Convention Corner: The Importance of Gathering

As we celebrated our risen Savior yesterday with our church family, I recalled the Spring of 2020. The shutdown was in full swing, everyone was staying home to “slow the spread,” and churches were either closed altogether, or, like our church, learning to live-stream in real time by trial and error with a core group of people. A lot of fear and uncertainty still abounded even as we approached Resurrection Sunday. Our family gathered outside at sunrise that Easter morning with my parents to sing hymns. Thankfully, due to technology, we could still see and hear our pastor preach the Word of God. It was great to be able to worship and still feel some connection to our church family through social media. But it was not the same.

However, Resurrection Sunday in 2021 was a different story! No longer did we take for granted the privilege of gathering as a church family in one building, singing together the great songs of the faith, hearing the Word of God preached in person, praying with our brothers and sisters, and celebrating the Lord’s Supper in communion! It was amazing to celebrate together with scores of other Christians!

We have so many incredible tools to connect with other people, such as social media, cell phones, and high-speed internet. Yet, physically being with other people is immensely more beneficial than these other forms of “connection.” The pandemic should have seared in our memory how important community is. But how quickly we forget that God created us to be in relationship with others. We, as homeschoolers, know the importance of family. The family was the first institution that God created between the first man and woman and their seed. However, He didn’t stop there. He instituted government to protect from injustice, punish evil deeds, and reward good works. (At least, that is what it was designed to do.) He established the church to equip believers to spread the gospel to the whole world and care for the needs of His people. Both the church and our nation are dependent on strong, godly families who fear God and raise the next generation to do the same. It starts in our homes, but we need others around us to encourage us, to pick us up when we fall, and to pray for us when we do not feel like talking to God. We were created for community.

Our convention theme for this year is “Coming Together” based on the verses in Hebrews 10:23-25. Scripture says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” What a fantastic passage about the struggle of our mission! Homeschooling is not for the weak; it is hard. But it is a good work, a work that we have been called and equipped to do!

As we contemplated homeschooling our first child in 2011, some of our extended family recommended that we attend the CHAP Convention. We were looking for information in getting started and what was required by law in Pennsylvania, so we decided we would attend. We received so much material, and, quite frankly, were completely overwhelmed by the size of that 25^th Annual CHAP Convention at the Farm Show Complex! However, the biggest takeaway we received from going to convention was something I was not expecting. I was going for the “How To” and “What to Use”, but I left with so much more that first year. I remember being so encouraged that this was the right decision for our family, that we were equipped as parents to give our children a godly education, and we could endure the struggles that would come during the school year by having our “WHY.”

Maybe you have started your homeschooling journey within these last four years and you have found great resources online through videos, blogs, chatrooms, and e-books. There is so much great information available at our fingertips. Or, maybe you have been homeschooling for years like our family. You have your system, you know what you are doing (for the most part), and you know some of the pitfalls you will encounter through the year. Whatever the stage, from beginner to veteran, there is absolutely no substitute for getting together with other like-minded people who can sympathize, encourage, and guide you in this important work. The school year is long and hard! My wife and I have determined to go to the CHAP Convention every year to be refreshed and ready to start a new year. It has always delivered through great speakers and a wealth of information. It is a special weekend away together that we look forward to every year!

You may be the brand new, young homeschooling mom or dad looking for direction because you know that educating your kids at home is the right decision. Perhaps you are fearful and overwhelmed. On the other hand, you may be a veteran homeschooler who has had the most difficult school year in your life. Regardless, come and be encouraged. Be refreshed. Be renewed by other families on the same journey.

Perhaps, the vast majority of us will be somewhere in between those two scenarios. You have some kinks to work out or some new questions to answer, but your school year has been going fairly well.

Do I really need to come to convention this year?

I’m certain I could find the answers by a quick Google search.

It is easy to forget that countless people have poured into our lives so we can be encouraged in our homeschool journey. Maybe it is your turn to serve as the encourager. Come and be a blessing to those other families looking for hope and direction. Come and thank the vendors for investing their time and money in great products that have benefited you over the years. And then buy from them instead of saving $3 on Amazon! Come and encourage the CHAP staff and other volunteers by helping out!

As homeschoolers in Pennsylvania, we have been extremely blessed to have an organization who fights for our freedoms, plans this annual convention, and provides valuable resources throughout the year. Many of these saints have worked hard as volunteers for many years behind the scenes. Every year, scores of other volunteers serve at convention to make it run efficiently. I want to say thank you to all of them throughout the last decade who have poured into my family, some of whom I have never even met personally. Although the writer of Hebrews is talking specifically about the church in chapter 10, the principle still applies. The God of the universe knows how far technology will advance, and yet He exhorted us to be in community with each other, especially as the world around us continues its downward spiral. We need each other.

TO ENCOURGE, TO EQUIP, TO ENDURE!

See you at Convention!