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Entrepreneurs in Education

By October 7, 2020SavED by Grace
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Entrepreneurs in Education

By Donald Clark

“Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 NKJV)

Jesus was both a teacher and businessman in education like no other. He was always about His Father’s business which included one-on-one instruction, small group tutorials, and teaching thousands in open concept classrooms. He used a hands-on tactile approach to learning. He initiated a free lunch program. Through the use of His Holy Spirit, He is also, to this day, involved in remote learning to all people of all races and creeds across the globe regardless of internet connections. The four most popular brand items He provides through His Father’s education business are: Unconditional Love, Truth, Forgiveness, and Healing.

While you are at school, are you always about your heavenly Father’s business? Jesus’ parents were upset when, as a young man, He did not follow them on the traditional broad easy path home but chose a different narrower path leading to His heavenly Father’s business (Luke 2:49). Are you on the broad or narrow path in education? Do you hear Him? God is calling you to be an entrepreneur for Him in education, a franchisee if you will, and for you to encourage others to do the same.

GOD’S BUSINESS PLAN FOR EDUCATION ENTREPRENEURS

#1 – Pray – Develop a Personal Relationship with the CEO

Close your classroom or office door and pray to your Father in secret and He will reward you openly (Matthew 6:6).

Paul tells Timothy in a letter that, “The first thing I want you to do is pray…. Pray especially for rulers [administrators] and 

their governments [politicians] to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living [teaching] simply, in humble contemplation (I Timothy 2:1-3 MSG). Are you secretly praying in your office or classroom? Are you especially first praying for your principal, school board, state education agency, judges and politicians?

#2 – Gather and Agree

God’s second order of business is gathering with other educators and agreeing in prayer. Jesus tells us that where two or more gather in His name He is there with us (Matthew 18:20) and when we agree in prayer, “God things” happen (Matthew 18:19). If we want Jesus in His schools, we need to get with other believers and start praying and gathering in His name to encourage one another. In the book of Hebrews, Paul tells us not to neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25). Who have you prayed with at school this year? Are you regularly meeting with them for encouragement and prayer? It’s legal by federal guidelines—click here.

#3 – Help Those in Need

God’s third order of business is to help struggling, lost and needy parents, students and staff. When we do things for these people, we are doing them to God Himself (Matthew 25:40). God hand picks challenging people in need each year to place in the schools where we serve so we can shine His light into their lives. 

Through the local metro CEAI network I have seen amazing works as educators have provided school supplies and

backpacks for youth in the local homeless shelter. Teen Bibles and funds have been provided for those ministering to local homeless youth and youth in the county juvenile detention center. Thousands of dollars have been annually sent to South Africa to help a missionary from our local area mentor, disciple and educate girls living in poverty and crisis.  

I have seen teachers broken by unruly students, parents, co-workers, administrators and unfaithful spouses who were comforted and given healing, unconditional love and friendship in faculty share, care and prayer groups. I have seen the lost hope of children and parents in the educational system restored by educators providing quality academic, emotional and spiritual support. I have seen teachers supply food, glasses, clothing and even home appliances to families in need. Isaiah tells us when we help those in need our healing comes, our righteousness breaks forth like the dawn, and God is our rear guard (Isaiah 58:6-8).           

It’s time, especially during the pandemic, to be entrepreneurs in education by attending to our Father’s business.

Prayer: Jesus, help us carry on the family business, our Father’s business, in education.

Donald Clark is a thirty-three-year public educator of special needs students. He is the founder of the CEAI Houston Area Network and has been its Director for over twenty years. He has received the Texas Lifetime Achievement Award from the HEB Excellence in Education program and has received a state congressional commendation for his work with youth and educators.  He has written numerous collections of educator devotionals such as Teacher Take Courage!, The Carpenter’s Classroom and Get Off the Bus. He has been published in the Teachers of Vision magazine and his work featured in Around the Word in 180 Days. He recently launched a new book, Peemail–Pet’s Healing Power, which is available on Amazon.

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2 Comments

  • Karen Seddon says:

    Powerful Don! I love the entrepreneurial aspect of our Lord. Did you know that there is a special term of young entrepreneurs? A 19-year-old or younger who owns their own business is called a TREP (enTREPreneur). Let us also pray for those hot-hearted TREPs to be about their Father’s business also. Well done and Amen.

  • Being divinely guided today, I found a “folder” in one of my email accounts with much CEAI correspondence that I have obviously missed. This one popped right up and I certainly subscribe to all that Donald said. Before retiring as a public high school math teacher with his Bible on his desk, I was the Bible Club sponsor, a church youth group leader, a denominational youth council advisor and established the Interdenominational Org for Unity in Christ (IOU Christ). Being totally on board with Donald and God’s business plan, I am reminded of the Parable of the Three Servants. I don’t recall ever reading, or being told, what the two rewarded servants did to generate their respective treasures as offerings, but I would guess that it may fit right in with Donald’s theme of entrepreneurship. With all the current community competition for resources and resultant overhead adversely impacting attainment of mission objectives, I submit that expanding on the 3 orders of business would be most appropriate in this day and time!