Harvest Strategies: The Heart Behind Them and the Hurdles in the Way

Over the past two decades, many faith-based schools have been encouraged to develop what are called harvest strategies, especially if the school is connected to a church or an association of churches. Harvest strategies are intentional plans designed to connect school families to the Gospel and the broader mission of the church through the ministry of the school.

But here’s the big question:

How many of our early childhood ministries (ECMs) and Lutheran elementary schools (LESs) actually have one?

Blueprint Schools reached out to Mr. Paul Patterson, Associate Director of the Commission on Lutheran Schools for some statistics within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. He estimates that at least 150 locations in the WELS synod have developed a harvest strategy—especially as it’s now an accreditation standard. Let’s look at the bigger picture:

• 104 Standalone ECMs

• 35 Standalone LESs

• 241 Combined ECM & LES locations
  Total: 380 ministries (School Statistics 2024–2025)

Based on Mr. Patterson’s estimate, about 40% of these ministries have adopted a harvest strategy. That number may be closer to 50% if we include schools that are not accredited but have implemented a strategy independently or through a Telling the Next Generation workshop put on by the synod (which we highly recommend).

What Are the Benefits of a Harvest Strategy?

Ministries with a well-designed and consistently implemented harvest strategy—what we call a robust strategy—are positioned to experience powerful blessings, such as:

Gospel Opportunities

• More chances to share Christ’s love

• Greater participation in Bible information classes

• More families becoming active members of the church

Community Impact

• Stronger relationships with unchurched families

• A more united school community around shared mission

Organizational Health

• Clearer institutional identity and purpose

• Enhanced collaboration among faculty, staff, and leadership

• Better integration between ECM and LES teams

Growth & Momentum

• Increased enrollment and retention

• Inspired donors who want to support Gospel-centered efforts

• Greater sense of ownership from families

As Mr. Patterson explains, many families come to our schools not because they’re aligned with our Gospel mission—but because they’re seeking something better than their current educational experience. Sometimes it's about safety, values, or access to school choice funding.

“A Harvest Strategy puts the main reason for our schools to exist in front of the congregation AND the people coming to the school,” Mr. Patterson says. “Purposely connecting people at the school to the Gospel is the driving force behind effective Harvest Strategies.”

So Why Don’t All Schools Have One?

Even with all these blessings, many ECMs and LESs still don’t have a harvest strategy in place—or are struggling to maintain one. Here are a few common reasons we’ve seen:

• Lack of awareness – Some teams simply aren’t sure what a harvest strategy is or how to begin.

• Resource constraints – Finances, time, and personnel can feel stretched.

• Competing priorities – Academic demands and operational logistics often take center stage.

• Fatigue – Staff burnout is real, especially post-COVID.

• Unrealistic expectations – It’s easy to assume a harvest strategy requires dramatic, immediate change.

• Church–school disconnect – A lack of unity between ministry teams can block progress.

And even in schools that have created a harvest strategy, ongoing implementation can be a challenge. As both Crossroads Consulting Ministry and Blueprint Schools have observed, many strategies fall flat over time—especially following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That’s why it’s essential to assess where your ministry is now and rebuild with intention, clarity, and support.

Rebuilding with Purpose and Support

Maintaining outreach momentum over time requires more than good intentions. It takes a healthy foundation and a mission-centered system.

At Blueprint Schools, we help school ministries build from the ground up, moving from reactive to proactive and from surviving to thriving through the 7+1 components of organizational health:

1. Mission, Vision, and Values

2. Community Research

3. Program Differentiation

4. Financial Modeling

5. Marketing

6. Strategic Planning

7. Team Development
   +1: Bridge Building Between Church and School

We encourage you to review these components with your team and ask:
"Would additional support enhance our faithfulness and effectiveness in these areas?"

Let’s Work Together to Plant and Water

If your ministry is ready to approach outreach with greater clarity and collaboration, we’d be honored to support you in designing a system that reflects your mission.

We know that God alone gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). But together, we can be faithful in planting, watering, and nurturing Gospel seeds in the families God is bringing to your doors.

We’d love to partner with you.

Blueprint Schools provides an outside perspective through our Progress Report and Blueprint Plan process - and it’s one of our favorite ways to help ministries build their church-school relationship! If you are wondering where to start or want to learn more about the Progress Report process, consider taking the first step by scheduling a Zoom consultation with us. We’ll listen, ask questions, and help you find a way forward for your unique school ministry.