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Family Mission Statement — Sample Last Revised: January 1, 2009 |
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Family Mission Statement — Sample Last Revised: January 1, 2009 |
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Please note that this is a SAMPLE only. It is designed to show homeschoolers different aspects of a mission statement, which is why it is longer and more detailed than would normally be necessary. This is only ONE example. It should not be considered a generic statement. You can get ideas from it, but you should customize it to fit your specific family and situation. Each family’s mission statement should be unique and distinctive. FAMILY MISSION STATEMENT Our mission statement is based on biblical principles. It affirms certain premises upon which a family is built.
God showed us that the vision for our family is found in Isaiah 61. The entire chapter accurately and completely describes the purpose of our family as revealed by God.
OUR WORLDVIEW We view our Christian faith not as a mere religious segment of our life, but a wholistic lifestyle. It provides a solid foundation for every area of life; it influences and impacts every area of life. We endeavor to approach every issue in life from the principles and truths found in the Bible, for the Bible is God’s letter to us, His Creation. What is Truth? We believe God is Truth, and therefore, His Word, the Bible, is the source of Truth. We believe there are absolutes that do not waiver with the winds of man’s doctrines. These absolute truths are found in the Bible, and all doctrine and teaching must be “tested” against the whole of Biblical truth. We recognize that the Bible provides general guidelines for behavior, with a few specific rules. When cases arise that are not specifically set forth in the Word, we endeavor to seek God’s guidance, attempting to discern God’s will from the general principles and “tested” revelation received. We believe that God, as Creator of the Universe, put into the natural world evidence of this Truth. This truth can be discovered and recognized through our natural senses, and can be understood by our natural, rational mind. God put into mankind the ability to learn about the material (natural) world and the non-material (spiritual) world. Since He created both, there can be no conflict between what is known in one and what is known of the other. If a conflict seems to exist, it is because mankind has not fully understood one or the other yet. View of the Individual We believe God created the human race in His image - a spirit being, capable of having fellowship with the Father God. We were created for relationship, to worship and bring glory to Him, and to reflect His love for us and others. That relationship, however, was torn asunder when Adam separated himself from the Father through sin, thereby bringing a curse upon himself and the human race. Jesus came to redeem us from the curse, and restore relationship with God. In light of this, every human is born with a sinful nature that left unchecked and untrained leads to destruction, misery and eternal death. Only the redemptive work of Jesus can save a person from this destructive path. Although education and other means of improving one’s life can be helpful, they cannot restore relationship or eternal life with the Father. It is our view that a child must be trained and disciplined in order to mature into a fully-functioning, constructive member of society. Without such instruction, children remain foolish, self-centered, and rebellious (Prov. 22:15). A child must learn control based on the principles of God’s Truth, for it is the very basis upon which society is structured. Without it, society is left in the chaos and anarchy that comes from relativism. We believe that learning control is a process whereby the child moves from parental control to self-control that ultimately yields by individual choice to God’s control. This submission to God and His will for the individual’s life is not an abdication of one’s self identity, but rather a realization of it as God ordained it before conception (Ps. 139:13: Jer. 1:5). Because God is good and His compassion and loving-kindness extend to all (Ps. 145:8-9), yielding to Him is both beneficial to the individual and to society (Eph. 2:10). God is both just and merciful. He trains and disciplines us out of His love for us, through His Word. Through the study of His Word and revelation knowledge by His Spirit, we learn His ways, the power of His life in us, and the benefits of obeying and honoring Him. We believe true happiness and success come when the individual discovers his or her calling and destiny – God’s unique design and placement. Inherent in this design is each person’s personality type, learning profile, and gift cluster, all of which help the individual fulfill the calling. In other words, each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14). Discovering our unique mix is to be a wonderful, life-long process that flows from intimacy with our Creator God and with one another. View of the Family We believe God ordained the family unit to be a microcosm of His interaction with mankind. The husband is to be the head of the household, even as Jesus is the Head of the Body of Christ (Eph. 5:23). We believe the wife is to be the helpmate of the husband, supporting him, and nurturing his leadership role. As such, the husband and wife are equal in God’s sight (Gal. 3:28). Together they make the decisions, understanding that ultimately there must be one person with the final say – that being the husband in submission to God. We believe marriage is a sacred ordinance sanctioned by God to display His covenant nature. We believe marriage is a covenant vow made before God and is meant to be a life-long commitment to honor and cherish one another until death does part. We believe a man and a woman come together as one, becoming one in Christ. We believe sex is meant to be a blessing in the marriage and is a sign of the blood covenant relationship. Therefore, it is to be kept for that commitment only. We believe the responsibilities of a man are to: (1) be a visible representative of God and His nature – both His love and discipline; (2) provide for the material needs of the household; (3) love and understand the wife; (4) raise the children in the ways of God, disciplining them in such a way as to not break their spirit; (5) provide godly leadership in his home and community; and (6) participate fully in the Church of Jesus Christ. We believe the responsibilities of a woman are to: (2) be a faithful example of a godly woman; (2) respect, love, and be a helper to the husband; (3) bear, nourish, and love the children; (4) provide the nurturing, comfort, and guidance in the family in the same way the Holy Spirit nurtures and guides our spiritual life; (5) teach younger women godly qualities; and (6) participate fully in the Church of Jesus Christ. We believe children are gifts from God, placed in the care of the parents. This stewardship of God’s precious ones is not to be taken lightly, yet it comes as a marvelous blessing. The father is to exemplify the just nature of God – loving, disciplining, providing boundaries, and blessing the children. The mother is to exemplify the nurturing nature of God – loving, training, and caring for the children. The family structure allows for each individual to develop and grow in the Lord within a loving, caring environment. The family is in a sense a team working together to not only fulfill each member’s destiny, but the destiny of the family as a whole. As such, we believe it is primarily the parents’ responsibility to train and discipline the child in the same way God deals with us. (See the “House Rules” that follow.) Our training and disciplining is based on the following scriptures:
Because we are made in God’s image and were created for relationship, we are social beings. Having a sense of communion and community is part of our nature. Psalm 145 points to the validity of establishing one’s life upon the goodness of God. He is good to all. He is committed to bringing us to our best. By submitting our life unto His Lordship, we reach our highest and greatest potential, both as individuals and as a society. In Colossians 1:16-17, Paul noted that Jesus Christ holds all things together. He is the One who provides a stable mooring for society. This mooring is a two-strand chord that testifies to God’s nature – merciful and just. Our role as Christians is to be an instrument of God’s mercy and justice. We believe this justice is defined and exemplified in the Bible. Since God’s mercy is available to all (whether or not they accept it), we believe we are to love others, even those with whom we disagree. This love, however, does not imply acceptance or condoning of actions or behavior that go against godly principles and Truth. Tolerance is not equal to acceptance. The Bible teaches that we are to seek to live peaceably with all to the extent possible, without compromising our godly principles (Rom. 12:18). Just as the family is an extension of God’s interaction with mankind, so is the Church. This family of God is not isolated to man-made institutions, but rather includes all those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, with Jesus the Head. The church structure was established by God to provide another loving environment in which to train and equip members (Eph. 4:11-16). Part of each individual’s unique design is his or her placement or functioning in the Body of Christ (Rom. 12:4-6). View of Government We recognize God as our ultimate authority. We acknowledge that all authority flows from Him (Rom. 13:1-4; Acts 4:16-20; 5:27-29). Consequently, we are to be subject to the authorities God has placed us under to the extent possible. However, whenever those in authority go against God’s principles, we are obliged to recognize and submit to His Lordship instead. We are also obliged to pray for our leaders, to be responsible citizens, and be God’s voice and instrument in the affairs of our nation and representative government. We believe that God ordained the nation of America and established it for His purposes. We acknowledge that the Founding Fathers were very clear and vocal about the biblical basis for this nation and the Constitution. In accordance with their views and intentions, we recognize the principle set forth in the Constitution that the government shall not establish a national religion, but we do not believe this is the same as the “separation of church and state” – a phrase that does not occur in the Constitution. Indeed, we believe it is the individual’s right – even obligation – to express his or her faith and beliefs in the establishing of the laws of the land. Therefore, we reject the trend that Christians should not push their “religion” on others or the laws of the land, for a just society depends on absolute Truths. The relativism of secular humanism works against a sense of individual responsibility and community. Since secular humanism has been ruled by the Supreme Court to be a religion as well, it should not be supported by the State over any other religion. The current rejection of anything related to Christianity or the Bible is a direct violation of our constitutional right to freedom of religion. Given the nature of man, we believe it is impossible to function in a republic without recognizing absolutes of law, ethics, and the value of the individual. These laws and ethics flow naturally from God’s revealed Truth. View of Right and Wrong God created the human race with a will – a will that allows the individual to choose between right and wrong. We believe there are absolutes that determine what is right and wrong, and these are found in God’s Word, not man’s or society’s inclinations at the time. We recognize that these absolutes do not come because of the innate need of God to control all things, but flows from the loving nature of the Creator. He who created all things knows best how things function and what works to our benefit. We believe there are two forces that reflect these absolutes – good and evil. These two forces offer us two choices: life or death. John 10:10 explains these choices. Satan, who is the embodiment of evil, seeks to steal, destroy and kill. Jesus, who is the embodiment of God and goodness, seeks to give abundant, eternal life. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God declares that life and death are set before us. It is our choice, but He desires that we choose life because He loves us and wants the best for each of us. These life and death choices permeate every area of life. Furthermore, by choosing life, we commit ourselves to offering our life in service to bring life and light to others and help destroy the works of darkness (evil). We recognize that Satan takes advantage of ignorance. Many people who do not understand the forces at work inadvertently succumb to the strategies and deceptions of the evil one. That is why the Bible tells us that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers (Eph. 6:12). We also recognize that the earth is under the curse of the Fall, when Satan tempted man to relinquish the authority God gave mankind. As such, destructive forces naturally occur, and sickness, death, and accidents are part of life on this earth. These shall not last forever for Jesus Christ shall come again, and Satan and death shall be removed. In the meantime, we are to bring God’s will and light to the earth to the extent possible. Being a light to the world (Mat. 5:14) means revealing God’s truths and principles, not only in words but in actions. These absolute truths should be evident in what we value, what we believe, how we act, and what we teach. We believe acting morally and ethically means basing our actions on the Word of God. We acknowledge that we are not perfect individuals, but we should strive for perfection. The only way that is possible is to have a vital, abiding relationship with God, for it is He who works in us both to will and do His good pleasure. When we do make mistakes, we are to ask for forgiveness, repent (change our behavior), and move forward. View of the Universe We believe God created the human race on this planet for a specific purpose. This planet is uniquely designed to accommodate this life. There is an awesome balance that exists, a balance that is reflected throughout nature and God’s Word. We call it creative tension. It is seen in the balance of mercy and justice, male and female, faith and works, optimism and realism, submission and equality, loving self and loving others, and in receiving God’s vision, plans and order and being led by the Spirit at the moment. The Bible affirms that God created the universe; it did not evolve from nothing. The intricacies and delicate balance seen in nature, and the human body in particular, point to what some have called “Intelligent Design.” We believe all theories concerning the creation of the universe should be taught a nd evaluated honestly and fairly based on their merits. The Christian can be confident that the evidence of God’s design will stand for itself. We do not fear the teaching of evolution, but we recognize that the majority of science curriculums do not correctly present it as a theory, nor accurately evaluate its short-comings and gaps. Only when we endeavor to be wise stewards of all that God has placed in our hands – our individual choices, our family members, the environment, our money, our time, etc. – and strive for balance do we find fruitfulness and success. We believe this is what was once considered “common sense,” but was lost when we as a society left our biblical moorings. View of Education We believe that God entrusted parents to be the primary educators of their children. Proverbs 22:6 and Deut. 6:6-7 declare that it is the parents’ responsibility to train up a child in the way he or she should go. This literally means training a child along the individual bent instilled in each child by God. The parents are to seek God’s will for each child, and spend quality time with each child in order to discover this “bent” and God’s purpose of each life. By passing this responsibility primarily onto others, such as Children’s Church leaders and school institutions, we are ignoring a mandate from God. We run the risk of relinquishing control of our children, and thereby undercutting God’s intentions. The risk is even greater when those in authority within these institutions foster ideas and make assumptions that run counter to God’s principles. We believe we are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26) so that we may have fellowship with Him, His Creation, and His Kingdom (Ps. 30:2; 102:18; 138; and 139:14-17). Our job as “educators” is to prepare our children to live and function in God’s Kingdom and thereby make a positive contribution to the community at large. In order to do so, we believe an educational program needs to develop a child’s relationship with God, the world He created, and the people that populate it. It must assist the child in developing a system of values and principles that provide a framework for critical thinking and behavior. It must also cultivate an understanding of culture and ideas. We also believe that each child has been given gifts, talents, and abilities (gift cluster) by the Creator. These are bestowed not so much for the benefit of the individual, but for others. Relationships therefore become preeminent. First, with God, then the basic family unit, next with the church and community, and then, finally, with society as a whole. It is our contention that one of the primary roles of the family is to provide a healthy, loving environment within which a child can foster these relationships, to help each child identify the gift cluster, and develop it to the glory and honor of God. Family Education Goals & Philosophy It is our aim to prepare our children to function in the society in which God has placed them. Although we desire that they appreciate the simplicity and virtues of a so-called “old-fashioned, traditional” lifestyle, we recognize that they will most likely live in an urban, technical society. They will need a solid moral foundation to secure them in such a fast-paced environment, and the technical skills to allow them to function successfully in this computerized information age. As such, they will need to be industrious, self-motivated, inquisitive, physically active, informed and discerning. We acknowledge that part of our job as parents is to help our children realize their God-given giftings (be they creative, artistic, mechanical, technical, etc.), to develop these talents in conjunction with life skills and general knowledge, and guide them in fulfilling God’s will for their life. In addition to this “individualized instruction,” it is our aim to assist our children in developing healthy, godly relationships with family, friends, colleagues, church family, neighborhood, and society as a whole. We recognize that there is a core of information that our children need to know in order to function in this society. But we see this core more in terms of exposure – giving them a base for understanding the world around them. We do not expect mastery of inordinate amounts of details traditionally associated with standardized programs. Our philosophy of education is an eclectic one – drawing elements from each of the major approaches. We believe there is some knowledge that is essential; we believe there are principles and recurring themes that need to be understood; we believe in developing the child’s personal potential; and we believe in preparing the child to enter adulthood as a productive member of society. We want curriculum that is: integrative, incorporating unit studies when appropriate; hands-on and visual; and as close to real-life experiences as possible. EDUCATIONAL GOALS In light of our family mission statement, purpose and vision, worldview, and family profile, we have set the following goals for our training efforts. These tenants are to be an integral part of the curriculum we choose.
The aim of our educational approach is to assist our children in gaining knowledge, training them in Biblical principles, teaching them how to learn, and developing certain qualities that we believe characterize a good student. These qualities are:
We believe that the Bible provides the best and only standard on which a person can build such a fruitful and enjoyable life. We have selected the following “life principles” from the Bible to assist our children in their educational journey through life. *
Godly Lifestyle (Romans 12, Amplified)
We desire that our curriculum reflect a biblical value system. We believe this is the surest foundation upon which our children can build their life (Mat. 7:24-27). The following are basic values we desire to instill into our children.
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