Michael P. Farris, Esq.
Chairman &
General Counsel

Exodus Mandate

Volume 55, Program 1 9/13/2004

Many Christians are discovering that public school is undermining their children's faith. That's why Bruce Shortt helped write the Christian Education Resolution, which calls for all Southern Baptists to remove their children from the public schools. More about that on today's Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Smith:
With us this week is Bruce Shortt, a board member of Exodus Mandate. Thanks for joining us, Bruce.


Bruce Shortt:
Glad to be here, Mike.


Mike:
Bruce, what is Exodus Mandate's mission, and why was it formed?


Bruce:
Exodus Mandate encourages families to provide their children with a truly Christian education. We know as Christian parents we're supposed to raise our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and that our children's education should lead to a Christian worldview. Unfortunately, 80–85% of Christian parents educate their children in government schools because they don't realize that our government school system has become aggressively anti-Christian. But studies have shown that a majority of children from Christian families leave the church after high school. In fact, a 2002 Southern Baptist Convention study puts the percentage leaving at 88%. And why should we be surprised at this when we educate our children for 12 years in an institution that treats the name of Christ and Christmas carols as hate speech? Exodus Mandate informs parents about these problems and urges them to educate their children in sound Christian schools and homeschools.


Mike:
Thank you, Bruce. That information will be helpful to the Christian parents looking for alternatives to the public school. And please join us next time when we'll talk more about Exodus Mandate. Until then, I'm Mike Smith.