Bernard Bull’s Faithful and Flourishing is the product of a pious Lutheran educator who has spent decades in the trenches. Bull’s thesis is clear: faithful and flourishing Christian schools will be focused on their mission, intentional in execution, and focused on excellence.
Bull’s writing is sincere and refreshing. In an age where many Christian institutions are caught in a stale cycle of self-preservation, Bull encourages a vibrant intentionality. He understands the challenges that our schools are up against as we deal with the realities of original sin and a fallen world. Bull’s insistence that the Word of God must be central to any faithful and flourishing Christian school is correct, and this holds true for the classroom as well as the chapel.
Bull assumes Christian schools can take on many different models, so long as they pursue their mission faithfully in harmony with God’s Word. While this is true, more pointed insight and wisdom for the Lutheran parochial school in particular could have been helpful.
This book was not written specifically for the common parish pastor, and as such it would be of secondary interest to him. That said, a mindful pastor can draw many parallels between the Christian school and the local congregation, insofar as they are both Christian institutions which must brave challenging times. We would do well to remain mindful of our own mission and pursue it with excellence to the glory of God.
Ryan L. Loeslie
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church
Dimock, South Dakota