Public Blog

We are living in some challenging times, and the future of our children is hanging in the balance.  Sadly, it has been too long since the home, church, and school have united to disciple future generations.  These current realities are what motivates us at Kingdom Education Ministries to continue to “contend earnestly for the faith” as we seek to unite followers of Christ to advance His kingdom and glorify His name.  

 To that end, this summer, KEM will host two Summits.  One will be in Stockton, California on June 17th-19th and the other will be in Charleston, South Carolina on July 8th-10th.  We are excited to announce that Dr. Glen Schultz will be able to join us in Charleston!

 Why are these Summits so important?  

 First, we believe there is a sense of urgency to impact the hearts of young people for Christ.  Dr. Schultz is known for asking this question: “Where do you want your kids to be in 10,000 years”?  Of course, the answer always is and should be, heaven.  The reality is, if we want our kids to be with the Lord for all eternity, the process to impact their hearts and minds starts today.   Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day that we need to build our students up in Christ.  Today is the day that we must proclaim Christ so that students are mature in Christ and ready to serve Him wherever He calls.  Today is the day that could secure where our kids will be in 10,000 years from now.

 Second, we believe that God desires us to come together for such a time as this.  Scripture says:

 “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” (Prov. 15:22)

 “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.” (I Thess. 5:11)

 “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today”, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)

The Summit is not a conference where people come together to sit, soak, and sour. It is a time that every participant will be fully engaged as, together, we will develop strategies to restore individuals, empower parents, engage churches, and transform schools through Kingdom Education. 

We hope that you will be able to make it to one of the Summits, as we lay out a clear case for Kingdom Education, reinforce our understanding of Kingdom Education, and commit anew to carrying out the Biblical principles of Kingdom Education in our homes, churches, and schools.  

 If you would like to learn more about the Summits, please go to www.kingdomeducationministries.com for more information.  We hope to see you there!

Our tendency is often to spend time and energy fighting off generational curses. Coming from a family that has truly dealt with such struggles, I understand this deeply. We want to protect and guard against the evil that challenges us. I don’t want to diminish the reality of the battles that rage within families—I believe they are real and must be addressed.

However, have you ever stopped to consider the abundance of generational blessings that God has given us and our children?

I’m reminded of what the Lord said to Moses in Numbers 6:

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee,

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord life up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

We serve a God of blessings. We serve a generational God.

As individuals, parents, school leaders, or pastors, have you ever caught yourself speaking more about what we can’t or shouldn’t do, instead of focusing on what we can or should do? Words matter. Approach matters. Tone matters. Blessing over cursing matters.

Let me share a personal example. My youngest son plays baseball. As both a coach and former player, I naturally want to give him advice before every game. But before I speak, I have to ask myself: Is this for his benefit, or do I just want to take credit if he does well?

The second pause I’ve been working on in my own life is choosing to speak blessing, not cursing. What’s the difference?

• Cursing: “Don’t strike out today.”
• Blessing: “You’re going to find a gap today.”

Both statements aim to encourage an aggressive, confident approach at the plate—attack early in the count, stay focused—but the first one is rooted in fear of failure and past mistakes. The second is rooted in hope, vision, and the possibility of success. The world calls this positive versus negative thinking. But don’t we do this all the time?

Think of this familiar phrase we use before disciplining a student: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Then we list the legacy: “His dad was like this, his grandfather was like this…” Can you hear it?

Could it be that we’re so focused on past patterns that we see no way for the next generation to break free from them? We strategize about how to overcome the curse—we talk about it, analyze it, even define it in detail—but rarely do we take the time to define what the blessing actually looks like.

I believe we impact our children’s well-being when we focus solely on the curse (the negative), rather than the blessing (the positive). We limit their ability to reach their full potential. We limit their vision to see the gifts God has placed within them.

I’m not suggesting that children don’t need discipline and structure in their lives—they absolutely do. I’m simply suggesting that they also need positive reinforcement to become all that God created them to be.

Words matter.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

II Timothy 3:15

 I read this verse recently, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Have you ever had that happen to you? You’re reading the Word, and suddenly the Holy Spirit speaks to you in a way He never has before.

Paul, Timothy’s mentor, is encouraging him—reminding him that he will be able to carry the message of the Gospel, even in perilous times, because of the solid foundation that has been laid in his life: the foundation of the Scriptures.

Paul points out that from childhood, Timothy has been prepared for this moment. He follows that reminder with the well-known verse that says all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. What I believe Paul is emphasizing here is that Timothy’s mother and grandmother discipled him well. They planted the Word of God deep within him—a Word that can never be taken away. They understood the importance of hiding the Word in the heart, and that made all the difference in Timothy’s life.

Do you remember why God chose Abraham to be the father of many nations? Long before Abraham had a child, and even long after he thought it was still possible, God trusted Abraham. God said He knew Abraham—that Abraham would teach his children and his household to follow the Lord.

“And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.”

Genesis 18:17-19

 Just as God knew Abraham would pass on His commands to the next generation, Paul knew that Timothy could stand firm in perilous times. Why? Because they knew the Word. They trusted it. It was embedded deep within their lives. They lived out Deuteronomy 6. The Word was their guide. It transformed them. It became their foundation. It became a part of their very DNA—from childhood.

So now we must ask ourselves—as individuals, parents, school leaders, and pastors—does God trust us with the next generation the way He trusted Abraham and Timothy? Does God know that we will faithfully teach His Word to the generations to come, as Abraham, Lois, and Eunice did? Can we confidently say that when perilous times come, our children will be rooted and able to stand firm on the Word?

What does it profit a child to achieve great success—maybe even become a National Merit Scholar—but not be grounded in the Word?

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:11

I first read the book Kingdom Education in 2000. I read it after interviewing for a teaching and coaching position at The First Academy in Orlando, FL. One of my mentors, Mr. Ed Gamble handed my wife and I the very first Kingdom Education book, the red book. Who remembers the red book? We read the book, and it forever changed the trajectory of our parenting and our lives.

Growing up in a Christian home, I understood the need for discipleship, but it was not at the level we read in Dr. Schultz’s book. After several years in Orlando, we interviewed and took jobs in Dallas at Prestonwood Christian Academy. It was there that we would meet another mentor, Dr. Larry Taylor. I remember our first Fall at PCA, we sat through Dr. Taylor’s parenting class. At that time, Dr. Taylor had 3 boys, and we had 2, with God blessing us with a third son years later. I remember watching Dr. Taylor and Mrs. Delinda raise their boys, Diana and I were in awe of their intentionality and commitment to discipleship.

Dr. Taylor is a coach at heart. The way he taught parenting, was that we had 6,540 practices from birth to 18. As parents we chose how intentional those practices should be. It would be forever imprinted on my mind, that with our three boys, we must be intentional in their discipleship.

Someone is disciplining your children. It is either you or the culture.

Jeremiah 12:5 gives us a reminder of what we are practicing for. “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trusteth, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan?”

The concept is that our home, the practice arena, is the safe place of life, but if we do not present practices that are intentional and deliberate, the arena of life will destroy them. Our responsibility as parents is to create practices that prepare them for the game of life. They cannot be practices that only protect them but prepare them. The principle of preparation does not mean we place them in a bubble and hide them until maturity. In fact, if we place our children in a bubble, maturity will never be reached.

We are to choose the practice arenas. We are to place our children in places that we trust but arenas we know that they will be faced with real life challenges. When we delegate a portion of our responsibility of discipleship, we must delegate carefully and intentionally. Our children are given to us as a gift, a heritage. They are our generational linkage to future generations. The practices we design must be intense, intentional, and preparing them for real life culture. We must create a practice plan that addresses all areas of life. Our responsibility is to raise children to advance the message of the Kingdom in a world that is in complete opposition to that message. They must learn how to run with horses, in the swelling of the Jordan. That is determined by the design and intensity of our practices.

Sherwood Baptist Church for years had a sign hanging in their lobby. It said the following,

Whoever wants the next generation the most, will get them!

Are we creating practices in our homes, THE discipleship training center, that are preparing them for life and eternity? Are dedicated to the point of understanding that our 6,540 must have an intentional design? We will get what we plan for. We will get what we practice for.

Since Hannah dedicated Samuel, we have been returning the gifts given to us by God back to Him. Hannah’s example provided us with a template for how we should view the raising of our children. Hannah was barren for many years, and upon receiving the blessing from God, all she knew to do was return Samuel to the One who had given him to her. This act of dedication became the example for us to follow.

Children are a gift from the Lord, an inheritance of His Kingdom. The word “dedication” is defined as:

• A feeling of very strong support or loyalty
• To give completely your energy and time.

The act of dedicating requires action! Dedication is a verb.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

 The action verb of dedicating is meant to create within each parent—and anyone who interacts with children—the understanding that there is no greater calling in life. Jesus said, “Let the little children come unto Me.” Even when He was tired and seeking rest, He never turned away children. As God told Jeremiah when He was calling him to be a prophet, “I knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.” Children are precious in the eyes of the Creator.

For so long, we have viewed children as belonging to us, rather than as being entrusted to us. As we raise children, we must grasp the same passion for child-rearing that Abraham did. God trusted Abraham to be the father of nations, and when He gifts us with children, He transfers that same level of trust to each of us. Sadly, we often fail to see it this way, but that is exactly what God intends. He trusts us.

A principle of Kingdom Education is:

The education of children and youth, if and when delegated to others by parents, must be done so with utmost care to ensure that all teachers point students to the truth of God’s Word.

(Exodus 18:21; I Samuel 1:27-28, 3:1-10)

As entrusted guides, we must realize that God designed each of our children uniquely. No two are alike. As parents, the church, and the school, we spend much of our time working to shape these image-bearers into what we desire them to be. We train them as we feel they need to be trained. But Hannah did not do that. She gave her gift back to the Lord so that He could train and call Samuel according to how He had designed him.

As we prepare the next generation, we must grasp this truth:

May our children become everything God designed them to be, not merely what we desire them to be.

I walked into a school not long ago that had this verse plastered on the gym wall:

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Of course, we would all agree that doing everything for the glory of God should be our ultimate purpose and goal. However, what that truly means can sometimes become unclear.

I think Jay Adams, in his book Back to the Blackboard, provided one of the most helpful definitions of what it means to glorify God:

“The fundamental Greek term for glory is doxa (‘reputation’). It corresponds closely to the Hebrew word kabod, which means ‘to be heavy.’ …As we say, ‘It carries weight.’ …To glorify God is to ascribe to Him the full weight of all the qualities He already possesses… to make God heavy in one’s own sight or in the sight of others.”

Jay Adams then went on to ask the question, “Do we make God out to be the heavyweight, or the lightweight?” In every area of our life—our home, our Christian schools—is God the heavyweight, or do we make ourselves out to be the heavyweight?

In his book The Lost Purpose of Learning, Dr. Christian Overman laid out a clear path for understanding how we ought to glorify God:

Step #1 – God created everything.

Step #2 – Man discovers what God has made.

Step #3 – Man imitates God by being creators.

Step #4 – God is glorified as we imitate Him.

This is the heart of Kingdom Education! It is our desire to teach and disciple students in a way that not only allows them to learn about the Creator and His creation, but also helps them see themselves as part of ruling over and having dominion on this earth—allowing God to work in and through them, no matter what He calls them to do. When that happens, we can be sure that God will receive the glory. It is then that He will be the heavyweight in every area of our lives and in the lives of future generations.

I am blessed to have grown up in a Christian home with godly parents who had the conviction that my brothers and I would always attend a Christian school. Of course, at the time, I never fully appreciated my parents’ conviction and sacrifice. The interesting thing is that, against my sincerest desires, I actually started teaching in a Christian school right out of college. And again, I didn’t fully embrace or commit to what God could, and was, doing through Christian education—until 2004, when I met Dr. Glen Schultz. It was then, after hearing the biblical truths of Kingdom Education, that I committed myself to the Lord to do whatever He called me to do for His Kingdom.

Trust me, since that time, there have been plenty of days when I questioned whether God really did call me to this Kingdom work. However, it is during these times that the Lord reminds me of these truths:

I am forever changed:

• “I was shown mercy… so that in me… Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
• “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
• “I do not consider my life as dear to myself…but to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”
• “…always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

I desire to have a greater impact for Christ:

When I think of someone who had a great impact for Christ, I can’t help but think of David and the story of David and Goliath. A few quick reminders of how God used David to have a greater impact:

• “The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David.”
• When David’s brothers gave him a hard time by saying, “Why have you come here?”, David did not give in to the pressure to leave.
• When Saul said that David was “not able to go up against this Philistine to fight him,” David was not swayed from what God had brought him to do.
• David did not allow fear to consume him and direct his steps.
• David was confident that God “would deliver him.”
• David’s purpose was clear and pure. His desire was “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.”

If there is ever a need to be reminded of our “why,” I think a most worthy “why” is so that the world (our students and beyond) would know the One True God.

My family and I live in Greenville, South Carolina, which was impacted this past October by Hurricane Helene. We were spared from any major damage but did have some trees fall around our house. One tree, in particular, fell into another tree right next to our house and rested upon it for months. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t notice the great need to get that tree down before it fell on my house. My neighbors pointed out the issue, random people mentioned it, the tree guy (who wanted my money) told me about it, and of course, I couldn’t help but notice the need every time I came home. Even though there have always been larger trees within striking distance of my house, it’s amazing that when it seemed my home and wallet could be impacted, the need became more urgent.

We see this today in the world and culture we currently call home. Over the past few decades, we’ve witnessed prayer being removed from schools, the Bible banned, the sexualization of curricula, and the introduction of many other sinful ideologies thrust upon our young people. Yet, because these issues haven’t impacted us directly, the need hasn’t seemed as pressing. However, now, as we see the firsthand impact on our homes, churches, and schools, the need has become much greater.

Of course, these realities are nothing new. As we read in Scripture, there have always been signs and examples of the great need at hand:

• “They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
• “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
• “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
• “They mingled with the nations and learned their practices…”

The good news is that the reason we faithfully serve the Lord in Christ-centered schools is because we have the answers to meet these great needs. God’s Word says:

• “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… He created us in His image.”
• “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
• “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…”
• “God’s Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
• “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.”

Donovan Graham wrote in his book Teaching Redemptively that “the task of the school and its teachers is to help students learn to live in these two kingdoms: to be in the world, testifying to God’s character through the way they care for His creation, loving others… without being of the world, formed by the spirit of this age.”

What a great opportunity we have in Kingdom Schools to impact the hearts and minds of students in such a way that they not only learn and know the truth of God’s Word but that it will forever change how they impact this world as they live for the Kingdom of God.

It is easy these days to get caught up in the “weeds” of everyday life and lose sight of why God has placed us on this earth for such a time as this. For those of you serving faithfully in Christian schools, the days can become full of tasks like these, which end up consuming our time, energy, and emotions:

• The constant flow of emails filled with information, commitments, concerns, complaints, and more.
• The endless cycle of paperwork and reports that seem never-ending, as we finish one task and move on to the next.
• Meetings that consume hours of each day.
• The latest “fire” or “crisis” that needs to be addressed.
• Event after event, whether it be a sporting event, concert, or other school activity.
• The continuous demand to plan for what is ahead, and then plan for what comes after that.
• Tracking budgets, enrollment, expectations, and more.
• Ongoing classroom demands, observations, lesson development, grading, and presentations.
• And the list goes on.

Dr. Stephen Reel, in his book Clear Focus, says that when we get caught in this hectic rhythm, “existing to exist becomes the prevailing motivation.”

The solution to this issue lies in being reminded of the Christ-centered “why” behind everything we do. A. W. Tozer said in The Pursuit of God, “It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular; it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart, and he can thereafter do no common act.”

God used Peter to pen the following words: “Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present in you. I consider it right…to stir you up by way of reminder.”

As we enter this busy time of year and speed downhill toward the finish line, my prayer is that you recall the great purpose for which God has called you: the work of Kingdom Education. The work of leading a child to Christ, building them up in Christ, and equipping them to serve Christ, so that He may be glorified in and through them.

In the weeks to come, I hope to continue to remind you of the “why” behind God’s call to this great work.

If we are being honest with ourselves, most of us are accustomed to getting what we want. Now, I’m not suggesting that we can all get the million-dollar home on the beach, but when it comes to our daily needs and desires, we tend to find ways to make things happen. If we want something from Amazon, we put it on the card, and it arrives the next day. A trip to Disney? Charge it. That car we’ve had our eye on? We can stretch payments over eight years, and it’s ours. If we want our kids to be academic overachievers, we hire tutors, ensuring they spend the necessary time to achieve a 4.0 GPA, and help them crush the SAT/ACT. If we want our children to be top athletes, we invest countless hours and dollars into training, teams, and travel. If we want them to be great cooks, musicians, or artists, the same investment of time and resources applies. And, the list could go on.

The question I often ask school leaders and educators is this: Are we getting what we want when it comes to Christian education? Yes, there are more variables involved when it comes to reaching the hearts of young people, but we still need to ask: Are we putting in the time and effort necessary to truly capture hearts for Christ? After all, we’ve clearly defined our “wants” and “goals” on school documentation, listing what we hope to accomplish through Christian education. Here are just a few of those common desires found in mission statements and expected student outcomes:

• A heart for God and others
• Spiritual formation
• Christ-honoring relationships
• A biblical worldview
• Engaging the culture for Christ
• Cultivating hearts
• Servant leadership
• Glorifying God

I think we would all agree that these and other biblical outcomes outlined in similar documents are excellent and desirable goals for Christian education. But the question remains: Are we getting what we want to the extent that we want it?  Have we allowed the programs, calendar of events, competitive spirit, need for enrollment, budgets, and just the daily barrage of emails to sidetrack us from getting what we want?  

In 2015, the Nehemiah Institute’s PEERS (Politics, Economics, Education, Religion, and Social Issues) test revealed that 90% of students from Christian homes attending secular schools scored in the range that indicates their views are firmly grounded in secularism.

If the current system of educating young people is failing—both in secular and some Christian schools—shouldn’t we do everything in our power to figure out what changes are necessary for the sake of future generations and the cause of Christ? If government schools are anti-Christ and some Christian schools are failing to produce true disciples, then surely something must change. 

Before we go any further, let me recap a few key points as a reminder:

• The vast majority of young people from “Christian” homes are educated in a secular humanistic system that lacks the ability and desire to proclaim the truth of God’s word.
• From the age of 2 to 18, young people today spend approximately 40 hours a week in a godless educational environment.
• Only about 2% of millennials hold a biblical worldview, which suggests that parents are not handing down to their children something they themselves do not possess.
• Students attending Christian schools are many times educated primarily according to state standards, with the goal of getting into secular colleges and living a comfortable life.
• There does not seem to be a widespread fear of God or an overwhelming desire to change the current trends in how we educate future generations.

If these points are even close to being true—and I believe they are—we cannot afford to waste another minute doing things the same way. Change must happen, and it must happen now. Now is the time to “examine everything carefully”, clinging to that which is Christ-honoring and cutting out anything that has driven us off course in our homes, churches, and schools.  

To that end, it is our desire at Kingdom Education Ministries to be a part of seeing the home, church, and school come together like never before to impact future generations for Christ.  

It is our desire, as it was Peter’s desire in 2 Peter 1:13, to “stir you up by way of reminder.”  If we can ever be of service to you, to challenge and encourage you in the biblical principles we know to be true, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  We would love to come alongside you in the weeks to come.