Waxing Mahogany on Ministry

I just finished up another school year! - year 38 to be exact! I'm waxing a little mahogany in considering how blessed I've been during those years to serve with amazing teachers, passionate pastors, wonderful parents and above all - students.  It's incredible to think how education has changed since I started on this journey.  It has led me from Nebraska to California, to Arizona, back to California, to St. Louis, now back to California!  Each stop on this journey has been filled with amazing opportunities to grow and do my best to do good stuff!  It wasn't and isn't always easy.  In fact, blending ministry and education is harder than it would appear.  The wildcard is how the world of learning and equipping challenges the age-old practices of living out the Gospel.  It is a life full of paradox's.  The mixing in the "Church" and school adds another level of complexity.   Throw in a few fallen folks who are somewhat immature in their view of faith and life and it becomes even more complex.  Almost mysterious...
There is a total lack of framework or understanding how all the pieces of the ministry fit together to accomplish a similar outcome.  I can't id too many success stories because I just don't know anyone who has taken the time to figure this out.  Most of us "inherit" a  ministry situation that has already been under development for decades and built up its share of wounds and scars.  Good leadership arrives, apprises the status of the ministry and begins the painful process of moving forward.
What is the benefit?  Each component of the ministry working for one goal or direction could be used by God so powerfully that the "gates of hell could not prevail against it!"  Yet those gates are closing down so many Christian schools ministries because they can't find the time or energy to look globally how they fit in accomplishing something bigger - that Christ calls us all to "make disciples?
Our LCMS school system began as a way to teach German and keep Catechetical understandings to equip the members of the club to follow the prescribed teachings.   It now finds itself in a time and place where the local church is trying to determine its own niche in order to sustain itself.  They attempt to attract "new" by hanging on to too much of the "old."  Those making those decisions not only grew up in the "old systems" but are "old." (like me)  It usually doesn't work out well.  Do they think of taking the school along with them in determining its niche?  Is the school part of the package they seek, or simply not enough energy to make this critical alignment work.
I don't know how to fix this thing... My gut says that unless the powers that BE - that set the mission and vision align these two big disciple makers, this struggle for survival will continue.
But I find strength in knowing whose gates I prepare to enter - The God of the Church commands and we must obey - make disciples - baptize - teach everything Jesus commands -  and He is with us always :)!  Even into year 39:)