Shared Marketing Among Christian Schools MACSA Conference ~ November 2010 Rob Spykstra Veritas Academy Mary Louise Everhart Conestoga Christian School

Christian School Alliance  How we came to be  ◦ ◦ ◦ Who We Are Geographic diversity Educational diversity Demographic diversity

Christian School Alliance  What we share ◦ Love for Jesus Christ ◦ Concern for the next generation ◦ Commitment to Christian education

Christian School Alliance  Immediate lessons ◦ Similar troubles ◦ Similar passions ◦ Nurtured commitments ◦ Smashing stereotypes

Learn to stand on your head 

Better served … at another school

(gasp !)

◦ Larger vision ◦ Family & students vs my school ◦ Jesus as primary

Learn to stand on your head 

Set aside distinctives

◦ Shared values ◦ Power of humility and courage ◦ Requirement of safety

Learn to stand on your head  Set aside distinctives to create channels to showcase distinctives

Learn to stand on your head 

Forget equality

◦ Some will get more ◦ Some will invest more ◦

Remember: Jesus as primary

Shared Marketing Willingness  to admit that some students are better served at another school  to set aside distinctives for a time  to dismiss the notion of equality