Ideas take flight: Pastors, education leaders gather to focus on expanding Christian education

What happens when 55 pastors, educators and entrepreneurs come together for two days to share their plans and dreams? A heavy dose of strength, inspiration and creativity is released.

That’s what happened at the first Reclaiming Education National Conference, which was hosted by the Herzog Foundation in Kansas City and co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Family Institute.

Drawing together representatives from 25 states, the gathering featured a mix of perspectives on how to improve education in this country and promote the involvement of churches in Christian schooling.

“The bad news is education is broken. The good news is we can fix it,” said Lisa Dunne, a former college professor and author from California who has launched 35 homeschool academies through Academic Rescue Mission. She also founded Chula Vista Christian University, one of several Christian universities reforming higher education.

“We are the most muscular (Christian) K-12 country in the world, and then our kids graduate and we abdicate our governance and soul formation,” said Nicholas Ellis of Christian Halls International, which forms small learning communities. “The question is, ‘who governs the post-secondary space?’ The answer is you do. We do, the parents who form those souls.” 

Christian Leaders Institute (CLI), another university-level program, includes many free and low-cost options in its offerings. 

“Each day, around 200 students from around the globe create an account on our learning platform,” said Abigail Munroe of CLI. “How many of these people can be empowered to reclaim Christian education and become operatives for Christ through alternative schooling? And how many more children can we save by empowering these leaders that come to us ready to join us?” 

Much of the dialogue included how to encourage church support for Christian schools.  

Paul Blair, a former NFL lineman turned pastor, has created Liberty Network to educate pastors about important social issues, including education. 

“The Bible commissions a parent to train up their children in the way they should go, in the raising and the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” said Blair, who is hosting several homeschool coops at his Oklahoma church. “Never was a civil governing authority given that responsibility, so if we’re going to have a biblical worldview, we need to be making sure that we’re training up our own children.” 

Representatives from other initiatives, such as The Pastor Plan Initiative, Exodus Mandate and Public School Exit, shared about their work to rescue children out of government schools and reengage the church in education. 

Two tech entrepreneurs from California outlined an app they are developing to bring Uber-like technology to homeschooling moms, allowing potentially rapid expansion. 

Leaders from various state family policy groups also attended, comparing notes and sharing about legislative efforts to promote pro-family and pro-Christian education policies. 

Michael King, director of the Massachusetts Family Institute, said he was encouraged by what was shared and the connections that were made. 

“I think this really is a genuine catalyst moment, a linchpin moment,” King said. “If indeed homeschool is going to increase to 30% of all American students by 2030, I think conferences like this are really going to make that possible.” 

He was excited about the app, and the various efforts to expand Christian education. 

“I think we’re going to definitely continue to see this public school exit, and we’ve got to be prepared for the great amount of students that are going to be looking for alternatives,” King said. 

Herzog Foundation President Darrell Jones described the move toward Christian schooling as nearing critical mass.

“In marketing, the tipping point is 16-20% and that begins to open the floodgates,” Jones said. “Right now, 10-13% have exited the public system. It’s happening all across the U.S., from Massachusetts to California.

“Christ is still on the throne. He still has a plan and you’re part of it.” 

Both King and Jones said they hope to hold similar events in the future to build on what was started at the conference. 

Attendees were also encouraged. 

“I’m excited because you are an answer to prayer,” said David Watkins of the National Alliance of Christian Home Education Leadership. “Some of us have been praying for decades that God would do a movement in our culture, and you’re part of that movement.”