Champions

This was the Back-to-School Night message as we began our 2021-2022 School Year.
-------
ell, that’s our theme for tonight – "You are the Champions for God’s World!" Before we get into business, I want to take a moment with you and talk about what it takes to be a champion. Typically, when we think of the word “champion” we think of it in reference to war heroes, or sports heroes, or sometimes, we think of people who are “champions for a certain cause.” And what makes those people champions over other people?
They usually persevere against the odds, they take on a tough task (otherwise everyone would be a champion if it were easy, right?)

So what does it mean to be a champion in regards to homeschooling? Our silly little song said “You are Champions for God’s World.” Well, you have chosen to impact the world by discipling your kids for Christ through the vehicle of homeschooling. The Latin word for disciple means to learn. We know children are going to learn whatever they are exposed to. So as homeschooling parents, you have decided that you will be the ones to choose what your children learn. And you have chosen Christian homeschooling as opposed to public homeschooling, because you want to impact them for Christ and teach them that their faith is a part of every aspect of their lives.
So, there you go! That is the first step of being a champion! You  have chosen a hard task. You’ve chosen to go against what everyone else is doing. You  have made the decision and you have taken the first step by being here tonight! Congratulations!
Now how are we going to turn your decision into that of the life of a champion? A champion trains, he stays the course, and he keeps his eye on the prize. These things apply to the veteran homeschooler of 10 years or the new parent who has been doing this for 10 days.

So how does a homeschool parent train? A sports champion uses a coach. A successful homeschool parent starts with a humble teachable spirit and gives themselves room to fail. To be a champion homeschool parent, you need to stay flexible, try different styles, reach out, ask others for advice, listen to podcasts, attend our Parent Ed Coastal Connect sessions and most of all PRAY! Be diligent in your prayer life.

How about staying the course? What does that mean for the homeschool parent? It means a lot of discipline and dedication. When you have a rough day or your child struggles with a concept, staying the course means you don’t give up and question your choice. It means you go back rethink your approach and start fresh the next day. Staying the course means when grandma gets sick and you need to take some school time to help her or get her to the doctor that you get back on track when you are able and get pick up your routine. For the veteran homeschooler, staying the course means not getting complacent, letting your child slack off and stop making progress, but instead staying vigilant and being perceptive to what is causing their boredom or lack of interest.

And to stay the course, you’ve got to keep your eye on the prize. Remember your “prize”, your end goal is to raise children who love the Lord and dedicate themselves to His purposes for their lives. In Coastal Connect, Karen usually talks with you about developing a Mission Statement for your homeschool. This is so important so that you know what you are working toward. Christian homeschooling is not just about running away from something, but it is about running towards something different. If you don’t have a clear finish line, you are going to wander around pursuing all different kinds of goals and lose your way. A champion keeps his eyes fixed on his prize. It is our prayer that your homeschool will be about helping your children find out who they are in Christ, who He created them to be, what their gifts and talents are, and helping them develop into powerful adults who can impact the world for Christ.

The enemy is out there and working hard to steal your children away from the Lord. You know the scripture 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone whom he may devour.”

You need to adopt the mindset of a champion to fight against that and to protect your children.

The theme verse that I put on the screen for tonight summarizes the things I have mentioned – staying the course and keeping our eyes on the goal.
“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2

I can’t wait to talk with you all in June when we meet back in this room for graduation and hear the amazing testimonies of how you became a champion for God through the fun and creative and challenging road of homeschooling.
​
And remember …… “We will, we will help you!”