Update Magazine - 2016, Volume 1, Issue 94

2016 IVOLUME 1 IISSUE 94
T H E H E A R T O F H O M E S C H O O L I N G
LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR PAGE 12
HOMESCHOOL DAY
AT THE CAPITOL
APRIL 8TH, 2016PAGE 2
Rocky Mountain
Homeschool Conference
SEE THE DETAILS ON PAGE 17
Do You Love Me?
Feed My Sheep
Colorado’s
Homeschool
History
Allowing Others
to Receive
a Blessing
Homeschooling
with Littles
ARTICLES INSIDE THIS ISSUE
4 6 8 14

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Family Encouragement
6 Colorado’s
Homeschool History
BY JULIANNA DOTTEN
22 Restoring Honor
BY TODD JESSIE STRAWSER
24 Legacy of a
Homeschool Dad
BY JASON JENNIFER CHURCHILL
Thematic Features
8 Allowing Others To
Receive a Blessing
BY MARCIA WASHBURN
12 Love Your Neighbor:
Bringing it Home
BY PETE OLSON
CHEC Events
2 Day at the Capitol
PRESENTED BY CHEC

17-20 Rocky Mountain
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Front Cover: Day at the Capitol event.
Photography by Winslow Robbins/www.thewdesigner.com
This page: The Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference event.
Photography by Sarah Lee Bryant/www.sarahleephoto.com
Columns
4 From the
Director’s Desk
14 Best of Blog
21 Curriculum Review
26 Partner’s Page
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PAGE 17

C H E C H O M E S C H O O L U P DAT E I Vo l u m e 1 , I s s u e 9 4 , 2 01 64
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
What must it be
like to be Peter
on that post-
resurrection
morning? There
he was, standing
on the beach by
the Sea of Galilee
after a hardy
breakfast of fish
and bread.
The morning sea breeze on his face. His Mas-
ter, Jesus, the Son of God, his Savior, standing
before him. As Jesus looked upon Peter, I’m
sure Peter felt and knew that those eyes, so full
of love, penetrated his soul, searching every
nook and cranny.
DO YOU
LOVE ME?
Feed My SheepBY STEVE CRAIG
And now Jesus is speaking, “Do you love Me?”
Oh, the thoughts and memories that must have
rushed through Peter’s mind in that moment. The
last three years had been the most rich and wonder-
ful of his life as he spent them walking and talking
with Christ, observing His example, witnessing His
miracles, soaking in His wisdom, awed by the cour-
age and authority that He showed His enemies. My,
could He make those Pharisees squirm!
But things had not ended as Peter dreamed they
would. He thought the last three years with Christ
had changed him. He KNEW they had changed him.
He loved Christ. He had been absolutely confident
he would even be willing to die for Him. He thought
he would never be capable of betraying his Lord!
And then, more memories. The soldiers. The arrest.
The courtyard. The fire. The servant girl….speak-
ing, “You also were with Jesus, weren’t you?” His
denial. Not once. Not twice. Three times. And then,
a sound. What was that? The sound. The sound of a
cock crowing. Oh, yes. Now, he remembered. Jesus
had told him this would happen. He knew Peter’s
weakness all along.
DIRECTOR’S DESK
Jesus. Yes, and there He was in his memory on that
awful night. The sound of the cock crowing still in
his ears. His denials barely off his lips. Jesus was
turning. “No, please stop”, he thought. “Don’t look.
Don’t look at me now!” But Jesus did. He looked
right at Peter. And oh, what a look!
Much like the look that Peter felt now, standing on
the beach, with the eyes of Christ directly upon him
plumbing the very depths of his soul.
“Do you love Me?”
Those words. That question. Asked, not once. Not
twice. Three times. And it grieved him. It grieved
him because it reminded him, as it reminds us,
how weak had been his love. Peter now knew his
weakness as he had never known it before. He had
revealed it as plainly as he possibly could on that
night. It must have shocked him.
Have you ever been shocked by your own weak-
ness? The ease with which the heat of your burning
love for Christ can be reduced to a smolder that can
hardly be felt? It can surprise us. We are so sure of
ourselves and confident in our fervor for Christ.

Vo l u m e 1 , I s s u e 9 4 , 2 01 6 I C H E C H O M E S C H O O L U P DAT E 5
DIRECTOR’S DESK
love Me?” It is this that will make the other
expressions of repentance acceptable. The great
thing Christ eyes in penitents is their eyeing Him
in their repentance. “ –Matthew Henry
And so that is what we do. We turn our gaze on
Christ and we say with Peter, “Lord, you know that I
love you.” And we keep it there.
Peter answered, “Lord, You know that I
love You.” So now what? “Feed My sheep.”
These words must have warmed the heart of Peter a
thousand times more than the morning sun warmed
his body. These were words of acceptance. Words
of affirmation. Words of trust. As if to say, “I still
want you on the team, friend. Get back in the game.”
As homeschool parents, we often feel our inadequa-
cies, especially when it comes to feeding and
tending the sheep that God has put under our care.
Sometimes we wonder why we don’t just let the
“professionals” do it.
There is a great danger in accepting and adopting
qualification standards for ourselves that are derived
from the culture rather than the word of God. In this in-
And then it happens.
A spouse that just doesn’t understand. A child that
humiliates you in the presence of your friends. The
loss of something you treasure. Pain that the doc-
tors can’t seem to fix. You realize by your reaction to
these temptations that your love for Christ is weaker
than you thought.
Well, it might have been a surprise to Peter, but it
certainly wasn’t for Peter’s Savior. Jesus always
knew Peter for what he really was, and loved him
even still. Just like He knows and loves us. As
Psalm 139:1 17 remind us, “O Lord, Thou has
searched me and known me. How precious also are
Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum
of them!”
Even when we surprise ourselves, we do not sur-
prise Jesus. It is a good thing when Jesus reminds
us, as He gently reminded Peter, who we really are
and that He knows all about it.
What could Peter say? What would you say? The
question was as direct as it was fundamental.
If Peter had been the one who had been betrayed
by a friend, the question would probably have
been something more like, “Wow! Your love sure
didn’t last as long as you thought it would, did it?”
or “What proof do you have of your love for me?”
But Jesus’ question was simply, “Do you love Me?”
The question certainly provokes an awareness of
the frailty of our love for Christ and by His grace
stirs within us a grief unto repentance. But the
question is not designed to leave us in introspec-
tion but instead to move our eyes to Christ and
to encourage us to fix them on Him with renewed
affection.
“Peter had professed himself a penitent; witness
his tears, and his return to the society of the
disciples; he was now upon his probation as a
penitent; but the question is not, “Simon, how
much hast thou wept? how often hast thou
fasted, and afflicted thy soul?’’ but, “Dost thou
stance, Jesus focuses right in on the heart of what He
is looking for in those who feed His sheep—“Do you
love Me?” In fact, that is what parents who truly love
Jesus inevitably do. They feed sheep. Not to prove that
they love Jesus, but because they love Jesus.
It reminds me of the two great commandments–“Love
the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind”
and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love for God
will flow out onto those around us just as surely
as the water will flow out onto all the surrounding
surfaces when my little daughter overfills her cup.
However undeserving and underqualified we may feel,
our love for Jesus compels us to feed and nurture our
children as an expression of this love.
Homeschool parents sacrifice a lot for their children.
When they disappoint us, we can come across like,
“What is the matter with you? Don’t you know how
much I do for you? Can’t you understand how easy
my life would be if I didn’t choose to pour so much
of my time into you?” You’ve probably felt that mar-
tyr complex creeping into your mind a time or two
before. Next time, spend some time mediating upon
what a great honor and privilege it is to be working
as an under- shepherd to the Chief Shepherd, the
Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Are you perfect? Nope. Do you ever let the Great
Shepherd down? All the time.
But, do you love Him? YES!
Then, feed His sheep.
Steve Craig is the Executive Director for Christian
Home Educators of Colorado. He and his wife Tara are
second generation homeschoolers and have a passion
to inspire others toward biblical discipleship in the
home. Steve and Tara live in Parker with their four
children, Carson, Christiana, Angelina, and Jewel.
“THE QUESTION
PROVOKES AN
AWARENESS OF THE
FRAILTY OF OUR LOVE
FOR CHRIST. WE TURN
OUR GAZE ON CHRIST
AND SAY WITH PETER,
“LORD, YOU KNOW
THAT I LOVE YOU.”
LOVE ME
DO YOU

FAMILY ENCOURAGEMENT
There’s no doubt about
it, I’ve grown up in a
homeschool bubble.
To my parents, public school was never an option. In
fact, my earliest knowledge of public education came
from peering over the fence at the school children
walking past our backyard. When my little brother and I
inquired about why we didn’t get to walk to school with
backpacks, my mother quipped that we were certainly
welcome to trot around the neighborhood with our
backpacks. But we were coming right back to our dining
room for school.
I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Growing up in
the nurturing atmosphere of our school—the kitchen
table—I’ve never known any fear of truant officers,
school boards, or antagonistic neighbors. We could
march behind mom in the store at 10:00 in the morning
Colorado’s
HOMESCHOOL
HISTORY
BY JULIANNA DOTTEN
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
without fear that the clerk would report us truant.
“We’re homeschooled,” we answered to suspicious
glances, and that settled it.
But it hasn’t always been like that.
Technically, Colorado has never banned
homeschooling. But because the law required the
county school district to approve all curriculum unless
using one of the two state-endorsed options, school
districts could bully families tirelessly. Numerous
families faced truancy charges and court battles. Fam-
ily, friends, and even churches often shunned families
who acted on their God-given responsibility to educate
their children.
That’s when Treon Goossen entered the scene. As
a homeschool mother, Treon enjoyed a degree of
freedom from her lenient school district. But as
she surveyed the families around the state strug-
Remembering the Battle
CHEC Conference, 2007
Day at the Capitol, 2008
CHEC Conference, 2009
Bible Bee, 2010

gling through court battles, Treon decided
something must change. The last straw came
when she heard the State Board of Education
laughing over the number of families denied
homeschooling rights by their local districts.
The time had come to act.
Along with homeschool mother Rory
Schneeberger, Treon Goossen led the fledg-
ling group of concerned homeschool parents
to convince two legislators to sponsor a bill
for homeschool freedom in 1987. Facing
opposition from both sides of the aisle, the
bill failed to pass the House.
But God wasn’t finished with Colorado and
neither was Treon Goossen. Before the next
legislative session, the two met with Senator
Al Meiklejohn. He agreed to sponsor the bill
on one condition: Schneeberger and Goos-
sen, who was then expecting her fifth child,
must attend every hearing. Though both
lived over an hour away, they agreed.
HSLDA attorney Chris Klicka jumped on
the ball to help convince Representative
Dick Bond to sponsor the bill in the house.
Manning the phone from Virginia, he helped
Treon, Rory, and the two congressional
sponsors to work out the nuances of the bill’s
wording.
As the 1988 bill took shape, Treon and Rory
could sense building opposition. Both discovered
bugs planted in their homes, tapping their phone
conversations. They started using a phone booth,
developed a code system, and kept going. As God
would have it, SB 56 passed on May 10, 1988, free-
ing homeschooling from state censure. “It’s God’s
bill, that’s all I can say,” Treon Goossen concluded.
Today, almost 30 years later, Treon Goossen
continues to faithfully lobby for homeschool rights
in Colorado, attending session meetings, keeping
tabs on any bill threatening parental rights, and in-
forming families all over the state of current events.
She testifies to time after time of God’s miraculous
protection of the homeschool law.
It was against this backdrop that Christian Home Edu-
cators of Colorado emerged in 1990 as a statewide
support and leadership organization for home educa-
tors, forming out of several homeschool groups. In
1991, executive director Kevin Lundberg and a team
of volunteers sponsored the first CHEC conference
with the goal of promoting Christ-centered family
discipleship. Under the direction of dedicated execu-
tive directors, board of directors, staff teams, and
incredible volunteers, CHEC has reached thousands
of families with a vision of home discipleship.
Throughout the years, CHEC has supported
homeschool families from across the state by offering
homeschool conferences and how-to seminars, creat-
ing a comprehensive homeschool guidebook (which
transitioned to an informational website), promoting
homeschool related activities and events, and provid-
ing five-day-a-week homeschool phone support.
Thousands of students are enrolled in the CHEC
Independent School, the largest one in the state, which
offers oversight of homeschools under the Colorado
non-public school law, easy and affordable enrollment,
a variety of assessment options, and more. In addition,
CHEC supports homeschool freedom through spon-
soring Homeschool Day at the Capitol and maintaining
a recognized state-wide presence that has sustained
the respect of legislators for many years.
But through all the labors of providing leadership
and resources for home educators, CHEC’s heart of
reaching families with God’s transforming truth for
discipleship has remained constant. Kevin Lundberg
will never forget the time a lady stopped him in the
hall of one of the early homeschool conferences.
“[When] she attended a conference several years
prior, [she] found more than enough information
and encouragement to teach her children at home,
but even more importantly, she found God’s
love and salvation for herself and her family.
Now [she and her family] were headed out to the
foreign mission field. CHEC has touched tens
of thousands of people, many of whom are now
multiplying this ministry in ways we never thought
possible. God’s plans always exceed our dreams.”
The story isn’t over. Thanks to the passionate
pioneers, leaders, and supporters of homeschooling
STAY ON
THE ALERT
about current homeschool
events, news, and legal
issues by signing up for
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CHEC.org!
here in Colorado, my parents never experienced the
kind of persecution those only a generation before
faced. After 28 years of freedom, it’s easy to assume
our rights will remain undisturbed. But as Treon
Goossen explains, “The undercurrent is still there.
[The educational bureaucrats]’ goal is to just obliter-
ate homeschooling unless it’s under their control.
That has never gone away.”
Thirty years later, we remain indebted to the tremen-
dous sacrifice of Treon Goossen and the many faithful
homeschool advocates who stood for freedom and
enacted the Colorado homeschool law. Today, we
stand on the shoulders of the great men and women
who had a passion for Christian education in forming
CHEC 26 years ago.
Now it’s our turn. Whether it’s making a statement
for liberty by attending Homeschool Day at the
Capitol, responding to calls for action from Home
School Legal Defense Association, supporting
CHEC financially, or faithfully praying and discipling
our children in the Lord, our efforts count. Whatever
battles lie ahead, we must face them with cour-
age. Through God’s help, we will carry the vision
forward. After all, “Greater is he who is in you than
he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
Julianna feels very blessed to have been
homeschooled and discipled by godly parents, Rick
and Patti Dotten. Her family has been involved in
CHEC in a variety of ways including serving on the
conference committee last year. She desires to see a
new generation take hold of the same vision of Christ-
centered education that CHEC helped plant in her
family’s life. Julianna has edited for Generations with
Vision for the past several years and is currently study-
ing communications at Chambers College in Greeley
while still being actively involved in family life.

everal years ago we had a
rather small cat we called “Tuna”
because she loved salmon-
flavored cat food (don’t question
the logic). Tuna was a first-time
mama—well, not really a first-
timer, but she had never been able to
raise a litter before. One day she would look
like she had swallowed a cantaloupe and the
next day she would be svelte as a maiden
again. We never found any kittens—there are
hundreds of hiding places on a farm—so we
kind of figured this litter would perish, too.
This time again Tuna refused to reveal her
babies’ whereabouts. For weeks she kept odd
hours and ate ravenously, shrinking to practi-
cally a shadow of her usual small self. Finally
one night in desperation she moved her kittens
from their hiding place into our garage where I
was startled to spot them the next morning.
Cowering in cupboards of motor oil and
lacquer thinner, I spotted tiny balls of furry
meows, accented by blinking eyes. Counting,
there were one-two-three-four gray striped
look-alikes, an orange one, and a black one
with white mittens. Oh, my! That little mama
Like most Americans, I was taught to be indepen-
dent—to stand on my own two feet. Asking others
for help was difficult for me: I saw it as a sign of
weakness. The root, of course, was pride. I was
happy to help others—giving rides, playing the
piano at church, teaching support group lessons—
but I seldom asked anyone else for help.
God used my fourth pregnancy to teach me this
lesson, along with quite a few other lessons such as
trust. An ultrasound at 21 weeks revealed that I was
carrying twins, but that one twin had died at eigh-
teen weeks. The other twin was alive but had brain,
heart, and kidney abnormalities. We were referred to
a specialist in Denver. Meanwhile we sought prayer
from our church friends.
The specialist’s ultrasound showed nothing abnor-
mal about the heart or kidneys (we attributed this to
God’s healing touch following the initial ultrasound).
But there was still an abnormality in the live baby’s
brain. The doctor suggested that we terminate the
pregnancy, explaining that the baby would have seri-
ous mental deficiencies and that there was a danger
that I would contract a potential deadly disease,
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), due to
retaining the dead twin. She also warned that I would
most certainly go into labor very soon and at just 22
had been the sole source of nutrition for six babies
for the past eight weeks! No wonder she was emaci-
ated. She had finally gotten desperate enough to
bring them to us for help.
Aren’t we sometimes that way, too? We keep
on pressing forward, day after day, week after week
doing things on our own. At first we believe we’re
handling things pretty well by ourselves. But pretty
soon it is obvious, even to our own stubborn wills,
that we need HELP!
Why do we wait so long to ask for help from each
other or from our Father in heaven?
You know, we really can trust Him—Father Knows
Best is not just the title of a classic TV show. Our
children will always require more than we can
provide—we cannot raise them with only our own
limited resources. God designed us to need Him and
to need each other.
In His own loving and efficient way, the Lord
designed an opportunity for me to learn to receive
from others. After all, the Bible teaches us that it
is more blessed to give than to receive. If no one
receives, how will others be blessed?
ARTBYISTOCK
Allowing Others to
RECEIVE A
BLESSINGBY MARCIA WASHBURN

ton nose. We buried his body at the foot of a favorite
uncle’s grave in an oak casket his daddy built for him.
Josiah was perfectly normal other than having im-
mature lungs and was sent home three weeks later. I
am happy to report that he is now a daddy himself.
Homeschoolers have the same life emergencies
that other families do: Moms get sick, relatives die,
caregivers need support, and cars break down. Here
are some ways to come alongside others, receiving a
blessing as you bless them.
■ Don’t just say, “Call
me if you need
something.” Say, “I’d
like to bring over your evening meal on
Wednesday about 6:00. Would that work for you?”
■ When bringing food, ask about food sensitivities
and preferences. The ladies who coordinated our
meals checked with each other so we didn’t end up
with spaghetti four nights in a row (whew!). Use
disposable dishes and include reheating instruc-
tions. If several families are dropping off food, leave
a cooler on the doorstep so doorbells aren’t waking
babies or sick folks.
■ If you would rather drive than cook, here is your
chance to shine. This sometimes-overlooked, but
essential service can really be a blessing. A person
who is having surgery or receiving dialysis or
chemo treatments often needs transportation. He or
she is too medicated or exhausted to drive alone.
■ Another often-unnoticed need is for those who
provide care for an elderly relative. It is so helpful
to have another person along for routine doctor
I was happy
to help others—
but I seldom asked
anyone
for help.
weeks gestation, the baby couldn’t survive.
When my husband and I refused the recommended
“therapeutic” abortion, we were sent to another
specialist across the city for yet another ultrasound.
After the chief of radiology completed the ultrasound,
he said, “There is nothing wrong with the live twin,”
and sent us back to the first specialist. Of course there
was no medical explanation for the brain’s normal
appearance, but my husband and I are convinced that
God healed our little boy as we drove across town that
afternoon.
We had chosen the name Josiah long before we knew
we were carrying twins. When I checked the meaning
of his name, the book said that Josiah means “healed
by God.” What a wonderful faith-builder!
I was sent home on total bed rest, with
instructions to be checked weekly for DIC.
That’s when I learned how to receive help
graciously. Members of our church immediately set
up a schedule to provide meals for the Washburns.
Moms dropped by to clean my house and take our
three older boys (ages 6, 4, and 1) to homeschool
support group meetings so they could get out of the
house. Others dropped by just for a visit to encourage
and pray with me. I homeschooled the older two from
the couch.
It was difficult to see busy women taking time to come
into our home to scrub our toilet and vacuum our car-
pet. It was especially hard to see my husband return
from a hard day’s work and still have the errands to
run and the children to care for. I felt perfectly fine,
but had to remain supine. It was a hard lesson, but it
made me grateful for my normal good health.
We had been warned that I would likely go into labor
very soon—seldom does a pregnancy continue more
than a few weeks after the death of one baby. So no
one expected that “taking care of the Washburns”
would turn into a four-month commitment. God
graciously allowed us to carry the pregnancy until 36
weeks, surpassing all medical expectations.
Little Enoch, so-named because God took him, was
born first. He was about the size of my husband’s hand
and somewhat flattened since his twin compressed
him as he grew. Otherwise, he appeared to be a
perfectly normal baby, down to his tiny toes and but-
appointments so one can escort the elder into
the building while the other parks the car. Even a
teenager can help out in this way.
■ Mothers with new babies or who are fighting the flu
or any number of other challenges would welcome
a few hours of peace and quiet to take a nap or get
a haircut. And don’t forget those who are caring for
elders—consider volunteering to sit with the elder
while the caregiver gets out for a few hours each
week. This could be a wonderful ministry for a fam-
ily whose own grandparents live far away.
■ The most important thing we can do for our friends
is to pray for them, followed closely by personal
visits. Nothing says “I care about you” like a short
visit that closes with prayer. Don’t
overstay your welcome. Whether
the person is ill, grieving, or
caring for a newborn, several
short visits are less tiring than one
lengthy one. Call ahead to be sure
the time is convenient.
We all have packed days with
little time to spare. But over and
over again, I have seen
the Lord multiply my
time when I was willing
to share some of it with friends in
need. Perhaps it is the same principle as tithing our
income—we get more done with 90% of our time
than with 100%. God has a way of working things out
that way, doesn’t He?
I am thankful for the lessons learned during those
long months on the couch. Those sweet-spirited
ladies blessed me and I, in turn, asked God to bless
them. There have been times since then when I
needed to ask for help. My experience so many years
ago has made it easier to admit my need. I pray that
you will, as a friend of mine is fond of saying to her
children as they leave the house, “Be blessed and be
a blessing.”
© 2016 by Marcia K. Washburn who continues to
support the mama cats who live in their outbuildings.
Look for Marcia’s brand new book, Home-Based
Eldercare: Stories and Strategies for Caregivers, along
with other resources at MarciaWashburn.com.

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DISCOVER THE REMARKABLE STRUGGLE FOR
WESTERN LIBERTIES OVER 2,000 YEARS
GetaVisionof FreedomforChristiansinthe21stcentury!Inthisseminal
book on freedom from a Christian perspective, Kevin Swanson first
defines the term and then traces the struggle for freedom through biblical
times and church history. You will read of the battle for the Magna Carta,
the Scottish War for Independence, the Dutch War for Independence, the
battle for religious liberties in the 17th century, and America’s War for
Independence and the Bill of Rights.
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THE PERSON WHO LIVES NEXT DOOR IS TYPICALLY WHO WE THINK OF
AS OUR NEIGHBOR. WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR, BIBICALLY SPEAKING, AND
HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE WAY WE LOOK AT OUR FAMILY?
A Jesus speaks to exactly this point in His parable of the Good Samaritan. The obvious truth is that whoever God
brings across our path with needs that we are able to meet is our neighbor. Thus, our neighbor certainly starts with our fam-
ily members who are in our presence, basically 24/7. Scripture teaches that meeting our family’s needs is our priority; but,
that doesn’t exclude God using us in meeting the needs of those outside of our family.
SOMETIMES A MORE DISTANT NEIGHBOR MIGHT BE EASIER TO LOVE
THAN THE ONE THAT LIVES UNDER MY OWN ROOF. WHY IS THAT?
A Love is certainly giving to the basic needs of another without expecting anything in return. For example, it’s admi-
rable to support poor children overseas; however, we are not the ones directly raising these children and the ones that have
to live with them 24/7. In our families, we learn both tough love and merciful love as we “tabernacle” here on earth together.
Also, we have expectations on each other as family, but not on the people we “love from a distance”. We cannot afford to
have a bitter and critical spirit against our family members, but we often do. It is in our families where we learn the depth of
true love which is giving mercy and forgiveness.
THEMATIC INTERVIEW
LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR:
Bringing It Home
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
INTERVIEW WITH PETE OLSON

FAMILY ENCOURAGEMENTTHEMATIC INTERVIEW
protect them and when to let them enter the battle.
This discernment can only come from seeking the
Lord and hearing His voice. We must know our
child’s heart and teach them that all their decisions
should be motivated by the desire to please the
Lord. It’s not enough to teach our children to simply
please us as parents.
We must discern what kind of outreach ministries
each of our children can handle and be successful
in. It will obviously differ according to the child. We
accomplish this by doing ministry with our children;
teaching, training, and even de-briefing after minis-
try opportunities.
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS
THAT YOU AS A FAMILY HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO OBEY GOD’S
COMMAND TO “LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF”?
A One major way we, as a family, have
reached out to others is through hospitality. For
many years we lived on a farm which was an excel-
lent avenue for having people over. We would plan
activities and meals intentionally to encourage
others. Often we gave a lot of produce away from
our purposely large garden.
Throughout the years, we’ve had many opportunities
to visit the elderly and to assist them in whatever
their needs were; i.e. meals, home care and repair,
etc. One time we took a Christmas tree over to a
neighbor and sang Christmas carols with them.
SOMEBODY MIGHT BE THINK-
ING, “BUT MY FAMILY IS
NOT LIKE THAT!” WHAT
ARE SOME WAYS THAT ANY
HOMESCHOOL FAMILY CAN
REACH OUT WITH LOVE TO
THEIR “NEIGHBORS”?
A There are so many ways to minister.
Scripture commands us to watch out for the
needs of widows and orphans. This is a good
place to start. There are many single moms
13
SOMETIMES SPECIFIC
CHILDREN OR EVEN FAMILIES
AS A WHOLE STRUGGLE
WITH THE FEAR OF MAN
THAT PROHIBITS THEM FROM
REACHING OUT TO LOVE
THEIR NEIGHBOR. WHAT ARE
SOME CAUSES OF THAT, AND
HOW CAN IT BE CORRECTED?
A Being secure in who we are as a beloved
child of God is one of the most basic truths that each
Christian needs to know deep in their heart. When one
lacks this security, then they are fearful of the influence
and opinions of others. Thus, they stay inward.
Often fear is the result of unhealed hurts from one’s
past that haven’t been taken to Jesus for healing.
Another cause of fear is simply selfishness and
pride. Tragically, I’ve seen many home education
families not reach out to others because they are
afraid those people will ‘dirty’ their family or lead
them astray from Christ. In protecting our children
from worldly influences, we need balance.
WE NEED TO TEACH OUR
CHILDREN TO LOVE AND
SERVE NOT ONLY THEIR
OWN FAMILY AND CHURCH,
BUT ALSO THE LOST WORLD
AROUND THEM. HOW CAN
THIS BE ACCOMPLISHED
WHILE STILL PROVIDING THE
NEEDED PROTECTION FOR
OUR CHILDREN?
A This topic requires great balance and
wisdom from the Holy Spirit. We also need to be
very aware of our children’s spiritual maturity. Obvi-
ously, with many young children, their nurturing is
their parents’ priority and thus, time reaching out to
the world is limited. However, as our children meet
Christ and mature, they should be able to interact
with worldly people without going the world’s way.
Our children will have to survive and battle the world
system at some point. The key is knowing when to
today who need a lot of help
and encouragement. We
need to consciously be
aware of our neighbors
and looking out for them.
Introduce yourself to new
neighbors; possibly take a plate
of muffins or cookies to them
in the process. Just last week, as
I was leaving our house, I heard
water gurgling up. Walking over to our
neighbor’s yard, it was obvious that their
sprinkler system had frozen and burst. Fortunately,
someone was home and able to deal with the situa-
tion. Too often, we’re in such a hurry and get caught
up with our own things that we miss our neighbors’
needs when they are right in front of us.
AS A PASTOR AND
HOMESCHOOL DAD,
DO YOU HAVE A CLOSING
ADMONITION THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
ON THIS TOPIC?
A It is often fear that immobilizes us and
keeps us from following up on the opportunities
that God gives us to be a neighbor to someone. As
in war, the Christian soldier must break out of fear
and get moving. If reaching out to your neighbor is
difficult, ask God to show you a simple step; then
obey. That small first step will be the beginning of
a bigger ministry. Let’s not be the priest and the
Levite from the Parable of the Good Samaritan who
were too focused on themselves to help others.
Rather, be that Good Samaritan, willing to help our
neighbor even when it costs us. Remember, our
salvation was not free; it cost Jesus everything.
Let’s follow in His footsteps.
Pete Olson and his wife Roxy were some of the very
first to home educate in CO in the early 1980’s. Hav-
ing degrees from CSU and Denver Seminary, he has
also taught in Christian day schools and still teaches
classes for home education students. Pete presently
serves as the pastor of Good Shepherd Bible Church
in Arvada, Colorado.

BEST OF BLOG
Do you wonder what to do with wiggle worms
while you’re schooling the others?
BY RENEE ELLISON
1. Athletics: three laps around the living room;
ten reps with an unopened can of soup in each
hand; four push-ups in each corner of the school
room, etc.
2. Chores: dream up little jobs to do that
really don’t matter but that will occupy him. For
example, he can use a washrag to wipe all of the
door handles throughout the whole house, or sort
books or papers by size. He can empty all the trash
cans, sort the silverware drawer, wipe down the
front of the cupboards and the lower realms of the
walls near the floor, wipe the bathroom floor with
a damp paper towel, wipe out the bathroom sink,
wipe down the inside of the front window, sweep
the front steps, shake rugs, dust the window sills,
etc.—whatever he or she is physically up to. If you
don’t use soap for any of these projects there is no
danger that they will do anything wrong.
3. Creative activities in place:
■ you draw large squares on a piece of paper,
and then the little guy colors each square with a
different color
PHOTOGRAPHYBYAPRILMALLICK
Here’s the overall principle: busy children are happy
children! This means you have to stay ahead of your
little guy with projects—even if those projects are
only just busy work. For much more on this topic,
read our e-book/Kindle book, Training Terrific Tots:
50 ideas to use with a little one who can’t read!
(www.homeschoolhowtos.com/store/preschool_
pizzazz) It is loaded with ideas.
Meanwhile, here are two approaches to
homeschooling children while you also have a child
who is too young to do academics. One approach
moms use is to let the little guys “hang from the
chandeliers” and just concentrate on the academics
with the older children. The other method is to cor-
ral all of your youngsters into your school area: no
one can go beyond this line during school time—
here is YOUR part of the table to work on—or,
you must work on this large beach towel with your
puzzle, trucks, or whatever.
The secret for the mom is to stay ahead of the little
guy with attention-focusing activities that he can
do with little or no input from you. Toward that end,
here are some ideas:
BEST OF BLOG
Visit the CHEC blog
for through-the-week
encouragement, with
articles like:
▶ 7 Tips for Family-to-
Family Mentoring
▶ 5 Ways Dads Can Get
Involved
▶ Shopping with Kids
▶ Keeping the Hearts of
Our Children
Go to WWW.CHEC.
ORG/BLOG to read
more and sign up for
email updates!

BEST OF BLOG
■ he plays with ice cubes on a tray
■ he plays with a tubful of water on the kitchen floor, using measuring
cups and funnels on a towel on the floor right here at your feet
The overall accomplishment goal for the mother is to focus on just one child
at a time, deeply—shifting your focus from child to child until you have cov-
ered them ALL and then you get back at it with the first ones again, no matter
what you are doing during the day—laundry, fixing a meal, etc. You get one
child fully into that activity with you, so that you are double-whamming your
time—building relationship, character qualities, bonding, securing obedi-
ence, laughter, enjoyment, and letting them know that you cherish them.
Focus, but then shift your focus—that’s the name of the game. Cycle
through your children over and over and over and over. Smile warmly at
the other three—while going deep with the one.
Renee Ellison is an experienced teacher, homeschool mother, and confer-
ence speaker. She is founder of Homeschool How-To’s. This article was
originally posted on Homeschool How-To’s and is shared with permission.
Article header photo was submitted to the Update photo
contest by homeschool mom Luisa Alzamora. See page 28
to learn how to submit your photos to Update magazine!
Do you play a musical instrument, sing, act, or speak? We want you! We’re looking
for homeschool students to be part of our general sessions at the upcoming Rocky
Mountain Homeschool Conference. It’s a great way to bless homeschool families with
your gifts and gain experience performing in front of 1,000+ people. We have openings
for instrumentalists, vocalists, and orators. We’d love for you to participate!
Learn more at www.rockymountainhomeschoolconference.com/speak-
ers/general-sessions.
CHEC’s Homeschool Introductory
Seminars are held throughout the year
to give parents the vision and
nuts bolts they need.
Seminars are hosted year-round across the
state, including:
■ Buena Vista
■ Colorado Springs
■ Loveland
Our next seminar is April 2nd in Parker—
sign up today!
START HOMESCHOOLING WITH CONFIDENCE!
INTERESTED IN
HELPING HOST A
SEMINAR IN YOUR
HOME TOWN? PLEASE
CONTACT JOSH@
CHEC.ORG!
CHEC.ORG/EVENTS
■ Grand Junction
■ Pueblo
■ Westminister
PERFORMERS WANTED

GENERATIONS
getting updated conference insert
What shall we do about Father?
Most of us haven’t thought much about caring for our parents—they
have always been the ones who cared for us. But now Dad’s health
is failing. Mom’s memory is slipping. How can we best show honor for our
aging parents?
Home-Based Eldercare is a caregiver’s bootcamp of stories and strategies
for those who wonder whether they will be able to care for their loved ones.
Christian Family Eldercare is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring seniors, including our own parents,
members of our church, and even the “least of these” among us. Our mission is to encourage relational, family-
oriented, and cross-generational eldercare.
Home-Based
ELDERCAREStories and Strategies for Caregivers by Marcia Washburn
Available at
ChristianFamilyEldercare.org

GENERATIONS
RockyMountainHomeschoolConference.com
JUNE 16-18, 2016
D E N V E R C O LO R A D O
Rocky Mountain
Presented by Christian Home Educators of Colorado
AUTHOR OF COMING!
Dr. Tedd Tripp—See inside for more

CHEC envisions families honoring Jesus Christ by embracing home
discipleship that is Christ centered, parent directed, and free from
government control. Join us! Donate at chec.org/donate.
CHEC.org
I 720.842.4852
I Call Monday-Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM
As homeschool families, a lot of things are fighting for our time: academic
excellence, character training, extra-curricular activities, entrepreneurial
ventures, and so on. All of these things may be healthy and good, but it’s
easy to let them steal from the most important thing.
This year, we encourage you to focus on the One who can provide a strong
foundation for us and our families: Jesus Christ, “a cornerstone chosen
and precious” (1 Peter 2:6).
RockyMountainHom
Christian Home Educators of Colorado
REGISTER AT
Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference

CONFERENCE FEATURES:
5 Keynote General Sessions
90+ Workshops
200+ Exhibit Hall Booths
Used Curriculum Sale (buy sell)
Family Movie Night
meschoolConference.com
As we gather with thousands of other homeschool families at the 2016 Rocky Mountain Homeschool
Conference, together we will be reminded of these truths that will last through eternity:
“And [Christ] is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.
For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all
things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:18-20).
We look forward to fellowshipping with you!
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
TODD
FRIEL
TEDD MARGY
TRIPP
ISRAEL BROOK
WAYNE
OTHER SPEAKERS INCLUDE
JEFF
BALDWIN
DANIEL
BOBINSKI
TOM
CLARK
DIANNE
CRAFT
SCOTT
DAVIDSON
DIANE
KUMMER
BRIDGET
MOSLEY
DAVE MARY
JO NUTTING
PETE
OLSON
TERI
ONG
CINDY
PUHEK
SONYA
SHAFER
MIKE
SNAVELY
TODD
STRAWSER
KEVIN
SWANSON
STEVEN
VAUGHAN
NEW FOR 2016!
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BRING THE
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Register with the
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FULL CONFERENCE: All general sessions,
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THURSDAY, JUNE 16TH
General Session - 8:30 am
Workshops - 10:30-5:00 pm
Shopping - 3:30-8:30 pm
FRIDAY, JUNE 17TH
Afternoon Keynote - 4:00-5:00 pm
SATURDAY, JUNE 18TH
Closing General Session - 4:00-5:30 pm
DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 AM
WHERE?
The conference is held at the Denver Mart located on the
northeast corner of I-25 and 58th Avenue.
DISCOUNTSAVAILABLEfor pastors,first-time attenders,single moms,and parents ofpreschoolers!
FAMILY
MOVIE NIGHT!
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SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR UPDATE READERS! Save $10 on registration using the code WINTER (expires March 1st)
RockyMountainHomeschoolConference.com

allows new projects to be offered on a regular basis.
I needed a good art program for my budding art-
ists, and we have found Sharon Hofer to be a very
thorough teacher who encourages her students to
achieve things far greater than most students or
parents think possible. My elementary and high
school students were able to work with Creating a
Masterpiece and produce amazing artwork. Find
out more about Creating a Masterpiece at
www.creatingamasterpiece.com.
Dwane Thomas is the educator behind Visual Latin
(www.compass classroom.com) and he seeks to
make Latin accessible to beginners. Each lesson
contains three segments: introduction of new vo-
cabulary, working with sentences, and reading and
translating from a simplified version of the Vulgate
Bible. Worksheets are also included with the DVDs
so students can have additional practice. Each of
the two levels of Visual Latin contains 30 lessons.
For elementary students, one lesson a week is
recommended. High school students will need to
complete 2 lessons each week and supplement with
Lingua Latina per se Illustrata. A teacher’s guide for
the supplemental material is available free at the
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
with Wes explaining what is happening and why. The
DVDs are really visual textbooks and would enhance
any study of science. With Biology 101 being over
4-½ hours long, Chemistry 101 being over 10-hours
long, and Physics 101 being over 11-hours long, they
are well worth the $69.95 price tag.
Creating a Masterpiece is another program
that spans the ages. Sharon Hofer began Creating
a Masterpiece when the waiting list for art lessons
at her art studio was 200 students long. In order to
accommodate this growing list of students, Sharon
began producing DVDs of her art classes. These
DVDs were unique in several ways from other video
art classes. First, Sharon wanted even the youngest
children to produce quality art rather than simple
crafts. Sharon divided the DVDs into segments with
each segment being about the same length as an art
class. She required students to only complete one
segment a day so they don’t burn out or become
overwhelmed. She also provided a list of art sup-
plies needed and a link to purchase those supplies.
I found this aspect very helpful because I am an art
novice and need help getting the right supplies. In
2015, Sharon shifted Creating a Masterpiece from a
DVD-based curriculum to a online class. The cost
for the whole family to subscribe is $39 per month
or $299 for the entire year. This new online format (CONTINUES ON PAGE 23)
CURRICULUM REVIEW
RESOURCES
It’s challenging to
find curriculum that
applies to a wide
range of ages.
Resources which are applicable to the whole
family are great both for family together-
ness and for the pocketbook. Here are a few
DVD- and internet-based products that can be
beneficial for elementary students, high school
students, and everyone in between.
It’s always great to find a product that
entertains while it educates. Wes Olson has
done a masterful job producing Biology 101,
Chemistry 101, and, new this fall, Physics
101 (www.the101series.com). These DVDs
have enough depth to be used as a high school
science credit, but they are entertaining enough
that my elementary-aged students gladly watch
them. Wes Olson is not a scientist but rather
a film maker and a Christian homeschooling
dad with a great sense of humor. He is able to
explain scientific principals from a layman’s
viewpoint, and he does this very well. The epi-
sodes are full of demonstrations of experiments
Family Friendly
BY CINDY PUHEK

GENERATIONS
Unfortunately, this is a common feeling for
many elderly today. While they are the ones
we are called to honor the most, seniors live
as some of the loneliest people in the world.
Recently a study concluded that loneliness is
worse for your health than obesity and may in-
crease the chances of premature death by 14%.
And while the Bible reminds us that we should
“stand up before the gray head and honor the
face of an old man,” many seniors today live as
what Christ called the “least of these” among
us. As some of the most vulnerable people in
our society today, our beloved elderly are often
left alone and overlooked. But did you know
that you—yes you dad and mom—you are
one of God’s main tools to restore honor?
RESTORING
HONOR:Building Generations to Persevere
BY TODD AND JESSIE STRAWSER
Caring for the sick and dying is not a thing you’ll
find many doing in our culture today. This is mainly
because the elderly are seen as past their point of
usefulness, unable to produce something tangible,
not contributing…but that’s where our culture is
gravely mistaken!
“How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen
rather than silver.” Proverbs 16:16
Indeed, the Word tell us not only do they have
wisdom, which is to be prized above gold, but that
declaring the goodness of God is essentially the role
of the aged. This is the job of old men and women:
to pass on wisdom to the next generation! Do we
honor them by allowing that opportunity? Do we
embrace the blessing of visiting and serving the
elderly and receiving their wisdom?
“Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O
God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
It starts with the call for every Christian, whether
you think you’re in a season of caring for the elderly
or not. For the Word reminds us that, “Pure and
undefiled religion before God and the Father is
this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress.”
James 1:27a
This verse came to light for us many years ago; with
little ones at our ankles, and yet wanting to serve
and love others, our family began visiting senior
rest homes. Even today after 12 years of weekly
visits, few joys compare to seeing the eyes of a frail
90-year-old man light up when our little 2-year-old
reaches out her chubby hands for a hug. Relation-
ships are built, loneliness fades, and honor for those
who possess true wisdom is gently fashioned.
Ever feel lonely? Have you ever wished
someone would stop by? Maybe talk to
you for a while?
GENERATIONS

GENERATIONS
strength to this generation, Your power to
everyone who is to come.” Psalm 71:18
Many today wonder why we see so many youth
veer off into laziness, selfishness, and sometimes
outright foolishness. Could it be because they’re not
receiving the wisdom of elders 60 years older than
them? Not hearing the stories of war-torn Christians
who have endured spiritual battles for decades? Are
they sitting at the feet of their grandparents, seeking
to grow in wisdom?
We must bolster the next generation by ensuring
wisdom is transferred. I encourage you parents to
bring the generations together. Pair up your youth
that lack wisdom with those God-fearing veterans
of the faith who have much to share. While we
honor the elderly we will also gain wisdom from our
seniors to strengthen the next generation to even
greater faith in God.
As an additional blessing, visiting and serving the
elderly today may prepare you for a future season of
eldercare yourself, perhaps for your own parents one
day, a key element of restoring honor. Considering the
future brings into play how we live out honor today.
In great contrast to the common model, where honor
is sporadic based on circumstances, Biblical honor
is consistent in youth (exampled in Proverbs) and
increases throughout life, compounding respect,
dignity, and reverence to levels higher than the com-
mon model will ever attain. It’s important that we run
after honor and provide an example of this for our
children and future generations.
“But if any widow has children or grandchil-
dren, let them first learn to show piety at
home and to repay their parents; for this is
good and acceptable before God.” 1 Timothy 5:4
Consider the message here: children instructed to
repay their parents, by showing piety in their home?
This is not the “I’m 18 now, see ya mom and dad,
have a nice life” mentality I once knew. No, this can
only come through years of honor, respect, and
a cultivated relationship. As relationships grow,
bolstered through love, honor begins to bloom.
So now it’s your turn. Go visit the elderly in a rest
home, take a walk in your neighborhood and check
in on that widow, consider how you’ll care for your
parents one day, and transfer wisdom to the next
generation. Even with a gaggle of little ones in tow
you can stop loneliness, restore honor, build the
generations to persevere, and make eldercare a
relationship-centered reality.
Todd and Jessie Strawser share a deep conviction to
see the gospel of Christ advance and for the Chris-
tian church and family to thrive. The Strawsers have
served with CHEC in various capacities since 2009
after moving back to Colorado following a career in
the military. In addition to raising and home educat-
ing their seven children, the Strawsers lead Christian
Family Eldercare, a national network dedicated to
encouraging, equipping, and enabling relationship-
centered eldercare. Todd serves as a deacon at his
local church, works as an IT Project Manager in
Colorado Springs, and runs a small property man-
agement business. Both Todd and Jessie were raised
in Colorado Springs and now live in Monument.
Age of Child Age of Child
Honor for
Parents
End of
Parents’
Life
Common Model Biblical Model
website. Visual Latin is very engaging. I have
used this program with some of my own children
and used it to lead a co-op class. Everyone has
enjoyed Dwane Thomas’ sense of humor and his
masterful teaching style.
Learning how to sew can be a wonderful creative
outlet for young ladies. Modesty Matters (www.
modestymatters.net) has created a thorough
curriculum called You Can Sew for students
who are complete beginners with the sewing
machine. In this one semester, DVD-based
course, students learn about sewing tools and
fabrics while completing four sewing projects.
A large notebook is included with the DVDs.
If your student already knows his/her way
around a sewing machine and a fabric store, the
Modesty Matters project DVDs or downloads are
a wonderful teaching tool. Each project is worked
out step by step on the DVD allowing students
to watch the project being completed before
attempting it themselves. PDFs are included with
the DVDs which provide written instructions and
the pattern. I have taught many girls how to sew
using these DVDs. The projects are simple (the
dresses do not have zippers) and consistently
turn out beautifully.
I hope these resources will give you some ideas
about how to enrich your study of science, art,
Latin, and home economics in ways which
include the whole family.
Cindy Puhek resides in Colorado Springs and
has been married to Peter for more than two
decades. They are well into their second decade
of homeschooling their six children who range in
age from toddler to high schooler. Cindy holds
a masters degree in chemistry and has written
dozens of articles to encourage others in their
homeschooling journeys. You can visit her blog
at www.home-schoolenrichment.com/blogs.
Family Friendly
RESOURCES
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21)

LEGACY OF
A Homeschool Dad
BY JASON AND JENNIFER CHURCHILL
speaking of his, and our, propensity to regularly
forget the importance of the Gospel.
Let me explain what he meant: There we are, one
moment pondering the Gospel, the death and
resurrection of Christ, this great salvation that was
wrought for us and how that is to influence how I
treat my spouse and…. The light is on in the kid’s
room. Those kids keep leaving the lights on! I keep
telling them. They are so irresponsible! That is
why the utility bill was so high last month. I can’t
believe how high the prices of gas and electricity
are these days. It’s all our government’s fault! How
are we supposed to make it when prices just keep
going up?
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK;SWASEYFAMILY
“GIVE ME THREE
SECONDS AND I
WILL FORGET THE
GOSPEL.”
Of all of the memorable sayings and illustra-
tions that Garrett Swasey gave us in his
sermons, this phrase was the most loved and
oft quoted. In fact, if you are around the mem-
bers of Hope Chapel for any amount of time
you will hear this phrase used frequently.
Garrett always used to say, “I don’t mean
this as a good thing.” That is because he was
Editor’s Note: On Friday, November 27th, 2015, a dearly loved husband, father, church elder, and police officer,
Garrett Swasey, was killed in the line of duty in Colorado Springs, CO. Garrett was a homeschool dad and some of
you probably saw him and his wife Rachel walking the halls of CHEC’s Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
the last several years. Garrett’s example serves as a vivid reminder of the sacrificial love of our Savior and may we be chal-
lenged to show it to our families, churches, and the lost world around us, right down to our last breath. “Beloved, let us love
one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not
God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into
the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to
be] the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:7-11). This was
Garrett’s motivation and this will be his legacy. He wanted to be like his Savior who loved to the death.
We find ourselves, perhaps moments or even hours
later, not having our focus on the Gospel. We dis-
cover that we have not thought about our children,
their room, our electric bills, or our government
in light of who Jesus is and what He has done.
Garrett’s statement, while pointing out our forget-
fulness, also reminds us of our need to remember
the Gospel every second of every minute of every
day. It is the Gospel, and the Gospel alone, that is
our power, our motivation, our impetus for godly,
righteous, fruitful living. The Gospel should inform
and direct our marriage, our parenting, vocation,
ministry, friendships, and decision-making.
Garrett wanted to be thinking about the Gospel all
of the time. It was this driving passion to have the

Gospel infuse and direct every action that made
Garrett the person that he was. It was his under-
standing of how Christ laid down His life for him
that led Garrett to lay down his life for others. He
didn’t just do this on Black Friday to save the lives
of those in danger, he did it in every facet of his life.
Garrett was the true definition of a servant. He lived
the life of a servant of Christ by giving himself for
his wife and children. Time and again he placed
Rachel, Elijah, and Faith before himself, build-
ing a beautiful home life where they saw sacrifice
demonstrated on a daily basis, where they saw what
it means to be godly and to follow Christ and to
love others. He did this as a gentle warrior. Snug-
gling and laughing and playing with his wife and
children while providing leadership, protection and
sustenance to them.
This was just the beginning, though, of how Garrett
served, for the same tenderness and love with
which he served his family was also poured out to
his friends and church body. There are so many
examples I could give of his service, especially
to our family. The first time I was introduced to
Garrett was when I decided to call a church that
we had read about online. It was about 4:30pm on
a Saturday afternoon. Of course no one would be
answering the church phones. But Garrett did. He
spent 25 minutes talking to me that day. Then after
a few visits to the church, I wanted to ask some
more questions. So Garrett took me out to break-
fast, and we talked, and talked. I asked all kinds of
messed-up, weird questions that he patiently and
lovingly answered. Six hours later we parted. I was
a stranger then, and he spent six precious hours
with this man who was hurting. That was just the
first of many such instances.
Garrett was also a gifted musician whose knowl-
edge of music was astounding. Not only did he
play on the worship team, but he also spent nearly
three hours every Sunday after church teaching my
children and several other teens in the church how
to play guitar. He served both them and the church
by investing in the next generation of the church’s
musicians.
I could go on for pages. Eight years of stories of a
smiling, loving, caring servant who gave everything
he had to his family and his church while daily
placing his life on the line to protect the community.
He finished well, doing what he did: protecting and
serving others in the name of Christ because of the
Gospel.
I end with this.
We have a three-year-old in our congregation
that comes from a broken home and is a veritable
bundle of energy. Often this little boy transfers
this energy into negative behavior that is hard to
control or even direct. Each Sunday Garrett, who
had a seemingly unending list of tasks to perform
as a church leader and musician, still took the time
to build a special relationship with this little boy. In
fact, each Sunday that little boy would wait at the
door for Garrett’s arrival. Garrett would pick him up
in his arms and carry him around church pour-
ing out the love that he so needed. That was true
leadership, true servanthood. He loved the least of
us. That little three-year-old boy still stands at the
door each Sunday waiting for Garrett.
Thank you God for Garrett Swasey and the impact
he has had on all of our lives. Thank you for
predestining him, for calling him, for justifying him
and now for glorifying him through Your great and
glorious Gospel.
Jason and Jennifer Churchill recently celebrated
their 20th wedding anniversary and have three fun
and crazy boys and one fun and delightful daughter.
They have been homeschooling for more than
eighteen years. The Churchills are passionate about
the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and they’ve
been blessed to serve Christian Home Educators of
Colorado in various positions for nine years.

Did you ever
imagine a day
would come
when Russians
would enjoy more
freedom and
less regulation
regarding the
education of their
children than
Americans do?
Homeschooling In The
FORMER USSRBY SCOTT AND ANDIE DAVIDSON
tion to the world as a result of the indoctrination that
occurs in their schools. There is a desperate need to
offer an alternative.
Through a series of providential events, the Lord
introduced our family to a man back in 2010 who has
lived in St. Petersburg, Russia, with his family for
nearly 25 years. Working with the Navigators initially,
Blake Purcell and his wife Cathy established a pasto-
ral seminary and have been training and shepherding
pastors across the nine time zones of Russia (even to
the far east coastal city of Vladivostok). Visiting our
church here in Colorado, he encouraged my family
to consider coming over to share our experiences in
teaching our eight children at home. After a two week
“fact-finding mission” with my 11-year-old daughter
in 2011, we decided we should spend a more extended
time visiting the various churches Blake had planted
PHOTOGRAPHYBYISTOCK
Well, that day is here. Many Russian families experi-
ence more liberty than some American families in the
more regulated states. Back in 1992, a law allowing
various forms of education for children was issued in
Russia. As a matter of fact, their Federal Framework
Law goes so far as to state that, “Parents (guardians)
of children have the primary right to educate and to
bring up their children before all other persons.”
Wouldn’t you love to hear that claim from our legisla-
tors? Despite all this, the homeschooling movement in
Russia has not primarily been a Christian movement
until the last few years. The idea that children require
a Christian education is foreign to most Russian be-
lievers. Private Christian schools are an impossibility
for the vast majority of Russians, so homeschooling
remains their only option to avoid the godless govern-
ment educational institutions. Just like in America,
many Russian families are losing the next genera-
Editor’s Note: While CHEC’s primary focus is serving Colorado homeschoolers, God has enabled CHEC to expand its ministry internationally through support of
Paideia Missions. You will be encouraged to learn what God is doing in the home education movement in the former USSR!
PARTNER with CHEC
PARTNER’S PAGE
Your support enables us to motivate parents to disciple the next generation of Christians by providing
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or supported. So, in October and November of
2012 all eight of my children, my wife, and two
young ladies who wanted to help traveled to four
different cities in Russia, using the Purcell’s apart-
ment in St. Petersburg as our headquarters. We met
with dozens of families in their homes and churches
talking about why and how we disciple our kids.
Our primary focus was the pastors who had been
trained through Blake’s Slavic Reformation Society
but who were not offering their children a distinctly
Christian education. We recently heard the news
that 100% of the pastors who have children have
begun homeschooling them!
One of the cities we visited was Vyborg, near the
coast of Finland. We met with about 13 families
from one church. We spent two weeks meeting with
one or two families each night sharing our experi-
ences and letting them ask questions, often staying
up till 1 or 2 in the morning (Russians stay up late).
Within weeks of our time in Vyborg, every single
family with children removed them from the govern-
ment schools and began homeschooling. That
was three years ago and they are still going strong
despite the opposition from
school officials in their area.
That trip birthed a vision in our
hearts for a non-profit ministry
called Paideia Missions. Paideia
is a Greek word found in Ephe-
sians 6:4, translated “nurture,”
meaning the whole training and
education of a child, the cultiva-
tion of their mind as well as their morals and the
nurturing of the soul. This vision for a discipleship-
based lifestyle is what will truly transform a nation
over multiple generations. If you remember, Jesus’
Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all
nations” has two distinct parts: baptize them and
teach them to obey all He has commanded. Too
often, overseas ministries put the majority of their
focus on the first part and fail to do the hard, long
tasks of teaching believers to obey all He has com-
manded, especially regarding the nurturing of the
next generation which is absolutely necessary for
cultural transformation.
Since that time, we have held two “Family Education
Discipleship Conferences” at the St. Petersburg
Christian University. (“Family Education” is their
word for homeschooling.) We more than doubled
our attendance last year and expect to pack the
place out this year. Last year, one of the significant
elements of the conference was the tremendous
amount of Christian materials and curriculum we
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For 26 years, CHEC has been at the forefront of the battle for home education and discipleship. CHEC serves thousands of families every year
through our events, Update magazine, widows fund, special needs fund, the CHEC Independent School, and more. We receive phone calls
throughout the week that give us a chance to provide advice, encouragement, and an extra “boost” to homeschoolers when the going is tough.
CHEC depends on your generous donation to both continue and expand our mission.
were able to display and sell – literally over a ton
of materials. Plans are already underway for a third
conference in March of 2016 led by a team of Rus-
sians we have been coaching who grasp the vision
for family discipleship.
Russia is not the only nation in which we hope to
minister, but it is the location that the Lord seems
to be opening doors for currently. We have had
requests for a similar ministry in Africa, Brazil,
China, and most recently, Hungary. We would love
to expand our ministry, but in order to accomplish
this we need to build up a support team of families
and churches committed to the vision of Christian
education and multi-generational discipleship. If
any of this interests you, please contact us or visit
us at www.PaideiaMissions.com. Also, if you are
interested in serving with Paideia Missions, we are
always looking for those whom the Lord may be
leading to travel far, get out of their “comfort zone,”
and testify to what has been done in their hearts and
lives. May all of our activities contribute to the filling
of the earth “with the knowledge of the glory of the
Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14)
Scott and Andie Davidson homeschool eight chil-
dren and live in Parker, Colorado. Scott served with
CHEC for five years and his wife regularly speaks at
the Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference. Five
years ago they founded Paideia Missions in order
to share their homeschooling experience with other
nations around the world.
PHOTOSBYANDERSONFAMILY

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Submit your photos (.jpg or .png) via email to office@
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Submission” by April 10, 2016 for a chance to be
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2016 CHEC GRADUATION CEREMONY
SATURDAY, MAY 21st, 2016 ELIZABETH, COLORADO
CELEBRATE YOUR STUDENT’S
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WHO Open to all homeschool graduates
WHAT A celebration to thank God and honor the graduates
(and parents!)
WHEN Saturday, May 21st (choose 10am or 3pm)
WHAT’S INCLUDED Traditional graduation elements:
■ Pomp and Circumstance as graduates and parents enter
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CHEC BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
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HOMESCHOOL
UPDATE
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February
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Update Magazine - 2016, Volume 1, Issue 94

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Update Magazine - 2016, Volume 1, Issue 94