The various entities associated with home education need to impart a vision that will endure, preserving hard-fought for freedoms and meeting the new challenges to those freedoms.  That vision begins at home and spreads from there into our support groups and concentrically outward towards the other associations we belong to or identify with such as CHEC, HSLDA, etc.

How do we pass on the vision?  We would suggest that it begins with mentoring.  CHEC’s statement of purpose puts it this way, “CHEC honors Jesus Christ by encouraging parents to educate their children through home discipleship. We provide leadership, resources, and information that advance God-centered relationships while heeding the Biblical jurisdictions of family, church, and state. “

Current leaders need to train up the next set of leaders so that they can push forward, standing on the shoulders of those who went before them; perhaps gaining ground.  We do this through personal relationships that help mentor/disciple people so that they can advance the vision of home education.  This applies not only to our families, who are our primary concern, but also to the groups we lead.

In December we had the privilege of attending a free seminar given by Dr. Jeff Myers.  He was taping the seminar so that it could be used in the teaching of other groups via DVDs.

Jeff’s vision of “Passing the Baton” has grown through the years as he has learned how to effectively integrate mentorships into everyday life.  Jeff isn’t just passing on a good idea; he’s lived it and shares with you his journey in learning how to become an effective mentor.

The seminar was divided into six sessions.  The first session’s main point was how each of us can personally equip the next generation of culture-shaping leaders.  We do this by how we live the Great Commission, proclaiming God’s faithfulness, and realizing the urgency of our calling.  The second session dealt with how Jesus equipped leaders to change the world.  In this session we were reminded of how Jesus was concerned with character development.  Jesus lived with His disciples so that they could learn from Him every part of the day.  Equipping the next generation based on our giftings and design was the topic of the third session.  We explored Scripture to remind ourselves where our gifts and weaknesses came from, and how to utilize them for the benefit of the next generation.  As a support group leader, this particular session was invaluable in its practicality and advice.  Living a transformed life was the fourth session which highlighted that we teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are.  Pointing out the differences between conformity and transformation, Jeff shared several techniques that you could use right away in your home and with your groups.  The fifth session pushed home the point “you’ve got to be in it to win it” pointing out how to break down barriers to have lasting influence.  The last session was a key element in the whole seminar in that it discussed how we can do this as we go about our days and NOT let this overwhelm us.  This is something we each can do, and must do, for as George Barna has pointed out time and again we are losing our “saltiness” and our children are losing their faith as they encounter the world as young adults.  The alarming statistics should cause each parent to work diligently to stave off that trend and, in fact, turn it around.

Summing up a whole day in one paragraph doesn’t quite do it justice, but perhaps it gives you a flavor of what Jeff offers in his “Passing the Baton” seminars.  Handoff, the Only Way to Win the Race of Life is a book on the same subject of mentorship by Jeff Myers and was recently published, giving you another way to access this important information.  This book, which is very informative and humble, gives you the incentive and tools to begin mentoring those within your sphere of influence.

As we mentor those around us, that concentric outward association begins to manifest itself in others who will also begin to mentor those around them and as the pebble dropped in the pond we can see the blessing spreading farther and farther.

It matters as we come together as support groups, which can just focus on field trips and co-op classes, or that can choose to honor the Biblical lessons we learn and grow in character with, reflected in all we do and say.

All of this is important because we can teach our children all the facts and information that will comprise a good education, but we won’t be different from the other forms of education unless we teach them how and why this information matters.  It matters as we use the information in response to our Creator and the life He has given us.  It matters as we make the big and small decisions in life and live out our vocations in loving thankfulness to the Triune God who redeems us, sanctifies us and preserves us.