Homeschool Evangelism in Southern California
June 19, 2006
Homeschool evangelism in Southern California is going strong! Here are some new additions:
Considering Homeschooling of San Diego launches: On June 24 and July 15, CH of San Diego reached out to families deciding about homeschooling with two meetings, and will continue with monthly meetings. They also started having field trips. The Bram and Kazules families are so enthusiastic about homeschool evangelism.
Welcome to Considering Homeschooling of West Los Angeles, a group which Amy Ellzey started, which God just grew from people asking her questions about homeschooling.
We are blessed that "Almost Homeschooling", a group reaching out to new and considering homeschoolers started by Rebecca Kocsis is helping those in Riverside County, CA.
Let us know how YOUR individual or group outreach is going!
Getting Families to Your Outreach
June 15, 2006
The most frequent inquiry we hear from outreaches, is "how do you get people to join?" The answer: prayer, word of mouth, having "practical" sounding topics and eventually having fellowshipping opportunities.
Can you pause a moment here and pray for all the homeschool outreaches across this nation? Pray for the Christian families in this country and internationally, that they would discover biblical homeschooling.
Keep in mind that most homeschool outreaches and support groups start out small, maybe a family or two, or a handful. We have tried ads, mailing lists and other means to get families into the group. The most successful is when a family invites another family. It seems most of the current families were invited by someone. Running a continuous classified or other ad is a good idea, because it brings in a few anchor families that will then invite others.
If possible, host veteran homeschoolers speaking on any topic that is "practical" or "academic" - but be sure to have your speakers address biblical homeschooling as part of their talk.
Big draws have been "Teaching Preschool at Home", "Teaching Reading", "Organizing for Homeschooling" and our last topic on teaching foreign language to kids was popular. This works because every concerned parent is interested in topics that will help them educate their child.
To foster fellowship, once you get about three or so families, try having some stroller-friendly field trips to local places like the zoo. We charge $1 per child over two years old for our field trips (in addition to any entrance fee) and give this money to the mother who organizes the field trip. As you grow, activities such as park days, classes like ballet for preschoolers, nursing home ministry and sports clinics for young children make for a vibrant group where people are meeting other believers also exploring homeschooling. It is exciting to see good friends, even best friends made.
National Television Ad Campaign: Preschool Damages Children
June 5, 2006
Considering Homeschooling today launched a national television ad campaign to urge Christian parents to preschool at home.
As the universal preschool lobby makes political inroads in states across the union and as parents are inundated with the message to separate from their babies and young children, Considering Homeschooling is attempting to counter this attack on the biblical family.
"The growing debate, initiatives, and legislation concerning preschool are all based on the faulty presupposition that preschool is beneficial to children," said Charles B. Lowers, Executive Director of Considering Homeschooling. "Studies have shown negative consequences from placing children in institutional preschool programs. This makes sense because God created the ideal place for children to thrive, learn, and grow -- right in their mom's loving arms."
Considering Homeschooling hopes to set the record straight with a long-term national campaign, launching a series of television ads in select markets during "family" programming.
"The Hollywood elitists and ivory tower think tanks have it wrong. And sadly, most Christian families have it wrong. They want to replace moms, dads, and the family system designed by God with an institutional system of professional caretakers," says Lowers. "Where are parents receiving encouragement to stay home and nurture their own infants? Many churches are in the preschool business and have inadvertently undermined the biblical responsibility of fathers to raise up their children in the Lord. If a family has been persuaded to keep their children home, it is more likely because they were influenced by Dr. Laura, than by the pulpit. Christian men need to take the headship of their homes, and not allow their children to be placed in daycare."
Considering Homeschooling is a nationwide ministry -- started in Orange County, California by Charles and Kathy Lowers -- that focuses on introducing Christian parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers to biblical homeschooling. The group urges families that can create a safe, loving, Christ-centered environment where a child can learn and thrive, to homeschool.
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