Students learn about history of movement, doctrine at annual meeting in Austin.
Written by Stacie Wacaster, TEXAN Correspondent
Posted Monday, December 11, 2006
AUSTIN—Hoping to encourage the participation of SBTC homeschool families at the annual state convention meeting held Nov. 13-14, special opportunities were provided for homeschoolers that included meetings with three Southern Baptist leaders, a study hall, internships and a tour through an exhibit area featuring Southern Baptist ministries.
Those meeting with the students included SBC leaders who have at one time or another home educated their own children, including Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Richard Land, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Malcolm Yarnell and Criswell College President Jerry Johnson.
Several families toured the BobBullockStateHistoryMuseum and the capitol building. Homeschool parent Karla Sessions was available to speak with convention participants interested in learning more about educating children at home.
Susan Hall, who homeschools seven children ranging in age from two months to 13 years old, said she enjoyed the convention music, tour of the state capitol, and Land’s presentation on ethics.
“It was very interesting to hear Dr. Land explain to the kids where Baptists stand on certain issues such as stem-cell research,” she told the TEXAN.
From Johnson’s explanation of the beliefs that Baptists hold on Scripture and baptism, her children memorized key beliefs through an acronym the CriswellCollege president provided using the word “Baptist.”
Yarnell walked the students through an understanding of Baptist history, explaining the martyrdom of many Anabaptists, influence of English and American Baptists and eventual formation of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Thirteen-year-old Jarryd Hall said he was “terribly excited” to hear Gov. Rick Perry speak in his first public appearance after winning re-election the previous week. Hall said that Perry even encouraged the group on a spiritual level.
“Jarryd turned to me in the middle of Gov. Perry’s speech, and said, ‘Mom, I like him. I’ve never heard a politician say how much he loved God before.’ That made a huge impression on him that Gov. Perry would speak about his faith,” Hall said.
Her son described Perry’s speech as “straightforward and really good,” adding, “It was a cool experience.”
The teenager interned with SBC Tapes, a sound duplicating service run by Blake and Connie Stiles, who homeschool their son. Hall learned how to copy, label and sell the tapes of lectures from the convention. He also helped distribute Christian books, passed out reports of missionaries, as well as pens and calendars designed to remind conference attendees of the missionaries.
The youngest children of homeschooling families were even included in the fun, Hall said, as host church Great Hills Baptist provided access to what she described as an “extraordinary” Noah’s Ark play area for smaller children.
“Overall, I learned so much at the convention. It was worth more than I was expecting. You never can tell sometimes if something will be worth your time, but I personally felt very blessed to be there.”
Elizabeth Bransom took her teenage daughter, Mary, to the convention where she interned with the Resolutions Committee, and according to her mother, learned a lot. “It was a really neat, growing experience for her.”
