Sadrail Saint-Ulysse Says, “Church Schools Are Drowning” is one educators take on the state of Christian education in America. Here’s what Sadrail has to share:
In the Old Testament, God instructed his people to pass on their faith to their children by intentionally teaching them God’s statutes and commandments (Deuteronomy 6;4-8 and Isaiah 54:13). Similarly, the Christian Church receives its marching orders from Jesus in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:16-20. Jesus directs the Church to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching. Church schools are needed to partner with parents and the Church as a whole to educate children.
Ellen G. White, co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who earlier encouraged the Seventh-day Church to focus on foreign missions stated in addressing Church Schools in the book Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6 that the children are not to be neglected. She writes: “We cannot call ourselves true missionaries if we neglect those at our very doors who are at the most critical age and who need our aid to secure knowledge and experience that will fit them for the service of God” (p. 217). Her solution to financing church schools is simple: “Let all share the expense” (p. 217).
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Enrollment in Christian elementary and secondary schools have been dropping nationwide. Many families in North America, especially new immigrant families, are not able to afford the tuition to send their children to church schools. Several church schools have closed. In this book, Dr. Sadrail Saint-Ulysse, an ordained minister and educator of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, addresses the challenges of operating Christian schools at the elementary and secondary levels after serving for nearly 25 years as a pastor and educator with the hope that the burden of operating church schools can be shared by the entire Church – local, state, national, and worldwide – to alleviate this burden. The book challenges parents, teachers, principals, school boards, church members, and church leaders at every level to make the needed policy changes to ensure that church schools are financed in a sustainable manner.
Sadrail Saint-Ulysse Says, “Church Schools Are Drowning”
I write this book to do something that most would consider unwise as a current employee of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I call or appeal for systematic change—change in policies that have kept the financial support from tithe and other sources to Adventist elementary and other sources to Adventist schools at minimal.
Please don’t think of me as a brave one who dares to go where many have not gone before. I am not… I speak out because we need policy changes at every level.
“Fairness is not giving everyone the same thing but to give each person what he or she needs to succeed.”
Many businesses are rethinking how to move forward post the pandemic. We, too, as a church, need to do the same.
VISIT HERE ON AMAZON to purchase The Elephant in the Room: Church Schools Are Drowning: Champions Needed! by Sadrail Saint-Ulysse
VISIT HERE ON BARNES & NOBLES to purchase The Elephant in the Room: Church Schools Are Drowning: Champions Needed! by Sadrail Saint-Ulysse
About the Author:
Sadrail Saint-Ulysse, PhD, MDiv is an educator and ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for nearly twenty-five years. He currently serves in the New Jersey Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as a superintendent of schools, Sabbath School director, and pastor. Dr. Saint- Ulysse holds a master of divinity degree from Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan; a master of arts degree in educational administration from Centenary University, in Hackettstown, New Jersey; and a doctor of philosophy degree in higher education administration from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Dr. Saint-Ulysse is an advocate for Christian education. He recently published a book through Christian Faith Publishing entitled The Elephant in the Room: Church Schools Are Drowning – Champions Needed!
Sadrail Saint-Ulysse Says, “Church Schools Are Drowning” was first posted at PAXglobal.com
