Raise Them UP!

Israel explains how his mother helped originate the modern homeschool movement in 1983 & subsequently published a homeschool magazine

11- years ago he started Family Renewal along with his wife. And, he speaks at 30- to-50 events per year.

How he followed in his mother’s business & how he and his sister proofread his mother’s magazine.

How difficult it was initially to reach teenagers. Dr. George Barna’s research said that a child’s worldview is locked in by age 12. So, that is why it is important for parents to reach children or disciple them as early as possible.

Parents thought the church would disciple their children and so they underestimate the cultural influences upon their kids.

Parents on average only spend about 90 minutes per day with their children, so much of that time are not discipling. Parents need to be more intentional.

Israel Wayne believes 150% that children need to see their parents worship, and we should not be segregating them when it comes to the church service.

George Barna, the Christian researcher, also agrees that only 12% of children get anything worthwhile by church youth groups. 88% do not benefit from church youth groups segregated from the church services.

A lot of kids grow up in church without attending any of the main services. Kids grow up without knowing the body or the community of the church they attend.

Israel & his wife always have kept their children with them throughout the service.

Too many churches have replaced relationships with programs. Proverbs 22:15, says children have foolishness in their hearts rather than the fear of the Lord. They need more time spent with older, wiser instructors & mentors who have the fear of the Lord in them.

Churches under utilize their seniors even though they are often the wisest.

We have too many ill-equipped young people teaching other young children

Conversation shifts to what is a “Biblical Marriage.” His mother was not a Christian, early on and he is the product of a broken family starting when he was 6-years old. During his young adult life, he was without a father figure.

His mother did not become a Christiaan until Israel was 12 years old.

How he was able to avoid the pitfalls of a broken home? Israel learned at an early age. He learned holding onto bitterness would make him bitter.

How he values gratitude and living in gratitude every day.

As a teen, he was very distrusting of mentors. The Word of God was his initial go-to and sustained him until he found adult mentors.

Grace & Truth in Christian parenting today. What that means and it’s often permissive parenting. It’s biblical for children to obey their parents. Too many parents obey their children instead of the other way around. Parents want to threat their children as equals. And, children are not equipped to make adult decisions.

Too many parents listen to pop psychology voices instead of Christian teachers & voices. Too many evangelical churches are too worldly. Parents need rules for children, but it’s okay to be conservative. But our “house” rules are not the same or on the same level as God’s commands. House rules do not equate to holiness.

Israel tells the story of his raising own kids. As he matured as a parent, he always wanted to get to the heart of his child’s bad behavior. Pride & self-love are often what’s in the heart in those failed moments. Parents need to learn how to point their children to Jesus in all things.

Conversation shifts to Christian Education….how his late mother would look at what has become of homeschooling today. Homeschooling is about restoring the family.

New homeschooling parents are not religious, but they see the value of keeping their children close to home. He discusses the reasons parents are pulling their children out of public schools and now Christian private schools.

What should the goals of Christian parents be when homeschooling their children.

All the things that are out there for parents, but the lack of clarity of definition of what comprises a homeschool can be problematic.

But, more state & educational regulations are not the answer because in public schools the standards and results are lower.

We talked about public school teacher/turned homeschool advocate John Taylor Gatto and how his mother was instrumental in getting him published.

Wayne talks about books he’s written that are aimed directly at homeschool parents.

Website: familyrenewal.org. Ordering from his website, he’ll sign the books you purchase directly from him.

Last comment about his homeschool pioneering mother.

How to book him as a speaker. Separate website: Israelwayne.com

His Chrisitan apologetics website is Christianworldview.net.

Equipping the next generation to live out a biblical worldview doesn’t happen by accident — it requires intentional teaching, discernment, and engagement with the culture.

In this episode of Raise Them Up, Fred Zielonko is joined by longtime Christian educator and broadcaster Steve Noble, founder of Noble U, to discuss why Christian parents must actively invest in teaching civics, history, and ethics through the lens of Scripture.

Steve shares his personal journey from Christian radio into full-time education, explaining how God led him to focus on discipling high school students at a critical stage of their formation. Drawing from over a decade of teaching experience, he explains why traditional textbooks alone are not enough — and why real-time engagement with current events is essential for building discernment.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

This conversation offers both encouragement and conviction for parents, homeschoolers, and educators who feel called to help raise children who can think clearly, stand firmly, and live faithfully in an increasingly complex world.

Resources Mentioned

Noble U (Steve Noble’s teaching ministry)

Text “TRUTH” to 66866

Bob Jones University Press (BJU Press)

Journal of School Choice

Homeschooling is no longer a fringe movement — it’s a growing, dynamic part of the American education landscape. In this episode of Raise Them Up, host Fred Zielonko welcomes Dr. Angela Watson, Senior Research Fellow and Assistant Professor of Education at Johns Hopkins University, to unpack what’s really happening behind the surge in homeschooling.

Dr. Watson shares insights from nearly a decade of research and introduces the Johns Hopkins Homeschool Hub, a groundbreaking resource that brings together homeschooling policies, regulations, and participation data from across the United States — all in one place.

Together, Fred and Dr. Watson explore:

This episode offers encouragement for parents, clarity for those considering homeschooling, and valuable perspective for anyone concerned about the future of education. Whether you’re a longtime homeschooler, newly curious, or simply want to understand the trends shaping our schools, this conversation provides both insight and hope.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Johns Hopkins Homeschool Hub

Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy

Journal of School Choice

Raise Them UP! is a production of The Family Vision, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents prepare the next generation to make an impact for Christ.

Homeschooling is a blessing, but it can also be chaotic and incredibly challenging. Things don’t always go the way you plan. Emotions can run high and there’s a lot to navigate: Learning styles, teaching styles, curriculum, extra-curriculars, scheduling, legal requirements, co-ops... and so much more! It’s enough to leave any homeschooling parent feeling overwhelmed and discouraged.

If you’ve been homeschooling for a while and things just aren’t going the way you hoped, what do you do? Is homeschooling just not working for you? Or is there something you can do to make homeschooling more effective?

Our guest, Amanda Schenkenberger, was homeschooled by her parents, and is now a homeschooling mom with several years of experience. She comes alongside struggling homeschool moms through her personalized homeschool coaching services. She works with parents one-on-one to develop customized plans to achieve academic success for children, while making sure moms have what they need as a parent and educator. She’ll help you LOVE homeschooling again!

Amanda helps moms work through a wide range of challenges including:

-homeschooling special needs kids

Working with Amanda is easy! Visit her website to get started:

https://homeschoolfamilylegacy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeschoolcoachingmama/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.schenkenberger/

Raise Them UP! is a production of The Family Vision, a non-profit ministry committed to helping Christian parents prepare the next generation to make an impact for Christ.