#9-8: Family Ministry -- Part 1
Posted by: hopechestnews <hopechestnews@...>
The Hope Chest Home School News
with Virginia Knowles
September 9, 2006
#9-8: Family Ministry
Part 1
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Welcome to the Hope Chest!
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The Hope Chest Home School News is a free e-mail magazine sent to over 1250 families around the world. The publisher is Virginia Knowles, wife to Thad and mother of 10 children (7 daughters and 3 sons, ages 1 to 19). Virginia is the author of The Real Life Home School Mom, Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade, and designer of and The Learner's Journal lesson planner and resource log. Check out her web site at http://www.thehopechest.net, read archives at https://welovegod.org/groups/hopechest or e-mail her at [email protected]. You will find more contact information at the bottom of this e-magazine.
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Dear friends,
I just get so excited about each issue of the Hope Chest. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your response when I announced the theme of family ministry for this issue. I started out with the article by Boni Pent as the initial inspiration for it, and it just grew and grew from there! Thank you so much! While I didn't write any full articles myself, I did sprinkle personal comments rather liberally throughout this issue.
I know you will be blessed to hear these other perspectives that go way beyond what I could even dream. You all sent in so much great stuff that this issue grew to well over 10 pages, and I've had to split it into two sections.
In this issue, you will find:
Part 1:
"Family Mission International's Home School Ministry in South Korea" by Boni Pent
"A Tribute to Timothy and Boni Pent" by Angie Strayer
Part 2:
"Children of Character II" by Bill and Mardy Freeman (Review by Virginia Knowles)
"Introducing The Gift of Family Writing" by Jill Novak
"Cooking Up a Little Ministry" by Katrina Steele
"A Different Kind of Support Group" by Sunny Lerch
Blessings,
Virginia Knowles
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Family Mission International's Home School Ministry in South Korea
by Boni Pent
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Are there certain specific prayers you have prayed for your family for many years? The greatest desire of my heart and most continual prayer I have prayed for each member of our family is that we would all be children, men, and women "after God's own heart who are able to fulfill all His will" (Acts 13:22) and that each of us would "love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength." (Matthew 22:37) There are also a few other specific prayers that I have often prayed for our family over the years. One is that God would put us in a place where we can have the most impact for the Kingdom of God's sake. Another is that He would put us in the place that is best for our children and their relationship with Him. And a third continual prayer of mine has been that we, our children, and their children would start a fire that would burn all across the world for Jesus (this is based on a quote from Susanna Wesley that I read years ago). In November of 2005, we learned about a unique mission opportunity through Family Mission International (http://www.familymission.org). In September 2006, Lord willing, our family will be leaving for Seoul, South Korea where we will be serving with FMI. My first thought was that this new open door for us is a specific answer to these prayers I have prayed for 26 years.
My husband, Timothy, and I have nine children ranging in age from 24 down to 7. We are now in our 20th year of home schooling. We have home educated them all from kindergarten through (for those who are old enough) high school. Our oldest two have graduated from college, our third is majoring in Engineering at the University of Central Florida, and our fourth just completed her freshman year of college through dual enrolling this past year at UCF also. Our oldest daughter is now engaged to a godly young man, and they are planning a wedding for June 2007. (To meet each member of our family, visit our website at http://www.PentFamily.com.)
Timothy comes from an unusual background in that he is the 7th of 8 children and was home educated from kindergarten through college thirty years before the home schooling movement began. His father was an evangelist, and their family traveled as a family all over the United States for the first 15 years of his life, telling people about the Lord and encouraging people to read the Scriptures together as a family. In the 1960's, Timothy's brother, Arnold, wrote a book about their family, Ten P's in a Pod, which has recently been reprinted by Vision Forum Ministries.
Timothy's father had a strong affection for the Lord and His Word and desired to pass his faith on to his children. He took seriously the commands in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" and to "teach these things diligently to your children and talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." He believed in order to do this, he needed to have his children serving with him in his ministry instead of leaving them behind as was the norm in his day. He was also convinced that making the rich use of the Scripture the center of their education was of utmost importance. He took the Scripture at face value and taught his family to do the same. When the Bible said, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly," he figured out ways to make it happen. Their daily routine revolved around the use of the Scripture. Each day began with one hour of personal Bible reading and prayer before breakfast for each member of their family. Then as a family, they read the Bible for a half hour after each meal, closing with a hymn and prayer. Whether they were staying in people's homes or doing yard work or traveling, this routine did not change. If they did not have their Bibles with them, they would take turns quoting out loud for thirty minutes. Due to this constant exposure to the Scriptures (8-10x through the Bible every year), all the siblings could quote chapters and books of the Bible without trying to memorize. The greatest gift their father gave them was this rich heritage in the Scriptures.
In 1980, Timothy and I were married. He has always been motivated in encouraging people to love the Lord with all their hearts and to love and know His Word. He believes family discipleship and encouraging men to be the spiritual leaders in their homes are keys to seeing families have a strong affection for Jesus and for seeing the Gospel passed on from generation to generation. This new opportunity we have with FMI seems to be perfectly matched with Timothy's vision and motivation. We have wondered increasingly over the years if the next reformation might be discipling the nations by families. In the 1800's, there were many faithful missionaries who sacrificed all to take the Gospel to countries who had not yet heard about the redeeming love of Jesus. Now because of the work of these early missionaries, there are many nationals in these countries who are faithfully telling their fellow countrymen about the eternal salvation offered to them through Christ. The missing element in world missions seems to be a multigenerational vision of passing the Christian faith on to our children and to our children's children and thus seeing the exponential growth of God's Kingdom.
This vision seems to be stirring in South Korea. Four years ago, several South Korean pastors and Christian leaders began home educating their children. Though South Korean Christians have been known for their fervency, they are concerned that this fervency is not being passed on to their children. Intense competition in South Korea's educational system has resulted in extreme pressure and long hours for South Korean children and young people. The influences of the West and materialism have also greatly affected their youth. South Korean Christians are saying they have never been trained in discipling their families. The next generation is at risk as they fear losing their children to the culture, and they are determined to remedy this situation. These pioneers are willing to sacrifice anything to see their children wholly devoted to the Lord.
Brad Voeller, founder of FMI, was contacted by these leaders and answered the call to help these South Korean Christians build strong families through training in family discipleship and home education. There are now over 300 home schooling families in South Korea, and the interest in home education is exploding. Family Mission International was officially formed in June 2005 and is "engaged in mobilizing and equipping churches and families to share the message of Biblical family, family discipleship, and home education worldwide." FMI's motto is "Families discipling families." The vision of the ministry is that whole families would work together as teams to fulfill the Great Commission around the world.
It seems that God is raising up this mission in South Korea for building His Kingdom through godly households at a strategic time and in a strategic place. Our hope is that God is moving in the East. The persecuted church in China is the fastest growing church in the world. Even in Japan, where less than 1% of the people profess to be Christians, Christianity is slowly starting to grow. North Korea is the most hostile and oppressive nation to Christianity in the world. The entire Pacific Rim is prime for family discipleship. FMI's vision is to establish this family ministry in South Korea and then move on to the next country in Asia and then the next and so on throughout the world.
Through FMI, home education will be the means for our family to be able to encourage South Korean Christians in family discipleship and family worship. Our work will include leading three home school co-ops at several different churches each week. Koreans enjoy learning by example, and our family will mentor 15-20 families at each co-op, teaching unit studies, English, and family discipleship. Timothy will be teaching and working with the fathers, encouraging them in leading, nurturing, and discipling their families. I will be encouraging the mothers in their roles as godly wives and mothers. Our older children will be able to encourage and work with families with middle school and high school students. Even our youngest children will help by teaching English. There is next to no material translated, and each co-op will need a translator present, yet this fledgling movement has begun to swell by a very determined and disciplined people who see a desperate need for a cultural shift for the survival of their homes and of Christianity in their country. We will also have the opportunity to carry the vision of family discipleship, family worship, and home education to a growing number of churches across South Korea.
In July, Timothy and I had the privilege of making a preliminary trip to South Korea to speak at a home school conference at Global Mission Church near Seoul. The interest is beyond what we expected, and the number of families who desire to be a part of the home education program is greater than FMI can take at this time. We also had the opportunity to speak to several other churches and home school groups. What a blessing it was to meet these families and pastors! They are hopeful and motivated about what God is doing in their country. The pastors and the families are all communicating the great need for passing their Christian faith on to the next generation and for discipling their families.
For those who also may be interested in this type of mission adventure, there are several ways your family can be involved. An experienced home schooling family can be connected to a new home schooling family to provide practical encouragement in a long distance mentoring relationship. Your family could also host a Korean family for two or more days in your home so that they would be able to experience home schooling and family discipleship firsthand. Or, you can do what our family is doing and actually go to South Korea for several months or for a few years to encourage the churches and home schooling families in family worship, family discipleship, and home education.
We are privileged to have this opportunity to be part of this new work God is doing in South Korea. We are hopeful that God is putting in the hearts of His people across the world a multigenerational vision of reformation through families. And though we have a heart for the Koreans, we also believe our time in Korea will be of great benefit to our family. Our prayer is that as we are seeking to encourage others, we also will be encouraged to grow in our passion and love for Jesus. As we experience firsthand the work God is doing across the world, we hope we will "increase in our knowledge of God" and increase in our desire to see people across the world come to know Him, too. We are so grateful to the Lord for answered prayer! "May God be merciful to your families and to us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; that His way may be known upon earth, His saving health among all nations." (Psalm 67:1-2)
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Virginia's note: I first met Tim and Boni Pent in 1984 at a Northland Community Church Christmas party – back when Thad and I were just getting to know each other. In 1998, we started attending a church where they were members. I was newly pregnant with our seventh baby at the time, and was so grateful to see another larger family in our new church home. Unfortunately, they were only there for a short time longer, so we never really got to know them! Fast forward to 2006. We were at a reunion party to honor Roger Franks, our former pastor, and lo and behold, there were Tim and Boni! I was so excited to hear about their plans to go to South Korea that I instantly asked Boni to write about it for us. And so she did!
I do want to add a parenthetical note about Roger and Mel Franks which has nothing to do with the Pent family but much to do with informal family ministry. When Roger and Mel left the pastorate at Northland to move to Maryland with their children in June 1985, Thad and I were engaged to be married, and Roger had provided much of our pre-marital counseling We followed them up north a year later, and had the privilege of learning from their excellent example for the next several years as we started our own family. Mel was one of the very first home school mommy mentors I ever had, and I will always be grateful for that. I have missed them ever since we returned to Florida in 1993, and wish we had kept in better touch since then. Whenever I think of family-to-family ministry, I think warmly and fondly of Roger and Mel Franks and their seven children. I could go on and share about the reunion party and tell lots of family ministry stories that different folks share, but I'm sure I would confuse you all terribly with the details. Just please know that we don't always realize what kind of example we are setting for one another when we think we are just going about our daily business. It counts for eternity.
So, say a prayer for Tim and Boni as they set off for South Korea! Pray that the legacy of love and ministry which has been invested in them, and which they have honed over the years with their own children, will catapult the Good News into even more nations and generations.
Here's an update from Boni on September 9:
Hi Virginia,
We are scheduled to leave on the 20th, but we were faced with a new trial this week. We found out this week that our 13 year old daughter, Susanna, has scoliosis. She is at the point where she needs a brace. She was fitted for a brace Wednesday, and it usually takes 2 weeks to come in. They are going to see if it can be expedited since we are supposed to leave for Korea in less than 2 weeks. Our 17 year old daughter, Catie, also has scoliosis, and she ended up having to have surgery when she was 15 to keep her scoliosis from progressing further. So our main update and prayer request is for Susanna as she faces this new trial. Please pray that the brace will come in this week and that it will be effective and keep her scoliosis from progressing.
We are also still waiting on our visas. Timothy and the boys are working hard to finish all of the last minute details on the jobs they are doing, and the girls and I are very busy with many details that need to be taken care of before we leave. Otherwise, all is going well. They found a large apartment for us in Korea in the same complex where the other two American families with FMI live that is in great condition and is furnished. We are grateful for this opportunity and are looking forward to it.
Thank you so much for praying for us.
Blessings,
Boni
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A Tribute to Timothy and Boni Pent
By Angie Strayer
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[Virginia's note: Angie Strayer and I have something very special in common: an adorable newborn niece named Lauren! Angie's brother-in-law Callum is married to my sister-in-law, Sarah. After Boni sent me her article above, I asked her good friend Angie if she would like to add a few words of tribute.]
When my husband David and I were blessed with the opportunity to have more children, we were excited to share the news with our close friends and relatives. Among the most supportive and joyous were our dear friends Timothy and Boni Pent. Tim and Boni have led our care group at church for several years, teaching and sharing with us how to disciple our family.
Scripture from Philippians 2:1-4 comes to mind when I think of their ministry not only to their own children, but also to our church family and others who know them.
"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
Tim and Boni have taught us that family worship, studying scripture, praying and praising the Lord in singing is important for a spiritually strong family. We should be united and recognize that our purpose as a family is to worship the Lord and to serve one another and others as we devote time to Him daily. We have a spiritual heritage to pass on to our children by demonstrating and sharing our faith and participating in the kingdom in all aspects of life.
The entire Pent family is an encouragement to us. Being led by the Lord with humility, Tim and Boni have equipped their children to serve the Lord by serving others. We admire and appreciate the Christ-centered life that they live. Tim has been a great encouragement to David in leading our family. Boni has encouraged me to enjoy the children and enhance their academics by learning about God's creation. She has often said to prioritize your family worship, let academics follow, then let the Lord fill in the gaps.
Their desire and vision to disciple other families has now spread to the other side of the world. We are so thankful to have been a part of their ministry here and we are going to miss their friendship very much. God is working out His plan here on this earth and we can see it through this wonderful family who has given so much of themselves. We pray that the Lord will direct, guide, and protect their family to fulfill His eternal purpose. We also pray that Korean families will become strong in the Lord as a result of their mission trip.
Oh, one last thing from Virginia in this section! I also found this Home School Legal Defense Association story about Family Mission International's work in Korea: http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/SouthKorea/200606300.asp
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