by Jeff Keaton
In the 1960s and 70s, God birthed the Christian education/school movement in the United States. There were many cultural factors involved in the birth of this movement, but the removal of prayer and Bible reading from public schools was a significant catalyst. By the mid to late 80s the Christian school movement was slowing down as an organic movement, and God raised the homeschooling movement to continue the fight of rescuing the hearts and minds of millions of children from the onslaught of secularism that had swept across America. Make no mistake about it, in spite of all the challenges Christian schooling and homeschooling have faced over the last 50 years, today millions of adults possess, at least in part, a Christian/biblical worldview as a result of these two movements. Here’s the good news. I believe we are on the verge of seeing another organic Christian education movement in the United States. I have never in my adult life seen the level of interest among parents, grandparents, pastors, and educators that we see right now.
When we launched Renewanation 11 years ago, it was very difficult. I felt like I was talking to a brick wall when I would meet with pastors and parents. There was a glaze over their eyes. They just could not understand how secularized education was eroding the faith of the children in their care. Due to the rapid decline of morality in our culture and schools and the aggressive movements coming after our children, an awakening is taking place. I just talked to an attorney in California last week who is seeing a tremendous change in the attitude of parents toward Christian education.
If you are a Christian educator, pastor, parent, or grandparent, now is the time to get serious about the biblical worldview development of the children in your care. Satan is aggressively coming after our children! We must be equally aggressive. We can save the next generation. I know because we did it in the churches I led over the last 20 years. Using every tool available through the family, church, and school, we won hundreds of young men’s and women’s hearts for Christ and gave them a biblical worldview. They are changing the world right now. Let’s stop hoping our kids follow Jesus and start being super intentional about making this a reality with the help of the Holy Spirit. If you would like to talk with us about how we might partner with your families, church, or school, please contact Judy Ralph at judy@renewanation.org to set up a call.