline, train, etc. A Christian school’s philosophy must be developed from Scripture. When we are clear as to what the Bible teaches about Christian education, our philosophy should be written down in such a way that it could be clearly communicated to parents, churches or individuals interested in your school, service or center.

One common mistake, when beginning a Christian school or Pastoral Counseling center, is to assume that everyone wanting to be involved has the same philosophy of Christian education. Christian school administrators and teachers quickly discover that not all students, children, and parents have the same reasons for wanting to enroll. Often, such a discovery tends to be discouraging; however, it does not have to be. Awareness of different points of view will help keep us from being bewildered or discouraged. Though ideas and opinions seem as numerous as the stars in the sky, for our purpose, we have classified them into three groups:

This brochure has been provided to inform you as well as encourage you. It is by no means all-inclusive. As you read and proceed through these steps, you will surely come up with other ideas and become aware of details we have not mentioned. We are totally committed to Christian education. It is our desire to see good Christian schools beginning and growing throughout our nation. We are here to help you and wish you God’s blessings as you embark upon this wonderful adventure.