From Barriers to Bridges
Creating What Is Missing
A Monthly Publication of the Church Ambassador Network
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” – Isaiah 54:2
For years, many of us have looked at the landscape of Christian education and seen a wall. For the average family in our pews, that wall was built of financial tuition barriers that felt insurmountable. We preached the importance of a biblical worldview, but for many, the "cost of discipleship" in the classroom was simply out of reach.
But as we stand in the spring of 2026, we can declare that the wall has been torn down. Through the incredible success of the Ohio Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) program, thousands of Ohio families have found the financial bridge they needed. Just this month, as the April 15 tax deadline passed, we witnessed a record-breaking surge of taxpayers utilizing their $750 (individual) and $1,500 (married) tax credits to fund scholarships.
However, the removal of this financial barrier has revealed a new, more pressing challenge: We have run out of desks. The "deserts" C.S. Lewis spoke of are being irrigated so rapidly that our current "tents" are bursting at the seams. In many of our communities, there are no longer financial barriers—only physical ones. There are more children seeking a seat in a Christian classroom than there are seats available.
As the great Dutch statesman and theologian Abraham Kuyper once noted:
"When the principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your only hope, and in that battle, your schools are your most strategic fortresses." (Abraham Kuyper, Lectures on Calvinism)
Pastors, the battle for the hearts and minds of the next generation is being won in the classroom, but we cannot win if the fortress is full. This is why the Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) has pivoted to a new, urgent mission: helping you plant and expand schools within your own church walls.
We are seeing churches across Ohio transform underutilized Sunday school wings into thriving Monday-to-Friday academies. We are seeing "micro-schools" launch in fellowship halls. This is not just an educational shift; it is a movement of the Holy Spirit reclaiming the "square inches" of our buildings for the glory of God.
Practical Steps for the Ohio Pastor
Inventory Your Underutilized Space: Take a walk through your church building on a Tuesday morning. Do you have classrooms, a gym, or a fellowship hall sitting empty? Contact the OCEN team to discuss a "feasibility study" for launching a micro-school or a satellite campus of an existing Christian school.
Identify the "Educational Pioneers" in Your Pew: Every congregation has retired teachers, passionate parents, and gifted administrators who are looking for a kingdom mission. Invite them to a vision meeting to discuss what a church-based school could look like for your community.
Prepare for the 2027 Federal SGO "Multiplier": With the federal tax credit expansion coming next year through the "One Big Beautiful Bill," the influx of funding will only increase. Now is the time to build the infrastructure so that when those funds arrive, you have the "desks" ready to receive the students.
Join the Movement
OCEN is ready to walk with you through every legal and logistical step of planting or expanding a school. Engage with us here:
OCEN School Planting & Expansion Guide: Access our comprehensive toolkit designed specifically for Ohio churches to navigate zoning, accreditation, and staffing for new schools.
Join the Advocacy Network: Stay informed on the latest legislative wins and challenges at the Statehouse, ensuring that our new schools remain free from government overreach.
The "deserts" are blooming, brothers and sisters. Let us not grow weary in "lengthening our cords" to accommodate the harvest God is bringing to our doors.
The Church Ambassador Network is a ministry of Center for Christian Virtue. They exist to serve and resource the Church in Ohio to understand the times and know how to respond. Read more about their mission at ccv.org/can.
