%post_title% | Heart of the Matter |

May 28, 2010 By Karen 3 Comment

photo by Ann Dunagan of Harvest Ministry

Today, let’ s talk about missions. Missionaries are on the field everyday working to care for others and to serve the Lord, as well as bringing souls to Him. Oh how I admire these missionaries. I have 4 dear friends who just returned from Haiti, to serve people living in conditions we cannot imagine. They are truly fulfilling the call!

My thoughts often turn to far off places where we are needed. At times I thought I wasn’t doing enough. One day God changed my perspective though. He made me realize I DO have a mission field right here at home. My first responsibility that He has given to me is my children. They are to be taught the Word, they are to be raised knowing the good news of Jesus Christ, and in turn we are raising the future generation of missionaries.

I love the verse in Romans 10 that says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news.” (v. 15) I love the picture of those sharing the gospel and it’s beautiful message. Yet that message also applies right here at home. Even amongst the diaper changes, wiping noses, diffusing arguments, etc., we are acting as missionaries right here at home. We don’t have children and then expect them to raise themselves or have others raise them. NO! We are the biggest influence in their lives. I am responsible to do all I can to turn their hearts toward the truth. Wow! What a big responsibility and awesome privilege!

So next time you feel unimportant or as though you are not making a difference right now, remember at this season in your life, as a mother at home raising your children, YOU are a missionary. You are doing your part to grow the Kingdom. Yes, we are absolutely to be missional in other ways too; in our community, internationally, etc., but don’t underestimate the importance of your mission right here at HOME! God has placed us in these homes at this time in our lives for a reason.

So I ask you, how are you feeling about being a missionary at home? Do you consider yourself a missionary to your kids? What kinds of activities do you do with your kids for outside missions? Share your thoughts!

Karen is married to the love of her life, Steve, and a homeschooling mom of 4 children ages 9,7,5, and 1. She was called to homeschool when her oldest was kindergarten age after thinking, “I could never do THAT!” Now she is passionate about encouraging others on their homeschool journey, as well as learning all she can along the way. She sees her kids as her mission field and loves the verse in Romans 10:15 that says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who carry the good news.” Follow her blog at Beautiful Feet Bring Good News.

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May 27, 2010 By Ann 6 Comment

Do you have a child with a fervent love for God and a desire to fulfill Great Commission to “go into all the world to preach the Gospel” (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15)? Do you have a son or a daughter with a particular heart for international benevolence, or for orphan children, or for hurting people? If so, I encourage you, as a homeschooling parent, to begin to nurture this special calling and to prepare your heart to release your child to God’s purposes (as Hannah released her little Samuel to God in I Samuel 1-2). As parents, and as teachers, we can also seek the Lord to help us to provide appropriate opportunities to develop what He is doing in our child’s heart.

Just this week, our oldest daughter, Christi (who homeschooled K-12), graduated with a bachelor’s degree from a outstanding Christian university. In a few days, she will be traveling to Cambodia, Asia, as an ATL (Assistant Team Leader) for a two-month summer mission outreach to work with precious girls rescued out of horrendous child trafficking. After returning home for a brief visit, she will then travel on a second mission trip to Niger, West Africa, one of the world’s poorest unreached countries, to share the love of Jesus with youth and children.

As a parent, it can be a challenging and stretching time to see our little girl now growing up . . . and “stepping out” (that’s an understatement!!!) . . . yet it’s SO exciting.

Our daughter’s love for international missionary work didn’t just “happen.” For years, God has been developing this passion in her heart. Throughout her childhood years, my husband and I recognized and nurtured this mission call, and we made a focused effort to provide opportunities for her to learn and to experience world needs under the spiritual covering and protection of our home (and with lots of prayer!!!). For our daughter, homeschooling proved to be the perfect training for God’s unique calling on her life. The freedoms and flexibilities of home education helped to provide a foundation for God’s mission-minded purpose in her life, and it is exciting to see this plan beginning to unfold.

During high school, Christi wrote the following essay to explain her love for international orphan children. The process of writing and editing (and re-editing!) this essay not only helped to stir these needs and God’s compassion in her heart, but it also proved to be a tremendous confidence-builder. This essay helped her to earn several college scholarships, opened the door for speaking opportunities, and even established the groundwork for her college-level senior paper, which focused on the needs for emotional healing from human trafficking abuse in various international cultures.

So Many Orphans . . .

According to UNICEF, there are between 143,000,000 and 210,000,000 orphan children in the world today. This number is so huge, it’s hard to even comprehend. As a reference, the population of the USA is approximately 300,000,000 and the population of Russia is about 141,800,000. This means there are as many orphan children as about one-half of our entire US population, and more orphans than ALL of the people in Russia.

This need is huge, but I’ve seen the faces of many of these orphaned children . . . one by one . . . and they’re just as real to me as my own kids. These faces have impacted my life, and I’m praying hard for God to raise up MANY Christians, and even MANY of our own homeschooled teens and young adults, to help.

As homeschooling families, it’s true that God cares about us and our kids; but He also deeply cares for orphans; and if orphans matter to God, they should matter to us.

As you read this essay, I pray that God will help you to see beyond the needs of your own family, and your own local neighborhood, and your own homeschooling.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit widows and orphans in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” James 1:27.

My Heart for Orphans
By Christi Dunagan (at age 15)

Eight-year-old Jennifer huddled in the dark corner of her grandmother’s hut. Once again, she was locked in this repulsive room with no food, and no hope. Sometimes she was left alone for days while her grandmother wasted what little money they had. Most likely, th old woman would return home — drunk — and beat the girl until she could barely stand.

Jennifer knew nothing of happiness.

When she was very young, her parents were victims of Uganda’s number one killer: AIDS; and now, she was yet another victim: of poverty, hunger, and abuse.

Hearing footsteps outside her door, Jennifer looked up hopefully. Maybe she would finally be released from this small damp prison she was forced to cal home . . . but no.

She crnged, as the footsteps drew nearer and she recognized them, not as those of her grandmother, but as the sound of one of her uncles. Again one was coming. Too often they came . . . to use little Jennifer to satisfy their physical pleasures. When they had enough of her, they left her once again, hurt and crying on the mud floor. The latch creaked . . . and Jennifer prepared herself for yet another night of agony and heartache.

She knew she could not last much longer . . .

. . .

Somehow, the frightened girl escaped and began wandering her village streets. With nowhere to go, Jennifer leaned against the closest building she could find . . . and wept.

. . .

A hand touched her shoulder, startling her; but as she looked up, the girl stared into the face of a kind woman. It was Alice, a long0time friend of my family, and the local director of an AIDS orphanage, today called Guma Na Yesu (“Keep With Jesus”) Children’s Center, which my parents helped establish in 1995 in Mbarara, Uganda.

Along with hundreds of other orphans, this child finally has a home. People are now feedng her, ministering to her hurts, and loving her. Slowly, she is learning life is not just pain and horror, and she is discovering joy. Slowly, her emotional wounds are healing. Finally, Jennifer is becoming the girl she was born to be.

. . .

During November and December of my Junior year of high school, I had the incredible esperience of traveling to Uganda along with my mother and a precious elderly minister’s wife. There, I met Jennifer and many orphans just like her — and it made an incredible impact on my life. Beginning on that trip, my mom and I have been establishing a brand new orphanage (called Osanidde Village, primarily for AIDS victims. (“Osanidde” is an African word, common in many Lugandan worship songs; it sounds like “Oh Sunny Day” and means “You are Worthy.”) There are many details — organizing orphan photos, recruiting sponsors, doing computer work — but it’s worth it. I want to help rescue as many hurting children as I can.

During my journey, I traveled my a rugged dugout canoe to a remote island. There, the poverty was so great, and many children were left as orphans due to the trauma of war and AIDS. My mom and I decided we couldn’t just sit back. Thousands of children were dying from malnutrition and neglect. We knew we had to do something.

As I walked through the narrow village streets, the air reeked of fish, body odor, and garbage. Little children flocked around me, holding my hands, touching my hair, and gazing deeply into my eyes. As they longed for some sort of love and affection, I wished I could just “wrap them up,” hide them in my suitcase and take them all home.

But obviously, that wasn’t possible.

Yet since our return to the U.S., my mom and I have been working with some Ugandan nationals to build an orphanage on that island for as many children as possible. Our desire is for these orphan children to grow up in an environment where they will be loved and wanted, to provide a happy place where hurting children can receive quality care, nutrition, and education.

Right now, our new orphanage is small, but it is growing. Currently, we have 16 orphans and 16 orphanage houses. My mom and I know we will never be able to help every orphan in Uganda; but we’re doing what we can, and we won’t give up.

For these children, it is finally an “Oh Sunny Day.” No longer will they roam the streets, beg for meals, or sleep “wherever.”

These little ones will be safe and cared for.

And with smiles on their faces — just like Jennifer now has — these orphans will finally have a change to become the children they were born to be.

Note: As a followup, in March and April, 2010, our family traveled to Uganda, East Africa to checkup on these two ongoing orphanage ministries of Guma Na Yesu Children’s Center and Osanidde Village, along with a new village network of church-and adoption-based Family Zone Centers. Currently, these orphan ministries are caring for over 700 orphan children. Jennifer is now a beautiful teenager, and she’s doing well; she’s living with a wonderful Christian family, leading worship in her local church, and loving Jesus.

Ann Dunagan is a longtime homeschool mother of 7 (with 4 high school graduates and 3 university graduates). Since 1987, she and her husband Jon, and their family, have ministered worldwide through Harvest Ministry, to a combined total of 70+ nations, on all 7 continents. Ann is co-founder of 2 African orphanages (with over 700 children); author of several books, including The Mission-Minded Family; and she blogs at Passionate Homemaking and “Better Parents, Better Families” on The Christian Post.

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April 22, 2010 By Ann 9 Comment

For many homeschooling families, taking an overseas missions trip with a child (or several children) sounds utterly impossible. “How could our family afford it?” “How could we take that much time off work?” “How is it possible to travel with kids?” “But what about our homeschooling?”

These are all legitimate questions, but more importantly, why not ask, Dear Lord, would You ever want our family (or me, or one or my children, or a group from our homeschooling community, or a team from our church) to go on a mission outreach?

If God answers, “Yes,” then the only legitimate questions to ask are When? and Where? and, in faith, Well, Lord, then how do You want us to obey?

Instead of responding with fear and doubt like Zacharias (Luke 1:18), have a willing heart like Mary (Luke 1:38), when she said, “Let it be to me according to Your word. If God calls you or our child to missionary work, He will open the way for you, and He will provide more than enough of His grace and provision.

Different Family Mission Trip Possibilities

For over 20 years, our family has been actively HOMESCHOOLING (with a focus on Teaching With a Heart for the World) and GOING (with a focus on the needs of international evangelism and orphans through Harvest Ministry); but the specifics haven’t always looked the same.

Sometimes our entire family goes on mission outreaches together. Other times my husband goes by himself or takes one of our older children. We’ve gone on missions together as a couple or as a couple with a nursing baby and a few other children. (We’ve been blessed to have the option of godly parents, homeschooling relatives, and friends who have helped to care for our children while we minister overseas on short-term trips.) Each time God calls us to a specific outreach, we pray and seek His will for that particular mission trip . . . and then we obey!

Just last month, our 12-year-old daughter Caela and I went on an exciting mission to Uganda, to minister at a village women’s conference and to check-up on over 700 precious orphan children at our ministry’s two orphanages. In mid-April, my husband will go with our high school son Daniel, a homeschooling senior, on a remote outreach to another area in East Africa. It’s exciting!!! (And an added benefit is that world missions is a great way for homeschooling teenagers to get involved with community service!!!)

You may want to consider accompanying a younger child on a short-term children’s mission outreach, such as YWAM King’s Kids or a Teen Mania outreach for Juniors (preteens). If your child has a heart for missions, take seriously God’s calling for you as a homeschooling parent to nurture your child’s desire and to adequately train and equip your child for this possibly. Let’s encourage our children to pray regularly for world needs and to learn all they can about world missions.

If you have a high school or college student interested in missions, encourage him or her to check out short-term opportunities with mission organizations such as YWAM, Global Expeditions with Teen Mania, Teen Missions International, Master’s Commission or through your own church or denomination.

If you have a larger family, here are a few additional ideas. Perhaps Mom and Dad can go together on a mission trip (and perhaps enjoy a second honeymoon before or after the mission outreach) while the kids enjoy a few weeks at Grandma’s. Or you can all work together (praying, seeking God, and raising support) to send one parent or teenager on a short-term outreach. You can even establish a new family tradition: when each child reaches a certain age (e.g., sixteen or eighteen), you will present that teenager with an airline ticket for a summer mission trip.

Traveling with Young Children

When traveling with children, put together a small backpack for each child with activity books, art supplies, reading materials, small toys, and a few snacks.
If you are traveling with a ministry team of with a large family, assign each person a partner to help keep track of everyone.
When spending an extended time in an international airport, look for a nursery or a children’s play area Many major airports even provide cribs for little ones to sleep.
In order to alleviate the effects of increased air pressure, attempt to nurse or bottle-feed your baby during takeoff and landing. Don’t feed your baby for a while beforehand, so that he or she will be a little hungry when the plane is taking off. God young children, sucking on a piece of candy or chewing gum will help.
While traveling, watch for people with whom you can share Jesus Christ. You and your children can meet people from all over the world in an international airport, many with nothing to do as they wait for their flight. Be prepared to witness by packing small New Testaments, gospel tracks, or an EvangeCube (a witnessing tool) in your carry-on luggage.

Homeschooling and Missions

Schooling is a major challenge and expense for many missionary families. For homeschooling families, however, your children’s education can continue nearly the same as before. If God is calling your family to missions, He will direct you and provide all your needs.

Homeschooling on a Short-term Mission Trip

If taking a short-term mission trip, immerse yourself and your children in the culture you are reaching to make the most of our outreach.
When our children travel overseas on short-term outreaches (for two or three weeks), they usually leave behind all of their regular schoolwork, other than their Bible and journal, in order to have time for all there is to learn and enjoy.
Have your children compare their experiences to typical life back home. Taste the local food. Attempt to communicate in the local language. Watch unique characteristics of the people. Learn about the local geography, arts, and technology (or lack of it). Note different animals, birds, and plant life. Soak in the sights, smells, and sounds; and enjoy your time of ministry. This of it as an extended field trip and an exciting cross-cultural experience.

Homeschooling on a Long-term Outreach

When living among another people group for an extended time, you and your children will need to develop a routine for regular school subjects.
Instead of isolating your children, encourage them to play with nationals and to learn their language. A child can often learn a foreign language by exposure alone.
Most likely you will not have access to resources found in a quality library. A solution to this challenge is to acquire a good supply of CD reference tools and educational DVDs. Get a laptop that can connect to a car battery, enabling you child to access important reference information anywhere in the world–even when Internet access is unavailable.
Begin to build your own library or work with other missionary families to build an educational library. Perhaps your church, mission partners, or a local school group from home could specifically support you in the area of your schooling. they can help you with challenges, send interesting Internet links or encouraging care packages, or simply be available (through e-mail, facebook, skype, or traditional mail) to assist your educational endeavors.

There is no perfect time to step out into missionary work. At every stage in life there will always be challenges to overcome and barriers to cross. No matter what your current situation, God can make a way for you. He does not expect you to use what you don’t have; He simply expects you to love and serve Him with what you do have. As you obey the Lord, step by step, He will multiply your gifts and talents for His purposes. It is not about dong things for God, but being with God: living in His presence, hearing His voice and direction, and being available to serve him — through His strengths and gifts, not your own.

Homeschooling and missions fit together perfectly. You have the flexibility to travel, and your children can be involved in ministry. You can do it.

(Note: This article was adapted from Ann’s newest book, The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny. Click here to download a FREE sample.)

Ann Dunagan is a longtime homeschool mother of 7 (with 3 graduates). Since 1987, she and her husband Jon have ministered worldwide with Harvest Ministry. Ann is co-founder of two African orphanages, writer for “Better Parents, Better Families” on the Christian Post and “The Missional Mind” with Biblica, and author of several books including The Mission-Minded Family.

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March 8, 2010 By Ann 3 Comment

All throughout the month of March, St. Patrick’s Day decorations can remind you and your family to pray for Christian missions and to highlight the need for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

St. Patrick’s Day GREEN can remind us that we’re all called to GO and preach the Gospel!

Enjoying Missions Throughout the Year: MARCH

For many people, St. Patrick’s Day is nothing more than a holiday to commemorate the traditions of Ireland. People wear “Irish” green; stores decorate with shamrocks, leprechauns, and rainbows; and restaurants feature meals of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, or green-colored mint milkshakes.

To others, March 17th is a day to gratify the flesh: to guzzle beer or to glorify sinful lifestyles through disgraceful city-wide parades and demonstrations. How far (and low) we have come from the real story of St. Patrick and his early missionary sacrifices to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people of Ireland. Today, more than ever, our world desperately needs the Lord, and the message of the God’s salvation that St. Patrick preached.

Do your kids know that St. Patrick was a missionary?

All throughout the month of March, we should remember the real missionary story of St. Patrick. Whenever we see GREEN decorations (in stores, restaurants, etc.), we can use these as sporadic “reminders” to teach our children that we’re all called to GO and to share God’s GOOD NEWS.

Quick Facts:

St. Patrick’s Day – MARCH 17th
Patrick was the first Christian missionary to Ireland.
In the United States, celebrations include city parades, Irish cultural celebrations, and the wearing of green.

Who was Saint Patrick?

“Saint” Patrick (389 – 461 AD) actually went to Ireland twice – first as a slave, and later as a missionary. Born in Britain, Patrick is widely known as the first Christian missionary to the Irish people. During his youth (from 16 to 22 years old), he was captured and taken to Ireland. While there, young Patrick repented of his sinful, backslidden condition. Years later, after escaping to his homeland, he received a vision from God calling him to return to the Irish people to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. Patrick obeyed God’s call and went back.

For the remainder of his life, Patrick ministered among the unreached tribes of Ireland– confronting Irish idolatry and sorcery, converting many to Jesus Christ, and baptizing thousands of people. Tradition says he used the three-leaf Irish clover to teach the unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

According to historian William Federer, who wrote St. Patrick: The Real History of His Life, From Tragedy to Triumph, “He was actually a missionary and he converted 120,000 druids from paganism to Christianity.” Federer claims that in the fifth century A.D., Patrick did more than perhaps anyone in history to spread Christianity in Europe. Although druids attempted to kill him over a dozen times, Patrick continued to preach the message of Jesus Christ, and throughout his ministry he pioneered over 300 Christian churches. Patrick also spoke out against slavery and because of this, some call him the world’s first abolitionist.

Mission-Minded Family Resources:

To learn more about St. Patrick, I recommend Hero Tales – Volume III by Dave & Neta Jackson (Bethany House Publishers). Along with the short biography summary, St. Patrick: Missionary to Ireland, the Jacksons include three devotional stories (each with a focus “From God’s Word” and “Let’s Talk About It” discussion questions) to read aloud:

“Your Ship is Ready” — Trust
The Fire on the Hill — Boldness
Blood on the White Robes — Righteous Anger

Focus on the Family has a surprisingly accurate Adventures in Odyssey that features St. Patrick’s Day. Also, VeggieTales has a funny “flannel graph” version of the St. Patrick story, which is surprisingly historically accurate, on the VeggieTales DVD, Sumo of the Opera.

Family Prayer Focus:

Pray for God’s peace throughout Ireland and Europe, especially between Protestants and Catholics. Pray for the true message of God’s salvation to spread throughout this area, and for today’s missionaries who are sharing the Gospel. Remember people in the United States who are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and for people who need Jesus to hear about the real story of St. Patrick, and the Gospel message he preached. Pray also for your family to have an obedient heart to go wherever God would call you to go.

This article is adapted from “Enjoying Missions Throughout the Year” from Ann’s new book, The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny. Ann is an international minister alongside her husband, Jon Dunagan (with Harvest Ministry) and a homeschooling mother of seven kids (ages 9 to 23). During the month of March, Ann and her 12-year-old homeschooled daughter, Caela, are on mission trip to help orphans in UGANDA, EAST AFRICA. You can follow Caela’s LIVE mission updates on Ann’s twitter updates, watching for posts marked #CaelaOnMission.

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January 30, 2010 By Ann 9 Comment

The horrific news from Haiti has filled your living room. News reports a unimaginable death toll between 100,000 to 200,000 people. 3 million people were affected. Nearly the entire capital city of Port-au-Prince is devastated and covered in rubble. Is it too late to help? The initial media-enthusiasm is waning, yet millions of people in Haiti remain desperately in need.

As Christian families, what can we do?

As headlines begin to focus on other matters, how can you remember Haiti? In your homeschooling, how can you continue to share this situation with your children? Is it too late to give in a way that could genuinely make a difference? And yes, you know you could “pray” with you kids about this situation and need . . . but do you realize that PRAYER, especially as a family, is not a little thing!

PRAYER IS NEEDED. It’s something that your family can do. It’s something BIG.

Does PRAYER really make a difference?

We all know, at least in our heads, that prayer is important. Yet how many of us honestly believe that our prayers, the simple prayers of our far-from-perfect family, can really make a difference? If we could comprehend, deep down in our spirits, the true power of prayer, we would all pray more-and the difference would radically impact our lives and the lives of everyone around us.

James 5:16 tells us, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” We want our prayers to be effective, but what does it mean to stand “righteous” before God?

As a family, we’re very aware of our differences and our faults. We’ve all sinned, and we need to acknowledge that no one of earth can stand blameless before our perfect, holy, and awesome God. No matter how good we try to be, our own works are nothing but filthy rags in His sight (see Isaiah 64:6). To pray effectively as a family, we need to grasp the importance of the “fear of the Lord.” We don’t need to be “afraid” of God in a fearful sense of the word, but we need to realize how powerful and mighty He is.

IDEAS TO HELP YOUR FAMILY PRAY for HAITI:

LOOK AT PHOTOS:
Find pictures of the needs in Haiti, and talk with your kids about specific ways your family can pray. Encourage your kids to PRAY for both those who are hurting & those who are helping. Here are photos from the DAY of the EARTHQUAKE in HAITI, and also encouraging photos from SAMARITANS PURSE of the RESCUE EFFORT.

READ ABOUT HAITI:
For example, read pages about “HAITI – A LAND FREED BY SLAVES” – from children’s world mission book, WINDOW ON THE WORLD, the children’s version of Operation World, published by Authentic/Paternoster.

Other Helpful Links for Teaching about Haiti:

Caribbean Geography Quiz :
http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/caribquiz.html

Facts about Haiti for Kids:
http://www.thejuliaproject.com/facts-about-haiti.html

Operation World – Praying for Haiti:
http://www.operationworld.org/country/hait/owtext.html

Missions Atlas Project – For World Missions:
http://worldmap.org/

Kids Around the World – Links to Learn about Haiti:
http://www.katw.org/pages/sitepage.cfm?id=154

40-Day Mission-Minded FAMILY CHALLENGE:
8 weeks to become a more effective family, for eternity. Daily 4-5 minute videos.
http://harvestministry.org/challenge

MAKE A POSTER:
Have your children print out pictures of children and people in Haiti. Put the photo up on your fridge, or on your kitchen wall.

USE A MAP:
Put a small map of Haiti on your refrigerator, and use this area to display current international news updates from the Haiti situation. Pray as a family, perhaps around the dinner table, for specific needs in Haiti, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

LEARN ABOUT FASTING:
WATCH a VIDEO with your CHILDREN about PRAYER & FASTING for KIDS. Consider taking a day, or a few days, to pray, and even to FAST for HAITI. Perhaps they could “fast” just one meal, or eat only fruit and vegetables. Many children in Haiti are deperately in need of food and water. As we fast, it can help us to remember those who are hungry, both physically and spiritually. They need prayer!!!

GIVE SOMETHING!
Your kids need to know that as a family, you care. My dad often said, “A little bit of somethin’ is better than a whole lot of nothin’!” In Luke 21:2, Jesus commended the widow who gave only two small coins!!! Our family knows a national minister in India who receives only $100 a month, and he chose to give $50 of his support to help the needs in Haiti, through Samaritan’s Purse. (And by the way, if your family has ever participated in “Operation Christmas Child” by filling shoeboxes, it’s wonderful to show your children that the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse is far-reaching in many other areas).

PRAY for ORPHANS of HAITI!!!
Even before the earthquake, there were many orphans in the country of Haiti. Now the need is even greater. PRAY HARD for these orphan children. Pray that Christian families around the world would feel God’s love for these children and want to open their homes to ADOPT a child from HAITI. PRAY for orphan children to be brought to a safe place (many orphanages were destroyed, and many orphans are now sleeping outside, with little food or water). Read James 1:27. God has a HUGE heart for orphan children. Do you?

TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT PRAYER, WITH FILTHY RAGS:
The next time you come across an extremely dirty rag in your house, use it an opportunity to share an important lesson with your kids. We may think our own self-efforts help us earn “Brownie points” with God. But, to Him, our human works are as worthless as stinky rags. If we try to earn favor with God-instead of trusting in Jesus-it’s like collecting yucky rags. The more they pile up, the more they stink and mildew.

In prayer, each of us must come to God in an attitude of total surrender and humility, keeping our hearts clean and open before Him. Through the cleansing sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, every mom and dad, and boy and girl, can pray as a “righteous man” before God. Because of Christ’s forgiveness and righteousness, even your family can come before God with boldness and authority to effectively intercede on behalf of others.

Do something BIG for HAITI, as a FAMILY.

PRAY.

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January 26, 2010 By Ann 10 Comment

Have you considered setting aside a few days in early January to seek the Lord’s will for this NEW YEAR? Do you desire for your family and personal life to become more effective for God’s Kingdom, and for ETERNITY?

At the end of each year, our family has always invested a few days to reflect upon the past 12 months, and to seek the Lord’s direction for the coming new year. Financially, as my husband and I close-up our end-of-the-year books, we consider our spending and giving, as we pray for God’s future wisdom and His direction for family needs and mission giving. In our family scheduling, as we consider the past year’s calendar, we take time to review the highs and lows, rejoice in what God has done, learn from past mistakes and challenges . . . then pray and dream about His ideas for our future.

Plan to become a MISSION-MINDED FAMILY in 2010

This year, I put together a FREE Mission-Minded New Year’s Guide to help woman and homeschooling families (like YOU!!!) to evaluate your past year and to seek God’s will for your future in 2010. This FREE guide is especially designed for Christian mothers who desire to become more MISSION-MINDED and eternally effective in this next year.

Take 7 – For Fulfillment, Completion, and Rest

This evaluation and prayer guide focuses on the number 7 (God’s number for fulfillment, completion, and rest), with the idea of investing 7 days at the beginning of this new year to look at the your days (each 24/7), your next 7 weeks, your next 7 months, your next 7 years, and even how your current decisions will look 70 years from now (with the belief that we should live EVERY DAY for God’s purposes, and in light of ETERNITY.)

Here’s a short video that explains more:

Also, for you and your family, here is my favorite One-Year Bible Reading Check-off Plan from www.Bible-reading.com.

Have a MISSION-MINDED New Year! May God bless you and your family, for His purposes, in 2010!

Learn more about The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny, by Ann Dunagan, or download a FREE Sample.

Ann Dunagan is a longtime homeschool mother of 7 (with 3 graduates). Since 1987, she and her husband Jon have ministered worldwide with Harvest Ministry. Ann is co-founder of two African orphanages, writer for “Better Parents, Better Families” on the Christian Post and “The Missional Mind” with Biblica, and author of several books including The Mission-Minded Family.

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December 16, 2009 By Ann 3 Comment

“I’ll be Home for Christmas”

Isn’t it an awesome song, with a heart-tugging theme?

With three of our seven totally-homeschooled children now practically “grown-up” and beginning to live on their own, it’s a momma-dream I can relate to . . . sprinkled with annual hopes and anticipation. Christmas-at-home brings to mind favorite traditions, thoughts of yummy delicacies, memories of siblings laughing together and playing games, and of course, snow and mistletoe.

However, as a surrendered mission-minded believers, I’ve come to understand that my lovely “Home-Sweet-Home” Christmas-dream isn’t necessarily a guaranteed “right” I should always expect or think I “deserve.”

A Mission-Minded Christmas . . . focuses on GOD’S HOME:

As homeschooling families (and as the premier experts on the “home” front . . . right?) we especially need to keep in mind that Christmas is about far-more than our home and our family. The true meaning of Christmas centers on the reality of God’s home in heaven (because that’s why Jesus came), and loving people into His family, so that others can go to heaven too.

Christmas, and everything about true Christianity, is about God’s Greatness (including God’s Great Commandment, to love God and love others: Matthew 22:36-40, and God’s Great Commission, to go into all the world to share His love with others: Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15).

We all know the clichés, how, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” and “Wise men still seek Him”; but have you and your family ever considered your willingness to surrender to God’s purpose for Christmas, in every nitty-gritty area?

Recently, an informal “counseling” question with a newlywed bride turned to a passionate discussion about international missions and family life. This God-loving friend and her new husband were having a common early-marriage struggle about where to spend their first Christmas. Since they were already living near his family and relatives, wasn’t it “right” that they celebrate Christmastime with her family?

I shared with her a story:

I’ll be Home for Christmas?

It was only a few days before Christmas as Bernie May, a pilot for Wycliffe Bible Translators successfully delivered emergency medical supplies to the isolated Amazon village. Now he eagerly anticipated being back with his wife and children in their South American home-away-from-home. Yet as the evening grew dark, he knew he would not be able to fly out until the morning.

With his pontoon plane waiting on the river, Bernie arranged for temporary protection for the night. But then . . . it began to rain. The rain continued, even up until Christmas Eve, the missionary felt increasingly depressed by his misfortune. His wife, Nancy, and their boys were six hours away; and by this time, they would have received his radio message: he would not be home for Christmas.

As a family, they had prepared their hearts to be separated from their loved ones and friends, but it was Christmas Eve . . . and they were now separated even from each other.

Back in Pennsylvania, everyone would be coming home from church—to the sounds of caroling, the smell of roasting turkey, and the sight of falling snow. But where was God’s missionary? Here he was . . . stuck in a remote jungle . . . in a makeshift shelter . . . in the pouring rain . . . alone.

In Ruth Tucker’s book “From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya”, Bernie May tells of his experience:

“Oh God,” I moaned, “I’m in the wrong place.” . . . But that night, under my mosquito net, I had a visitation from God— something like those shepherds must have had on the hills of Bethlehem.

There were no angels, and no bright lights. But as I lay there in my hammock, desperately homesick, I felt I heard God say, “My son, this is what Christmas is all about. Jesus left heaven and on Christmas morning He woke up in the ‘wrong place’—a stable in Bethlehem. Christmas means leaving home, not going home. My only begotten Son did not come home for Christmas— He left home to be with you.”

(Excerpted from The Mission-Minded Family – Releasing Your Family to God’s Destiny, by Ann Dunagan – Published by Biblica/Authentic)

A Mission-Minded Christmas . . . focuses on SURRENDER:

Our Savior Jesus Christ surrendered everything when He came to this earth; and He did it to not only save us, but to provide His salvation for the whole world!

So, what if this Christmas, God would perhaps call upon your homeschooling family to give something BIGGER than ever?
What if He would ask you, as a mom or a dad, to give something even greater than an extra missions-offering or a few dollars in that red Salvation Army bucket?

Brace yourself . . . as you consider . . .

What if God wanted your family to pray about taking a short-term mission trip in 2010?
Or, what if God would want you to prepare yourself and your family . . . to perhaps pack up everything, and to move overseas to begin a season of fulltime foreign missionary work?

YIKES!!! – Have you ever, recently, given the Lord the opportunity to even whisper the suggestion?

Or, what if God would ask you, as a loving parent, to release one of your own precious children or teenagers or young adults into a non-conventional ministry, or perhaps into even dangerous, overseas Christian service?
What if someday one of your own big kids, out of direct obedience to God’s call, was called to live across the world as a missionary . . . and he or she wouldn’t always be able to be with you and your family for Christmas?

As parents, would you be supportive and encouraging toward God’s call on your child’s life . . . or would you be God’s greatest hindrance?

YIKES!!! YIKES!!! – I know it can be scary; but I also know that whenever God calls an individual to follow Him, He also provides His GRACE and JOY (and if God would someday call one of your kids to something a bit “out-of-your-comfort-zone” or downright SCARY, He also has a GRACE and JOY for you, as parents, to be able to handle it).

Mission-minded Christmas carols:

“Go, Tell it on the Mountain!”

“Silent Night”

“Joy to the World”

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”

A Mission-Minded Christmas . . . focuses on GIVING IT ALL:

This Christmas, let’s do something different.
Let’s “get” what Christmas is really all about . . . and then “give it” all to God.

“I Gave Myself”

It was Christmas, and the Liberian Christians had been asked this year instead of receiving gifts, to help carry the gospel to others.

As in many mission fields, they brought, not money, but produce. Presently, the great plates were piled high with offerings of rice, cocoa, bananas, palm nuts, pineapple, and cassava.

There was a moment’s pause . . .

Slowly, a twelve-year-old boy walked forward and solemnly placed his feet in one of the plates. Afterward, when the missionary questioned him, the boy said, “We are very poor. I did not have anything else to give . . . so I gave myself.”

A Mission-Minded Christmas . . . focuses on GOD’S PRESENCE:

Christmas is not just about HOME, or PRESENTS; it’s about living in the PRESENCE of the Lord, and sharing His PRESENCE with others.

Here are a few baby-steps to incorporate a mission-mindset into your family’s yearly Christmas celebrations.

Incorporate a GLOBE into your Christmas celebrations. Perhaps use this to bring a mission theme into a corner of a room. Add some garland and lights, or place a mini-nativity beside this globe (or map) as you encourage your children that Jesus came to earth to be the Savior for ALL people. If your decorations are looking a bit old and shabby, and you’re wondering about using them for yet another year, remember that 1.6 million people around the world have yet to hear the Christmas story… for the first time!

Plan a specific family giving project for Christmas. Perhaps put a coin jar next to your Christmas cookie jar and begin saving coins for a specific mission need to help others.

Learn how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world, such as St. Lucia Day in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries (the legend of St. Lucia focuses on a Sicilian girl who gave away her dowry to feed the poor) or Las Pasadas from Mexico and Latin American countries. You can also learn about Hannakah (as you pray for the nation of Israel, and for Jewish families to come to know Jesus as their Messiah). Perhaps incorporate one or two new international traditions into your family celebration.

Remember that Christmas is one of the easiest times of the year to be a strong witness for Jesus. Whenever anyone says, “Happy Holidays,” encourage your children to be bold and friendly as you respond with a cheerful “Merry Christmas!” or “Jesus Loves You!” (and don’t be afraid to invite people to your church or to a special Christ-centered event). Pray specifically for your unsaved neighbors, and perhaps deliver a plate of Christmas cookies along with hand-written cards or loving notes about God’s salvation. Visit elderly people in a nursing home and sing God-glorifying Christmas carols and talk to these precious people about the Lord. Specifically pray for relatives who need Jesus (and maybe plan a little Christmas Eve “skit” performed by your sweet non-threatening kids, to clearly share the real salvation reason for Christ’s coming to earth).

Communicate a few times during December to your own missionary friends and their children. Today, most overseas missionaries and international ministers utilize online tools such as facebook, twitter, blogs, or websites, so it’s easier than ever to keep in touch. Don’t be afraid to share about your fun Christmas activities, but be sensitive and appreciative for the sacrifices they are making for Jesus to serve Him so far from home.

This Christmas, I invite you to seek God’s purposes for your family.

As homeschooling families, if we really want God’s direction in every areas of our lives, we need to begin by surrendering ALL of our “rights” to God.

All to Jesus, I surrender.
All to Him I freely give.
I will ever love and trust Him.
In His presence daily live.
I surrender all. I surrender all.
All to Thee, My Blessed Savior.
I surrender all.

God gave His Only Son for us; this Christmas, let’s give HIM the reigns, and make Him LORD over every area: over where we live, where we’re willing to go, how we spend money, how we use time, what we say, and over our children’s lives . . . and their futures. Let’s make Him LORD of our Christmas!

Have yourself a MISSION-MINDED CHRISTMAS!!!

Click here for a FREE Sample of THE MISSION-MINDED FAMILY:
http://harvestministry.org/mission-minded-family

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October 28, 2009 By Ann 15 Comment

Have you considered traveling internationally, or taking a family mission trip?

When Hudson Taylor was only five years old he said, “When I’m a man, I mean to be a missionary and go to China.” This mission call grew, until as a young adult Hudson Taylor exclaimed, “I feel I cannot go on living unless I do something for China.” Years later, after a lifetime of renowned missionary service throughout Inland China, the veteran spokesman addressed the next generation as he pleaded,“The Great Commission is not an option to consider. It is a command to obey.”

I was eight years old when God called me to missions. As a little girl, the Lord “spoke” to me at a Christian family camp through Jeremiah 1:4-8 about going “to the nations.” At sixteen, I headed to Mexico on my first mission trip; as young newlyweds, my husband and I surrendered everything to go wherever God would call; and for over 22 years, our homeschooling family has been actively involved, all across the globe, in fulltime international missions. We’ve ministered together as a family, in teams of two or three of us at a time, and as individuals. We’ve tasted strange foods, experienced fascinating cultures, and have seen – with our own eyes – some incredible needs.

All along the way, we’ve been living the homeschool life: taking care of toddlers, teaching grammar and math (and everything else!), training teens, and turning in college scholarship applications. We’ve always lived in the United States, but by God’s grace, His call on our lives has taken us, collectively, to nearly 70 nations on all 7 continents. We’ve dreamed some big dreams . . . and little dreams. We’ve rescued hundreds of orphan kids, established village churches, and made friends with our neighbors (and shared the Lord) during local soccer games. To our family, “MISSIONS” is not an extra-curricular subject or an optional add-on to our educational goals; living for God’s Great Commission is the central core of everything we do. Geography is more than a map and a textbook. World News is more than a “take-it-or-leave-it” headline report. Living with a mission perspective has dramatically impacted our purpose for homeschooling and for parenting.

As I look back, it’s been an incredible journey; as I look ahead, I know we have a long way to go (both in homeschooling and in God’s international plans); and even now, I’m excited! As a brand-new writer for Heart of the Matter Online, I’m looking forward to encouraging you and your family for missions, on your unique homeschool journey.

So, to get to the point of my first HOTM article, I have a quick question, with BIG implications:

If your family wants to be a part of God’s Great Commission (Matthew 26:19 and Mark 16:15 – to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel”), DO YOU HAVE YOUR PASSPORTS YET?

Included in this article are instructions to make mission-minded “Passports” – as a fun craft project and learning tool. However, I want to motivate you to go one step further and to apply for “real” passports for each member of your family. In the United States, adult passports last for ten years and child passports last for five years. Even the “process” of applying for passports is a great educational experience . . . and who knows where this simple step could lead you, or what impact this small step could make in the future, and for God’s kingdom?

JUST FOR FUN! – Make a Mission-Minded “Passport”

As you child learns about various areas of the world, a fun idea is to chart this progress on a special Mission-Minded “Passport.”

1. What you need:

A printed copy of the MISSION-MINDED passport pages (here’s a PDF file of these pages: http://bit.ly/9NO2r), your child’s photo, scissors, glue, colored construction paper, blank white paper, yarn, hole puncher, clear packing tape, and stapler.

2. What to do:

Have your child cut out the passport pages along the dotted lines and glue these pieces to a passport-sized booklet (made from a half-piece of colored construction paper with blank white pages stapled inside). Add your child’s photo to the appropriate box, and for strength and durability cover the entire passport with clear packing tape. Punch a hole in the top left corner, and insert a piece of yarn or cording so your child can wear the passport around his or her neck. For fun, add international stickers or stamps (here are FREE printable country flags and stamps which work well with passports: http://www.stickersandcharts.com/places.php).

3. How to use this passport:

As your child learns about an area of the world, stamp the passport with a culturally appropriate rubber stamp, international flag or globe-oriented sticker, or a foreign postage stamp—all available at most teacher supply stores. This passport can be used to keep track of achievements, such as Bible memory or Bible reading progress, or to record a child’s personal prayer time as he or she “travels” around the world through intercession.

JUST IN CASE! – Apply for Official Current Passports for Your Whole Family

3 Reasons WHY you should get Passports:

You’ll be ready to go anywhere in the world, at a moment’s notice.
You’ll instill a preliminary attitude of willingness to follow God – wherever He may lead – into the hearts of each member of your family.
You’ll open up a whole world of possibilities, as you pray and learn about different nations (with real passports ready “just in case”). It will change how you pray as you ask God where He may want you to travel someday, or potential mission trips He may want you to take.

3 Steps HOW to get Passports:

Print out passport applications (if you are US citizens, here is the US Passport Application site: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. If you are Canadian citizens, here is the Passport Canada site: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/form/index.aspx).
Fill out the applications. Locate documentations and IDs. Get passport photos for each family member.
Submit applications at your local post office, with appropriate fees.

Even if your family is never called to fulltime foreign missions, it’s good to be prepared for the “possibility” of a short-term mission trip, an overseas emergency to help a friend or loved one, or even an international vacation. If you are willing to consider a mission adventure for any (or all) of your family within the next several years, I encourage you to quit procrastinating. Get your passports!

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October 25, 2009 By The Amies 2 Comment

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to the newest members of our HOTM family. What did you think? Amazing ladies huh!!

And now…I would like to introduce you to the rest of the new “cast” of HOTM. And trust me, they are just as inspiring and fun and heart-tugging as the previous group! These contributors will be submitting their first articles within the next couple of weeks. I hope you’ll see some familiar faces.

Ruthanne has been homeschooling for nearly a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.thegencojournal.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.

Elizabeth Tsukayama is a homeschool graduate homeschooling the next generation! She and her husband, Fabio (yes, that is his real name!), have four beautiful children ages 7 down to 1. Elizabeth enjoys many hobbies, but her favorite one is teaching her children and learning with them, especially using hands-on projects, lapbooks, notebooking and nature exploration. The Tsukayama family is currently packing up to travel to Brazil for missions. Life never ceases to be an adventure! You can check out her site at: www.mamaknowsbest.net.

Patty has been married to the love of her life for 14 years and has 4 kiddos she lovingly refers to as her monkeys. She is constantly threatening to run away to the Circus–unfortunately, she keeps being informed she’s already there! She loves throwing together this and that to create a unique learning experience that encourages a love of learning. Come feed their school mascot Shiver and check out her blog at Shiver Academy.

Rhodema lives the parenting adventure with Calvin, her college sweetheart. They have two adult daughters and two teenagers still at home, a girl and a boy. Their homeschool style is eclectic with a great love of living history books. Rhodema teaches women’s Bible studies and is a MOPS speaker. Her blog for moms is Herding Worms.

Hannah is a relaxed homeschooling mama of five. Her and her family are big on the outdoors, big on family days, and big on making memories in everyday small ways. She loves handcrafts, iced lattes, re-arranging furniture and counts falling into bed exhausted a sign of a really great day. She and her husband make a home in upstate New York with their energetic children and a menagerie of animals.

Rachael is wife to a Navy Tubist and mommy to three children, ages 1 to 6. She is Director of a Classical Conversations group and a childbirth educator and doula. She works along side her hubby on their hobby farm and has a passion for kitchen experiments. She aspires to train and reach the hearts of her children that they may know the purpose of life is to know Jesus and make Him known to others.

Meg is a devoted wife to her husband, Ken, of 9 years, and mom and homeschooling teacher to her two children, five-year-old son “G” and three-year-old daughter “R.” When she’s not writing or creating something, Meg loves to cook for, host and entertain friends and family. She also enjoys reading, the outdoors, eclectic music, yoga, and studying history. You can read all about her adventures (and misadventures) at her blog, Muses of Megret and read her educational product reviews at Muse Reviews.

Laura is in her 7th year as a single homeschool mom to 3 beautiful daughters. Currently they are in the 7th, 6th, and 3rd grades. She enjoys growing and learning along with her children in this journey of life and discipleship at home. She hopes to bring encouragement and hope to women who find themselves in difficult situations. You are invited to follow her homeschooling adventures at www.pillarsinherfathershouse.blogspot.com.

Tara is a devoted mom to a two-year-old “little man” and enjoys discovering how God has “packed his suitcase”. As an associate with iBloom, she has a heart for inspiring, encouraging and equipping moms to become “Proverbs 31 mamas” and raise their children according to Biblical principles and guidelines using the Bible and other tools. Tara adores falling leaves, sweatshirts, Starbucks White Chocolate Mochas and the first curly BBQ chip from the bag!

Melissa Morgner is a happy wife of 16 years to her college sweetheart and mother to six loud, but lovable children ranging in age from twelve to one. After eight years of homeschooling and sampling way too much curriculum, she takes an eclectic approach in their little schoolroom, choosing resources that best suit the children and the teacher. Her busy household puts her gifts of juggling and winging it to the test each day. She steals moments here and there to write on her blog, Day In Day Out, about the lessons she’s learning from the Lord in the routine but privileged tasks of mothering and homeschooling.

Julie is a happily married Navy spouse of 16 years, and a homeschooling Mom. She served in the Navy prior to having their children, a daughter – age 15 and a son – age 7. Not only does she have the joy of homeschooling their children and learning from them as she teaches, but she is attending college for her long sought after degree. In her spare time (what’s that? Giggle, giggle) she enjoys fishing, camping, scrapbooking, card making, crafts, reading and oh so much more! The question most often asked of her is, “Do you blog?!” The answer (at this time) is no. She does, however, enjoy contributing to various discussion boards and posting notes on others’ blogs.

Heather Laurie and her husband, Christopher, have been married for 13 wonderful years, and have been blessed with 7 children, two of whom are awaiting them in Heaven. They began their homeschooling journey eight years ago, amidst trials and unexpected journeys, including genetic disorders, austism, sensory disorders, and lupus. Heather and her husband created the ministry Special Needs Homeschooling as a way to use their trials for the Lord’s glory and to encourage special needs parents and homeschoolers.

Laura is the mom of three awesome always home/unschooled kids. She married her soul mate after knowing him less than 2 months in 1998 and they’ve been living happily ever after since then! They live in Florida and love to enjoy everything that the sunshine state has to offer- mainly the beach, the sun, and the outdoors. Their approach to education is all about opportunities, living, love, and trust. She blogs all about their life at http://www.thejoyfulmom.com/blog

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September 14, 2008 By admin Leave a Comment

Heart of the Matter is more than just a homeschooling site. It is a site dedicated to bridging the gap between the child and the parent, a relationship designed by God. We hope to accomplish this by presenting you with motivational posts, encouraging articles from “real” parents, and resources so that the parents can take 100% control of their child’s education. We provide a blog that is updated daily, a quarterly digital magazine, online conferences, how-to tutorials, reviews, giveaways, and more for the busy parent.

Heart of the Matter was formed in January 2008 by the team now known as “The Amies” and the writers are made up of some of the home schooling community’s most popular authors and bloggers. Each brings their own passion and style to Heart of the Matter.

Our family of contributors

Amy Stults – Founder

Amy is a devoted wife to her husband of 12 years, a Classical homeschooling mom to an eight-year-old Superhero and the co-founder of Heart of the Matter. She has a passion for genealogy and is aspiring to be a Proverbs 31 lady. Be sure to visit her blog at Milk and Cookies.

Marsha Drews – Editor-in-Chief

Marsha is proud to be the Mrs. to David for over 13 years. They have been homeschooling their rowdy boys in the Lone Star State for the past 6 years. When she’s feeling like a slacker, you can find her drinking coffee, reading a book and writing at her blog — and sometimes all at the same time! You can find Marsha at Other Such Happenings.

Angela DeRossett – Public Relations and Writer

Angela is a fun-loving, married to the military, homeschooling mother of four. She has four cats and a great big dog and loves her very full house. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Christian Education and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts and Science in Christian Ministries. Angela is a coffee and theology junkie and is passionate about Autism advocacy and disability rights. You can find her blogging at Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy and Homeschooling the Chaotic Mommy.

Karin Katherine – Director of Reviews

Karin Katherine is a proud stay-at-home homeschooling mother of 4 living in Sunny Florida with her children, husband and various reptiles. As an eclectic style homeschooler she relishes the opportunity the review new curriculum and resources and share them with readers. Please visit her blog at www.KarinKatherine.com or follow her homeschooling adventures at www.PassportAcademy.com.

Janet Phillips – Digital Magazine Designer

Janet is a first year homeschooling mother to four children, age six and under. She and her husband Jason are in their tenth year of marriage and seventh year living in Asia. They currently live in Indonesia where her husband teaches at an Christian International school. Janet is also owner of THE DAILY DIGI (a website for digital scrapbookers and photographers) and blogs about her life as a wife, mother, and homeschooling mom at The Well Rounded Mama.

Laura Delgado – Digital Magazine Copy Editor and Writer

Laura has been married to her husband, Henry, for 14 years. She gave birth to four children in exactly 40 months, but cheated since the last two were twins. She now happily homeschools her 8,6, and two 4 year-olds. She earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rice University, but finds that she uses her undergraduate Great Books education far more in her homeschooling pursuits. In addition to writing for various homeschooling publications, she creates educational materials for edHelper. For homeschooling helps and curriculum reviews, please visit her blogs at Living as Martha and Salve Regina Homeschool.

Amy Fleeker – Lead Forum Moderator

Amy is a part of a great family that includes a husband of 12 years, 3 children, a dog and a cat. Her homeschooling style is eclectic with a emphasis on classical teaching. When with her family, you can find her watching movies, playing board games, and living life with a great sense of humor and knowing that God is all around. In her spare time she enjoys scrapbooking, tatting, crocheting and doing a little family history. You can visit Amy at her blog, Counting Change Again.

Cassandra Simpson – Assistant Lead Forum Moderator

Cassandra is a homeschooling wife and mother of four children, ages 1, 8, 9, and 12. She is starting her 6th year of home educating in Indiana and uses a “Classically Eclectic” teaching approach. Cassandra is the Assistant Lead Moderator for HOTM’s forum and loves talking homeschool with anyone who will listen! Her hobbies are reading, blogging, sewing, and cooking. You can check out her family’s blog at In His Image.

Brenna Darazs- Newsletter Editor

Joining you from the rainy Pacific Northwest, Brenna is a Jesus-loving homeschooling mom to one adorable girly girl and wife to her beloved techie man. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and Literature, she worked as a technical writer and editor in the high-tech field. Once she defected from the corporate rat race and dedicated her life to being a SAHM, she began a freelance writing and editing career. Then she became a mommy, and everything changed. When she’s not busy as the keeper of her home, you can find her reading, snuggling with her Maltese, Ellie, knitting, reading, sipping tea, trying new recipes and reading. You can visit Brenna at her blog, Ciao Yellow Bird, where she chronicles her daily challenges, joys and struggles as a girl saved by grace.

Dawn Camp – WordPress Design Consultant and Writer

Dawn has been homeschooling her eight children–ages pre-K to college–since 1993. Her interests include photography, and both graphic and web design. She is the owner of Barefoot Blog Designs, and also blogs at My Home Sweet Home, (in)courage, Blissfully Domestic, and The Homeschool Post.

Darcy – Branding, HTML, and all around “We broke it! Help!” girl

Darcy is the mom to three boys ages 8, 7, and 5 and blogs over at Life with My 3 Boybarians. She is the owner of a blog design business at www.graphicallydesigning.com. She and Handy Man live in Iowa…nowhere near a Starbucks.

Pamela Swearingen – E-Reviews Coordinator

Happily homeschooling in the beautiful Pacific Northwest for several years now, Pamela and her family have really enjoyed an “eclectic Charlotte Mason with a hint of unschooling” style of learning. Books, unit studies, notebooks, and nature journals are all part of their homeschooling week. Her kids are transitioning into middle school now and the lessons in their homeschool and in life are getting very exciting! She truly feels that God has blessed her family with the opportunity to homeschool and she strives each day to honor Him with theirlessons and actions. Her goal is to inspire other families to homeschool greatness by pointing them in the direction of some really great books, resources and field trip ideas. Her reviews and suggestions can be found on her blog.

Monthly Contributors:

Angela Parsley

Angela, of the international ministry Refresh My Soul Ministries, is a wife and homeschooling mother to her 2 young daughters. Angela is also a contributing author to a devotional book entitled, “Standing on the Promises of God” and Radical Revolution, a devotional site for teen girls through Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Ann Dunagan

Ann Dunagan is a longtime homeschool mother of 7 (with 4 high school graduates and 3 university graduates). Since 1987, she and her husband Jon, and their family, have ministered worldwide through Harvest Ministry, to a combined total of 70+ nations, on all 7 continents. Ann is co-founder of 2 African orphanages (with over 700 children); author of several books, including The Mission-Minded Family; and she blogs at Passionate Homemaking and “Better Parents, Better Families” on The Christian Post.

Aubrey Lively

Aubrey is a homeschooling mother of four, ages 9, 7, 3, and 2. She has a BA in Literature and an MEd in Teaching and is currently surviving seminary with her husband of ten years. Visit Aubrey online at http://aubreylively.blogspot.com.

Barbara Postma

Barbara and her husband, as they homeschool their 7 children, are finding out that no two children are alike! Between lessons and lunches, Barbara blogs at Fuel by Barbara.

Belinda Bullard

Belinda is a wife and homeschooling mother of three, Belinda is an author and the owner of A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources, a literature-based history curriculum featuring African-American presence in history, as well as the contributions of other races to American history. A chemical engineer by formal education, she also serves as adjunct faculty for college distance learning programs. Belinda blogs at Simply Belinda and Chronicles of a Blessed Heritage.

Bethany LeBedz

Bethany has been married for 17 years, homeschooling for 10 years, and organizing forever. She homeschools her two girls in North Carolina. She is also a partner in Codex Publishing, publisher of The Tutor and classic book reprints. She writes a regular column for the Home School Enrichment magazine. When she isn’t homeschooling or driving the family taxi, Bethany enjoys reading, music, church activities, editing, writing, history, and keeping up with friends. Follow her blog at Confessions of an Organized Homeschool Mom.

Carol Barnier

Carol Barnier is a fresh, fun and popular conference speaker unlike any you’ve heard before. Her objective is to have the wit of Erma Bombeck crossed with the depth of C.S. Lewis, but admits that most days, she only achieves a solid Lucy Ricardo with a bit of Bob the Tomato. She is a frequent guest commentator on Focus on the Family’s Weekend Magazine broadcast, has been a guest on many radio programs and is a speaker to conferences nationwide. She’s the author of three books about dealing with (or possessing) a non-linear mind in a linear world: How to Get Your Child Off the Refrigerator and On To Learning, If I’m Diapering a Watermelon, Then Where’d I Leave the Baby?, and The Big WHAT NOW Book of Learning Styles. Her main websites are CarolBarnier.com and SizzleBop.com. You can also find Carol at her blog for moms with distractible kids at SizzleBop. And for fun, see her church humor blog at CarolBarnier.

Chris Worthy

Chris is mom to Caroline (16) and Nolan (11) and will soon celebrate 21 years of marriage to her favorite person, John. Chris practiced law before becoming a writer and stay-at-home mother more than 10 years ago. She enjoys cooking, crafting, spoiling dogs, green living and rummaging though old books. Follow along at www.chrisworthy.com.

Christine Hiester

Christine is a Christian, homeschooling mom to three boys and a girl, ranging in age from 9 to 2 years old. She is a musician by trade, eclectic in homeschool style, and continues to grow and learn along with her children in this journey of life and discipleship at home. Visit her blog at Fruit in Season.

Courtney Joseph

Courtney blogs over at Women Living Well. She has been married to her high school sweet heart for 12 ½ years, home schools her son and daughter and is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute. Her passion to see women living well landed her on the Rachael Ray Show in November, 2009. Since then, she blogs regularly about marriage according to God’s word.

Dana Hanley

Dana is homeschooling her five children while moving to the country. You can follow her plans and adventures while seeking to live life more abundantly at Roscommon Acres.

ruth-and-deb Debbie Strayer and Dr. Ruth Beechick

Debbie is a veteran educator, speaker, author and home educator. She enjoys spending time with her husband of thirty years and her grown children.

Dr. Beechick, too, has spent many years teaching and writing on education. She specializes in curriculum and in how children learn. She is mother of two and grandmother of four and loves working together with Debbie because they think alike on education matters. For more books and articles, see debbiestrayer.com.

Debra Anderson

Debra has three sons ages 11 and younger. Her passions are education, mentoring, her husband, writing, church ministry and missional living — not in that order. She has her seminary Masters degree in Christian Education, is married to her pastor-husband of 16 years, and resides in their newish home in Denver, CO. In spite of moves between four different states, she has always home educated her boys — even on the hard days. She maintains a blog at www.emergent-homeschool.blogspot.com.

Hannah Hagarty

Hannah is a relaxed homeschooling mama of five. Her and her family are big on the outdoors, big on family days, and big on making memories in everyday small ways. She loves handcrafts, iced lattes, re-arranging furniture and counts falling into bed exhausted a sign of a really great day. She and her husband make a home in upstate New York with their energetic children and a menagerie of animals. Hannah blogs at Cultivating Home.

Heather Laurie

Heather and her husband, Christopher, have been married for 13 wonderful years, and have been blessed with 7 children, two of whom are awaiting them in Heaven. They began their homeschooling journey eight years ago, amidst trials and unexpected journeys, including genetic disorders, autism, sensory disorders, and lupus. Heather and her husband created the ministry Special Needs Homeschooling as a way to use their trials for the Lord’s glory and to encourage special needs parents and homeschoolers.

Heather

Heather is a homeschooling mom of four kids ranging from middle school to preschool and wife to a handsome chemical engineer. Before raising a family, she taught middle school science (with a BS in biological sciences) and has a masters degree in curriculum and instruction secondary education. Now teaching at home means the chance to provide the extraordinary for her children. She’s been homeschooling five years and you can read about those adventures on her blog, Blog She Wrote.

Jimmie

Jimmie is a former public school teacher turned homeschooling stay-at-home-mom. A sense of humor, faith, and creativity keep her “pressing on” in her unique situation — living and traveling abroad with an only child in a bilingual environment. Visit her blog at Jimmie’s Collage.

Julie Barnett

Julie is a Navy veteran and spouse who has been happily married since 1993. She is a homeschool Mom to 2 amazing kids, a teenage young lady and an elementary age young man. She enjoys fishing, camping, scrapbooking, card making, crafts, reading and oh so much more!

Karen

Karen is married to the love of her life, Steve, and a homeschooling mom of 4 children ages 9,7,5, and 1. She was called to homeschool when her oldest was kindergarten age after thinking, “I could never do THAT!” Now she is passionate about encouraging others on their homeschool journey, as well as learning all she can along the way. She sees her kids as her mission field and loves the verse in Romans 10:15 that says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who carry the good news.” Follow her blog at Beautiful Feet Bring Good News.

Kristin Nitz

Kristin has been happily married since 1986 (they were 18) and after 16 years of marriage they decided to have kids, a son Vincent (2002) and a daughter Raquel (2005). She is bringing her kids up in a Godly education without the concerns about socialization in the traditional school setting and all the worries that may go along with that. With the lack of God in the schools and the illiteracy rates Kristin felt she had to find another option for the treasures that God gave her. So, she decided to homeschool and raise up her children in the way of the Lord not in the way of the world. Because what we teach today is what we will reap tomorrow. Kristin started NutBugs.com because she knew there were other people out there like her who wanted to read many different blogs and posts to help them better understand homeschooling, teaching and curriculum choices.

Laura Luna

Laura is in her 7th year as a single homeschool mom to 3 beautiful daughters. Currently they are in the 7th, 6th, and 3rd grades. She enjoys growing and learning along with her children in this journey of life and discipleship at home. She hopes to bring encouragement and hope to women who find themselves in difficult situations. You are invited to follow her homeschooling adventures at www.pillarsinherfathershouse.blogspot.com.

Lee Binz

Lee is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, “Helping parents homeschool through high school.” She has a new free minicourse called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School”. You can sign up for her free email homeschool newsletter, The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from her homeschool blog, The HomeScholar Helper. Get homeschool transcript help with her Total Transcript Solution. Get comprehensive homeschool support as a member of her Gold Care Club.

Leslie Thompson

Leslie and her husband Jeoff began educating their children at home almost three years ago. They have a passion for sharing Christ’s love in marriages and helping point husbands and wives (including themselves) back to Christ when resolving conflicts. Leslie is Director of a Classical Conversations Community, in which their two oldest children are enrolled. Their two youngest children, ages 3 and 1, provide a much needed element of joy throughout the family’s school day.

Leslie Valeska

Leslie is the wife of Thomas and homeschooling mother of four children who reside in SW Florida. Her family operates Fresh Gear Solutions, LLC and enjoys RVing. She is the founder and director of Simple Journey Ministries which was established to encourage, inspire, and support women on their journey to Godly womanhood. Leslie is also employed as a vintage seamstress by Vintage Vixen.

Lisa Van Dong

Lisa has been teaching her two sons since 2004 and attempts to incorporate study, work, service, and play into their homeschooling days. She takes an eclectic approach to homeschooling and enjoys reading, writing, editing, and essential oils. Lisa blogs publicly at Pockets of Time and privately at Scooter and B.

Meg Wilson

Meg is a devoted wife to her husband, Ken, of 10 years, and mom and homeschooling teacher to her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. When she’s not writing or creating something, Meg loves to cook for, host and entertain friends and family. She also enjoys reading, the outdoors, eclectic music, yoga, and studying history. You can read all about her adventures (and misadventures) at her blog, Muses of Megret and read her product reviews at Muse Reviews.

Melinda Boring

Melinda has been married to Scott for 25 years and has three homeschooled children. Her 22 yr. old son and 21 yr. old daughter graduated from home school in 2006, leaving Melinda an “empty desker” of two along with her 17 year old daughter who will graduate in 2011. Two of her children and her husband have been diagnosed with AD/HD. The children also deal with auditory processing disorders and sensory processing challenges. The name “Boring” just doesn’t fit this family, and Melinda shares many humorous moments in her speaking and writing endeavors. Melinda is the author of Heads Up Helping and has been a contributing author to multiple publications. She is a workshop presenter with a passion for helping struggling learners and providing practical strategies, compassion, and understanding for those with special needs. Melinda is also a speech/language pathologist with over 25 years experience and the owner of Heads Up, a company with products for those who learn differently. You can find her blog at the Heads Up website, where she writes as “Heads Up Mom”.

Melissa Morgner

Melissa is a happy wife of 16 years to her college sweetheart and mother to six loud, but lovable children ranging in age from 13 down to two. After eight years of homeschooling and sampling way too much curriculum, she takes an eclectic approach in their little schoolroom, choosing resources that best suit the children and the teacher. Her busy household puts her gifts of juggling and winging it to the test each day. She steals moments here and there to write on her blog, Day In Day Out, about the lessons she’s learning from the Lord in the routine but privileged tasks of mothering and homeschooling.

Misty Krasawski

Misty is the overly-blessed mom of eight children whom she homeschools in sunshine-y Florida. She has been clinging ferociously to the hand of her Lord since she was knee-high to a grasshopper, homeschooling for the past thirteen years, and has eighteen more years ahead of her with the children who are glad she will have done most of her experimenting on those who went before. Her wonderful husband Rob has much treasure laid up for him in heaven for having been called to such a daunting task. After the house goes to sleep she can sometimes be found gathering her thoughts at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/MistyKrasawski.

Montserrat Wadsworth

Montserrat is completely devoted to her wonderful husband, Joseph, and their eight children (seven girls and one boy!). They live on a 4,000 acre alfalfa farm nestled in a small Northern Nevada valley. They’ve been homeschooling for 11+ years. Montserrat enjoys, photography, cooking, crafting, chocolate, and sloppy goodnight kisses. She strives to live each day as God would have her do following Mary’s biblical supplication, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) You can find her at her blog Chocolate On My Cranium.

Nikowa Lee

Nikowa Lee is a quirky homeschooling mom to a special needs son, co-schooling mom to a son that’s a handful, foster-to-adopt parent, Cub Scout volunteer, frugal lifestyle livin’, 2x cervical cancer surviving wife. She enjoys social media, photography, gardening, reading, and teaching. You can visit Nikowa at The Adventures of a Quirky Mom.

Patty Thompson

Patty is a homeschooling mom to 4 kids and wife to her high school sweetheart. She has been homeschooling for 4 years and loving every minute of it. Future plans include Homeschooling through high school. Her kids range from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Her style is very eclectic and believes in going with what works! She is rarely seen without a book in her hand. She loves to plan lessons and unit studies. She has started working with a co-op group and has enjoyed teaching group classes. Her hobbies include Genealogy and card making. She has often been found lost in thought on her blog. Catch her there and take a moment to feed their school mascot, Shiver, at Shiver Academy.

Peggy Dalley

Peggy has been married to her best friend and husband for 14 years. She uses the eclectic approach to homeschool their three sons, 12, 10 and 7. Her interests include writing unit studies, Bible study, history and she is working hard to become a Proverbs 31:10 woman instead of a Proverbs 21:9 woman.

Rachael Moriarty

Rachael is wife to a Navy Tubist and mommy to three children, ages 1 to 6. She is Director of a Classical Conversations group and a childbirth educator and doula. She works along side her hubby on their hobby farm and has a passion for kitchen experiments. She aspires to train and reach the hearts of her children that they may know the purpose of life is to know Jesus and make Him known to others.

Renae Deckard

Renae has prepared lesson plans, enjoyed children’s literature, and delighted in discovery with her three children for over seven years. By studying Principle Approach philosophy, she realized what she always suspected: the Bible lies at the heart of all subjects. Find her reflections at Life Nurturing Education.

Rhodema Cargill

Rhodema lives the parenting adventure with Calvin, her college sweetheart. They have two adult daughters and two teenagers still at home, a girl and a boy. Their homeschool style is eclectic with a great love of living history books. Rhodema is a freelance writer and speaker. Visit with her on her blog: MommyLife.

Robyn Stone

Robyn is a wife, entrepreneur and homeschooling Mom to one very energetic little boy who is not quiet so little any more. She shares about her journey in life on her blog Our Homeschool Home. She loves a good cup of coffee, photography, and a great conversation.

Ruthanne Genco

Ruthanne has been homeschooling for just over a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.eclecticwhatnot.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.

Sheri Sears

Sheri (with the help of her fabulous husband Mike) began homeschooling her four children in 2001. She spends her time creating whatever she can out of nothing to make her house more homey, writing lesson plans, listening to her son’s garage band and writing how God is carrying her out of the depths of depression. You can catch up with Sheri at her blog The Shades of Pink. Be sure not to miss the Love Story she and her husband have written.

Tammy Dallmann

Married in 1980 and still living in the same house in a woodsy rural setting, Tammy’s homeschooling journey began in the fall of 1987 when her oldest turned six years old. As rather new believers professing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, homeschooling was a way to live out the principles found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Through all the challenges of life Tammy has stayed the course growing to a family with nine children who presently range from grade school age to college graduates married with children. Her role has transitioned from learning everything she could about homeschooling to becoming an encourager to others coming along the way. Please visit Tammy at Garden Glimpses.

Tara McClenahan

Tara is a devoted mom to a two-year-old “little man” and enjoys discovering how God has “packed his suitcase”. As an associate with iBloom, she has a heart for inspiring, encouraging and equipping moms to become “Proverbs 31 mamas” and raise their children according to Biblical principles and guidelines using the Bible and other tools. Tara adores falling leaves, sweatshirts, Starbucks White Chocolate Mochas and the first curly BBQ chip from the bag! Make sure to visit Tara’s website to download your free Christian mom resource!

Tracy Jackson

Tracy is first and foremost a Christian, a military wife and mother. She grew up as a military brat all over the USA and is married to her Air Force, pastor husband of 16 years. They have 2 beautiful teenage children that they home school. She is photographer, and owns Shots From the Heart Photography and loves to do what she calls “Capturing the Fingerprints of God!” in her images. Tracy also created a workshop called Mommytography, where she teaches Mom’s how to use their cameras and to take better pictures. You can visit her at her blog: Work of HeART and Soul.

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