Direct To You – Finn Laursen & David Schmus

Finn Laursen
Former Executive Director

As a public school educator, I noticed that many Christians in our public schools were not living out their faith potential on their school campuses. So, fifteen years prior to becoming Executive Director of CEAI, I started a ministry at my church to support Christian teachers in public schools. I developed and led many workshops and published a newsletter under the name The Master’s Teachers Rally.

One day while speaking at a teacher’s conference, I met Forrest Turpen, CEAI’s Executive Director at the time. After learning about the ministry of CEAI, I immediately became a member and served as a volunteer under the leadership of Forrest Turpen. In 2003, I took the torch from Forrest, becoming the new CEAI Executive Director, and I have served in that capacity for the last fourteen years.

When I look back over the last thirty years, I realize the extent to which the Lord has enabled me to encourage, equip, and empower Christian educators. I can truly say that He has allowed me to live-out my dreams. I have been truly blessed!

The time has come for me to pass the torch to a new CEAI Executive Director, David Schmus. I do this with joy and positive anticipation. I have watched David function as a CEAI volunteer, and more recently a staff member. The mission and vision of CEAI is not something he will need to strive to achieve … it is already written on his heart. Although David’s credentials label him as a public school educator, he truly is a pastor to educators.

David Schmus
New Executive Director

As newlyweds and recent college graduates, my wife and I came to a sudden realization: we have about forty or more years to build a “kingdom” — whose kingdom are we going to build?

In response to the Lord’s revelation, I pursued a seminary degree and worked as a staff member in a local church. But the Lord began to use my wife’s experience as an educator to call me into the public schools.

In 2000, I began a fifteen-year career as an AP US History and Government teacher and Christian club adviser in a public high school in Southern California.

After becoming frustrated by how the teachers union was using my union dues, I joined CEAI in 2005. In 2009, I participated in the first CEAI-sponsored Daniel Weekend, a life-changing experience. There, I found my “tribe” — Christian educators who are working and praying to see God transform their campuses. After the Daniel Weekend, I participated in the 40-day Daniel Leadership Institute, further growing in intimacy with Jesus and faith to believe for bigger things. In the years following these experiences, I led Daniel Weekends around the country and facilitated large gatherings of Christian educators in Southern California.

I joined the CEAI staff as Outreach Director in 2015, and I am excited to further our vision of “God’s love and truth transforming our schools” as the new Executive Director. When I accepted this position, I felt the Lord say to me, “My army is already in the schools, your job is to wake them up.”

I am so honored to have the opportunity to build on the legacy of leaders like Forrest Turpen and Finn Laursen by supporting you as you serve God in our schools. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] if I can help you. And would you pray for me as I pray for you?