Home education and church ministry

willing to give up

"Yeeees! I got it!" Frank, the eldest son, was different from his usual calmness and rushed into the kitchen happily, waving the letter in his hand and delivering the good news. It turned out that he received admission and a full scholarship to Princeton University’s doctoral program in electrical engineering. I excitedly congratulated him. Within a few days, he received admission to the doctoral program at Stanford University. The child's joy is the mother's joy; the child's achievements are the parents' joy. This has been true for parents all over the world since ancient times.

Twelve years ago, when we began homeschooling our four children, we had one belief: to raise them to be God-fearing people and true disciples of Jesus. Now that I see that my son loves the Lord faithfully and is diligent in his studies, and that our husband and wife’s hard work over the years has yielded some satisfactory results, I feel relieved!

A few weeks later, he had a long and serious talk with us. After that, he made the most important decision in his life: to give up the opportunity to study for a Ph.D., to respond to God’s call, and to apply to study for the Master of Divinity at Westminster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. . He was a child who made careful choices. He said, "If God is really the Lord of my life, shouldn't I devote all my time and energy to serving Him?"

Looking into the soul

In recent years, the positive effects of home education have gradually entered the mainstream of the education industry and become one of the focus issues in the education industry. It has also led to a trend of parents paying attention to the holistic education of their children. The most controversial aspect is the lack of social life for homeschooled children. However, as Christian parents, social life can be implemented in church life, but we also have a deeper and ultimate concern: the spiritual condition of our children and church life.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." (Proverbs 1:7) In addition to living a regular family life, how can we integrate home study and church life to help children fear and love God? We understand that the substantive relationship between an individual and God is more important than the superficial religious activities; only changes in the inner life will lead to beautiful outward manifestations. Therefore, what we have to watch is the hearts of children, not just participation in activities.

A father who loved the Lord heartbreakingly told us that after more than ten years of carefully educating his children at home according to biblical truths, his daughter, who had always been obedient, no longer listened to her parents after she got acquainted with a Christian boyfriend with immature character. advice, causing great conflict in the home. What went wrong, the father asked anguishedly.

There have also been times when some parents discovered that their children, who had been living well together day and night, had secretly done things that offended God, and they were extremely sad and disappointed; some parents were secretly sad because their children had religious behaviors that were admired by everyone, but had no substantive personal relationship with God; In some families, their church life has suffered setbacks and they cannot find a church to belong to.

As Christian parents, we need to seriously examine a question: What is the foundation of our beliefs when we put so much effort into educating our children at home? What is the ultimate goal?Homeschooling does not guarantee a child who loves God. Even though Christian families who educate themselves at home have considerable freedom to integrate all aspects of faith, life, academics, and character learning on their own, if Christians’ concepts and values of education are not necessarily based on the understanding of God, they will inevitably have to lost direction.

family team

Church life has always been the main axis of our family life. In the past twenty years, God has placed us in the big family of Rogo Church in New Jersey, where we have grown together with the brothers and sisters. In the process of actively participating in service, children not only understand God's will and experience God's immeasurable kindness, but also learn to love each other and serve others. This is truly a great blessing to us.

One year, during the church's anniversary celebration, the crowds of people gradually grew. The deacon in charge of the meals was busy coordinating the arrangements in the tent set up. Among the crowd, I saw two young brothers dressed neatly, helping diligently and neatly, running in and out with joy, running errands back and forth. This is a family that educates at home. The father serves in the church, and the brothers are also enthusiastic about it and fully support it.

I turned around and saw the deacon's wife again, pushing a cart filled with cutlery, spatulas, and a smile on her face. Her four-year-old daughter was holding a large pack of tissues in her hands, following her mother with a smile. It is obvious to all that this family has served together in the church for many years. Their children’s heart to love and serve God is also a role model for many young people. How beautiful it is for parents to serve with their children in the church! Children’s desire to serve cannot be forced. If parents serve the Lord with a joyful heart, their children will naturally serve with a joyful heart.

Discipleship

The teachings on the true meaning of worship in the Bible can be added to the home education curriculum to train children to participate in worship services. Worship with an honest heart is a response of devotion to God. Parents' example is far better than the words of religious dogma.

In addition to setting up family altars for singing, praying, and spiritual practice, children are often encouraged to use their personal musical expertise and hobbies to participate in youth fellowship or worship services on different occasions. You can also organize a handbell band, guitar band, classical band, small choir or a cappella choir with a group of home-schooled children. When the time is right, you can participate in Sunday worship services.

Parents can also help older children, research and design children's programs, lead children to know God, and participate in church children's ministries. Homeschooling families have the flexibility to integrate these studies and services as part of academic studies and leadership training courses. In the process they learn how to teach Bible lessons and apply them in their own lives.

What is even more valuable is learning to love children younger than them and actually practicing leadership qualities. As they become more experienced, they can be encouraged to train other young leaders to become committed disciples. Homeschooling families have great potential to make disciples.

May God use Christian families with home education to not only preserve the seeds of piety in a culture where church views are confused, moral views are inconsistent, and worldviews are flourishing, but also to inspire and preach God's love in this generation!

Author profile

Wang Meiyu, in the Master of Divinity class at Columbia Theological Seminary in South Carolina, and her husband, Shao Huiming, is in the Master of Divinity class at the same school, and both graduated this summer. The couple has been married for 28 years, has three boys and one girl, and has been engaged in home education for 12 years. He once worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories, served at Ruoge Church in New Jersey for 19 years, served as a deacon in the Women’s Ministry and was involved in family fellowship ministry.