Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

What can churches do to better support missionary families seeking to educate their children overseas? Join Michael Farris and education specialist Nancy Elwood as they discuss the church's role, today on Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Farris:
Starting with Paul's first missionary journey, the church has supported missionaries as they labor to bring the gospel to foreign lands. But the education of missionaries' children is sometimes overlooked. Nancy, how can the church help families meet these educational needs?


Nancy Elwood:
Well, Mike, even though the North American church has stood behind missionary families now for many years, families in Europe, Russia, and Central Asia are facing growing challenges. The church in North America could do some very practical things for the families they send overseas. I'd like to ask your listeners to make sure that their church reaches out to each missionary family in practical ways—perhaps by asking them what educational resources they need, or maybe by offering to host their college student for a summer. If your church has a homeschool group, they could include a homeschooling missionary family in their projects, and provide encouragement to the missionary parents who have no homeschool coop to support them on the field. Maybe they could provide funds for the family to attend a SHARE conference.


Also, praying for missionary families as they educate their children in uncertain circumstances is absolutely essential. Without the prayer support of the North American church, these families will not last long on the field, and education just might be the one thing that causes them to leave. I'd encourage the churches in North America to pray and find practical ways to show missionary families that they care about them.


Mike:
Nancy, I know firsthand by watching your conference that the missionary families really appreciate your support. I'm Mike Farris.