by Jeffrey Bush
A topic of stress for those with children can be your children’s schooling. Living on the mission field brings multiple challenges, specifically in marriage, but when you throw in a big decision such as how and where you will educate your children, marriage can be strongly hindered. I don’t need to remind you that children are a gift from God, but they are not meant to divide or be more important than your marriage. Learning to discuss areas about child rearing will help your children and your marriage.
When we speak about raising children on a mission field, the topic of education is important. I have met good, godly parents that believe homeschooling is the best form of education. Other godly parents believe the public school system offers the best for their children, And still other good parents believe a Christian school, or starting a Christian school, is the best form of education for their children. Opinions and convincing facts can probably be made for each of these three choices, but ultimately you, as a parent, must make the decision on what you believe the Lord wants for your family. Whichever way you choose, you and your spouse should agree on the best course of action. Allow me to give you three areas to consider for you and your spouse when it comes to educating your children:
Consider your Child
My wife and I are blessed with five children. Irregardless of the age and gender, each of our children have their own personality. This is not something unique to our family, God has made every child and individual different. And when it comes to the education of your child, you must take into account the needs of that specific child. Can your child sit and motivate himself/herself to do the work alone? Do you think someone else can get through to your child better than you can? Does your child thrive off the social surroundings school could offer? As a parent, God has given you the responsibility to know and raise your child. Be prayerful and know your child, their needs, and the best way to educate him/her.
Consider Yourself
It’s rather easy for others to apply pressure on how you educate, but you must consider how God made you. If teaching sounds miserable to you and your spouse, then attempting to homeschool your children will be miserable for both you and them. If you don’t have the money to send your children to a private school, though family and friends might push you to do so, you have to determine if going in debt is the wise thing to do. You must make decisions in the situation God has placed you and your family in, whether others agree with your decision or not. Maybe God has given you the means and opportunity to send your children to a good private school. Maybe God has equipped you to educate at home. Maybe God has given you peace about sending your children to a public school. If you make a decision based on someone else’s opinion, not seeking peace from God on your own, you will hurt your children.
Consider your Location
If your mission field provides good education, take advantage of it. If your surroundings force you to educate at home, or combining efforts with other good families in the area, you might have to go that route. In the Bible we see Moses was in a hostile environment, yet God had a plan for his rearing. The same can be said of Daniel and other Bible characters. Wherever God has placed you, He has a way for you to educate your children.
One final consideration when it comes to your children’s education. Avoid making adamant or blanket statements on how you will always/never educate your child a certain way. Certainly stand with your convictions, but be sensitive to your children and to the Lord. Years ago, my wife and I decided we would make a yearly assessment for the best method of education. This helped us pray, consider, study, and decide what is best for that specific school year. Children grow, circumstances change, and God leads differently, so make a decision for each school year. There should be no pressure to make a decision you’ll have to live with for the next twelve to fifteen years. And please remember, God did not make perfect parents, but God made you specifically as the right parent for your children. God intended for you to raise the children He gave you, so seek Him on how best to do it.