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Convention Speakers

Ken Ham, Debra Bell, S.M. Davis, Cynthia Tobias, Jamie Lash, Inge Cannon, and many, many others will be offering real, down-to-earth workshops to help you equip your children for their futures! Check back for updates!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

KEN HAM, Answers in Genesis

The president/CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis-U.S. and the highly acclaimed Creation Museum, Ken Ham is one of the most in-demand Christian speakers in North America. Ham, a native Australian now residing near Cincinnati, Ohio, is the author of numerous books on the book of Genesis, the accuracy and authority of the Bible, dinosaurs, and the destructive fruits of evolutionary thinking. His writings include the new co-authored book Already Gone on why so many young people are leaving the church; a hard-hitting book on the "races" and racism, Darwin's Plantation; and the bestseller, The Lie: Evolution. He appears frequently on American TV, and was seen in one year alone (2007) on Fox's The O'Reilly Factor and Fox and Friends in the Morning, CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, ABC's Good Morning America, and the BBC radio/TV, as well as other programs.

Ken hosts the daily radio program, "Answers...with Ken Ham," heard on more than 800 stations in America (and dozens more overseas), and is one of the editors and contributing authors for AiG's Answers magazine (a biblical worldview publication with more than 70,000 worldwide subscribers). The high-tech Creation Museum near the Cincinnati Airport--which attracted more than 900,000 visitors (and several of the world's major media) in its first two-and-a-half years of operation--was Ken's brainchild.

CONVENTION SPEAKERS

LEE ANDES, www.schev.edu, www.explorevirginiacolleges.com
For the past eight years, Lee Andes has served as the assistant director for financial aid at the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the Commonwealth's coordinating body for higher education. Lee has worked for SCHEV for eleven years, and his primary responsibility is the state’s financial-aid programs, which total in excess of $200 million annually; he also provides oversight for the Domicile Guidelines, which are used by the institutions to determine eligibility for in-state tuition. Lee has conducted financial-aid presentations for high school guidance counselors, employees, parents, and students across the state. He received his bachelor's degree at Liberty University and his master's degree at Lynchburg College. Lee and his wife, Karen, are homeschooling their two children.

DEBRA BELL, Homeschool Resource Center

Debra Bell is the bestselling author of the award-winning Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling and the forthcoming Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens. A former high school and college English teacher, Debra and her husband, Kermit, home educated their own four children, all of whom are now college graduates, for grades K-12. Debra holds a B.S. in communications education and a master's degree in English. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate in educational psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she holds an assistantship in the College of Education. Her research interest is identifying why, how, and when homeschooling works; and she looks forward to using her training to better serve the homeschool community well into the future.

During her homeschooling years, Debra helped to found and lead three homeschool co-ops that continue today (one for elementary-age students, one for high school, and one for drama), and taught composition and literature courses for more than 20 years. Today, she continues to teach Advanced Placement English courses online. Debra blogs at www.debrabell.blogspot.com. Her website is www.debrabell.com.

MARILYN BOYER, The Learning Parent

Marilyn is a blessed mom of 14 and grandma of six who has taught her children at home since 1980. Her passion is training her family to reach their potential for serving God and encouraging other moms to do so also. She has authored several books on home education and Christian parenthood and is a nationally known homeschool speaker.

She and her husband, Rick, operate The Learning Parent, a ministry to equip and encourage parents in their exciting mission of training future generations. Learn more about their ministry at www.thelearningparent.com.

Articles by Marilyn Boyer:
Building a Heart of Obedience
Quiet Times in a Busy Household

RICK BOYER, The Learning Parent

Rick Boyer is an internationally recognized trailblazer of the home-education movement. He and his wife, Marilyn, have 14 children and are in their thirtieth year of homeschooling. Rick has keynoted homeschooling conferences all across America and in several foreign countries. He is the author of several popular books on Christian parenting and has been featured as a guest in numerous radio and television interviews. Rick's unique blend of challenge and encouragement comes with a generous dose of humor and a "been-there, done-that" air of experience. His passion is to instill confidence in younger parents and remind them the purpose of homeschooling is not just academics, but to raise up a generation of champions for God. Rick also enjoys communicating with young folks, and is known through his audio ministry and character-building e-books as "Uncle Rick" to children all across the country.

BOYER FAMILY, The Learning Parent

The Boyer family now includes 28 people including 14 kids (six boys and eight girls, ranging in age from 35 to 11), one son-in-law, three daughters-in-law and eight grandchildren. Eleven of the Boyer kids have completed their home education, four of whom are married and have children of their own. The adult Boyers now include business owners, church staff members, a recent law-school graduate, the wife of a police officer, and a quality-control technician. All of the Boyer kids are homeschooling their children or planning to and are active in their local church. This year, six of the adult Boyers, along with their parents, will share insights from their homeschool experiences. The family also invites you to stop by The Learning Parent booth to chat, ask questions, and learn why they all are passionate about homeschooling.  

JONATHAN BRUSH

Jonathan Brush was one of the first two homeschooled students admitted to Bridgewater College. He graduated in 1999, worked as an admissions counselor at Bridgewater after graduation, was promoted to assistant director of admissions in 2000, and then served as the director of admissions from 2001-2010. Since March of 2010, he has been employed by CollegePlus! as a regional program adviser. He is married to Kara, also a homeschool graduate, and they homeschool their four children.

YVONNE BUNN, Home Educators Association of Virginia

Yvonne, HEAV's director of homeschool support and director of government affairs, works with HEAV's legislative team to protect and improve Virginia's homeschool laws. She initiated Governor George Allen's proclamation of Virginia Home Education Week and continues to coordinate HEAV's annual Day at the Capitol. She also spearheaded HEAV's efforts in the General Assembly to pass the first homeschool license plate in the nation. Yvonne works with a network of local support groups to provide accurate, up-to-date information to homeschoolers. She developed the Homeschool Success Seminar series and has spoken at many homeschool conferences throughout Virginia. She has also participated in a weeklong series on the nationally syndicated "Homeschool Heartbeat." In 1992, Yvonne received Home School Legal Defense Association's "Outstanding Service" award. Yvonne and her husband, George, have five children and ten grandchildren. She has a degree in elementary education and taught high school prior to homeschooling for 18 years.

INGE CANNON, Education PLUS

Arriving from Germany as a little girl, Inge Cannon grew up with a deep love for classical music, reading books, and serving the Lord. Her 35+ years of experience as an educator include teaching in K-12 and college-level classrooms, along with many administrative posts. In 1983, the Lord turned her heart toward the homeschool community, where she has provided more than two decades of support as an author, publisher, seminar instructor, curriculum developer, testing consultant, lobbyist for parental rights in education, and conference planner. Inge has also done extensive work in taking the mystery out of the high school transcript production process and in developing software to give transcripts a professional edge while keeping the reporting simple. Dr. and Mrs. Cannon have named their homeschool ministry Education PLUS to highlight their passion for helping home educators Pattern Learning Upon Scripture.

MARY CARNEY

Mary Carney and her husband of 34 years, David, have homeschooled their four children for the past 23 years. Their daughter Sarah is an RN; Rosie is an FAA licensed aviation mechanic; and Ben (16) and Kathleen (14) remain at home. Mary holds undergraduate degrees from Purdue University and Excelsior College, the latter earned by homeschooling herself via distance learning. She speaks with warmth, understanding, and humor about homemaking while homeschooling, from the point of view of a reformed slob! 

DIANNE CRAFT, MA, CNHP, Child Diagnostics/Dianne Craft

A former homeschool mom with 25 years' experience teaching children who struggle with learning, Dianne received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in special education. She is also a certified natural health professional specializing in natural treatments for children with attention, learning, and behavioral issues. She teaches parents across the country how to help their children learn faster and easier by using effective therapies and strategies.  Dianne is president of the educational consulting firm, Child Diagnostics, Inc., in Littleton, Colorado, and currently serves as a learning specialist for the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.

DR. S. M. DAVIS, Solve Family Problems

Dr. S. M. Davis has been married to RaeJean since 1969. They have four wonderful daughters who are all actively serving the Lord. At the present time, the Lord has blessed them with 11 grandchildren. Dr. Davis has served the Lord in many different areas since surrendering to the ministry in November of 1967. He has been a minister of music, associate pastor, and presently is pastor of Park Meadows Baptist Church in Lincoln, Illinois, where he has served faithfully since 1975. A nationally known speaker, Dr. Davis speaks at churches and conventions across the U.S., as well as in other countries. The messages found on his website give biblical solutions to critical family problems, as well as help to foresee and avoid problems.

CHRISTINE FIELD, Home Field Advantage

Christine Field served as a prosecutor for six years, then as a public defender/private practitioner for two years before becoming a full-time mommy. She and her husband live and homeschool their four children in Wheaton, Illinois, where her husband serves as chief of police. Three of their four children are adopted, one through a private adoption and two are from Korea. Christine is the author of several books, including Coming Home to Raise Your Children, Should You Adopt?, A Field Guide to Home Schooling, Life Skills for Kids, Help for the Harried Homeschooler, Homeschooling the Challenging Child, and Homeschooling 101: The Essential Guide. She also serves as a correspondent and Resource Room columnist for the Old Schoolhouse magazine, and her articles on life skills have appeared in Focus on the Family magazine and Single Parent Family. She also moderated the Homeschool Community Message Board and writes devotionals for Lifeway.com.

MARK HOLDEN

Mark Holden is a veteran home-educating father, pastor, speaker, and leader. The Holdens are currently working together as an extended family in a retail business. Mark also functions as the director for ARCH, the Association for the Restoration of the Church and Home, Inc., an organization that serves to bring biblical restoration to the church and home. The Holdens have been involved in pastoral ministry for many years including five years directing a family Bible camp. Mark is currently a pastor and teaching elder at the Finger Lakes Bible Fellowship in Seneca County, New York, an inter-generational church working to disciple parents in their appointed role as child-trainers. Mark's teaching role extends across the country as he leads in the role of training a new generation of church leaders. He speaks frequently on the subject of biblical family roles and church-home issues. Mark and his wife, Pam, are the parents of seven children, ranging in age from thirty to nine years old; they also have six grandchildren.

STAN JOHN, Focus on the Family, The Truth Project

Stan John is first and foremost the husband to LeAnn, his bride of 27 years, and a homeschooling father of four. In some circles, he is known as the dad who schooled his son through grades 7-12. Stan John has been at Focus on the Family for 24 years where he currently serves as the senior vice president of global ministry development. Stan's passion is to seek the big picture of global trends and to provide leadership by applying visionary principles to every aspect of life. In doing so, Stan served in launching Focus on the Family's Adoption and Orphan Care Initiative and their Church Initiative, and works with the Focus' international offices to expand the reach of the ministry around the world. He is currently working on establishing a partnership with home-education leaders across the nation to establish a network of families who will minister to families. Stan has trained hundreds of homeschool families to be the hosts of Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a comprehensive biblical worldview study for small groups. His vision is to see the homeschool movement re-establish a "Culture of Family" in our nation, producing health in struggling communities and churches.

JAMIE LASH, Life Giving Words, Double My Reading Speed

Jamie Lash grew up an atheist. He says, "I didn't know why I was alive. God has been unbelievably kind in bringing me to Himself, in rescuing me from so much bondage, and in giving life meaning. My purpose is to benefit others by sharing His kindness and life-giving words." As a college freshman, Jamie flunked every class except skiing. Now, as a professor and director of student development at Dallas Baptist University, he has a passion to help freshmen succeed. In 1987, he was so moved by a video on the Judgment Seat of Christ that he watched it 16 times! He then co-authored a book that became a bestseller. This Was Your Life! is in its tenth printing and has been published in Germany, Great Britain, and Korea. He and his wife, Marcy, homeschooled their three children. Jamie also teaches a four-day course to double people's reading speed.

KELLI LIEDER, CircleofNfluence

Kelli Lieder is a speaker, musician, composer, private music instructor, pastor's wife, and 12-year-veteran homeschooling mom of two in New Kent, Virginia. Kelli has always had a love and passion for music and she uses that love to bring honor and glory to God. She feels music is much more than an extra-curricular activity, and wants to help bring the joy of music into the homes and lives of others, even to those with limited musical abilities. With years of musical performance and educating experience, she is now excited to be able to share her passion of music by giving parents simple steps on how to teach music to their own children. 

By combining music with other subjects, education can become a lively, fun, memorable experience. Kelli has co-written a collection of children's songs that combine music, geography, history, and Bible, and prove that worshiping God can be fun and engaging! A sample of this collection can be heard by clicking on the "audio" link at www.circleofNfluence.com. 

NICK LOGAN, Cornerstone Payment Systems

Nick Logan is the founder and CEO of Cornerstone Payment Systems, a credit-card processing company that establishes businesses and ministries with the ability to accept Visa, MasterCard, and the other major cards. Nick was formerly the president and chief operating officer of PMT (PMTS: NASDQ), and has held various other senior executive roles with public and private companies. He earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Cal State University Fullerton. Nick and his wife, Gail, have nine children, all of whom were homeschooled, and two grandsons. Nick currently lives in Virginia.

KATHERINE LOOP, Christian Perspective

Katherine Loop, a homeschool graduate, is the author of Beyond Numbers: A Practical Guide to Teaching Math Biblically and Revealing Arithmetic: Math Concepts from a Biblical Worldview. Katherine has a heart to encourage homeschool families and does so from home through Christian Perspective, an online ministry to homeschool families begun in 2003, and her work with Home Educators Association of Virginia.

As a homeschool student, Katherine learned to see God in all her subjects...except math, which came across as just neutral facts. After reading a book that completely transformed her view of math, she went on to study the topic in more depth and share with others the truths that affected her so deeply. She has written extensively on teaching math biblically and has spoken to groups and conventions, helping parents understand how to teach math in such a way as to leave their child looking at God's faithfulness and being excited about using math as a useful tool. View more about her ministry at www.christianperspective.net, and check out her math blog at www.christianperspective.net/blog.

KERIN MORGAN

A native Texan transplanted to Richmond 20 years ago, Kerin is the wife of Bob and the mother to 11 growing children and young adults, mother-in-law to one (two in July), and grandmother to three. Kerin's homeschool journey is one where the School of Life has taught her more of her need for a Savior and for the input of others into her life. Her desire is to encourage others as they faithfully and persistently invest in the lives of those in their homes and surroundings. Kerin and her family run a large swim school where they have been blessed to rub shoulders and build friendships with many in the community who may not have the same convictions, but have the same basic needs! Kerin is a frequent speaker at meetings throughout the Richmond area.

JOEL SALATIN, Polyface Farm

Joel Salatin is a fulltime farmer in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. A third generation alternative farmer, he returned to the farm fulltime in 1982 and continued refining and adding to his parents' ideas. Using relationship marketing through on-farm sales and metropolitan buying clubs, Polyface Farm services more than 1,500 families, 10 retail outlets, and 30 restaurants  with salad-bar beef, pastured poultry, eggmobile eggs, pigaerator pork, forage-based rabbits, pastured turkey, and forestry products. A sought-after conference speaker, his humorous and conviction-based speeches are akin to theatrical performances, often receiving standing ovations. Salatin holds a BA degree in English and writes extensively in magazines such as Stockman Grass Farmer, Acres USA, and American Agriculturalist.

MIKE SNAVELY, Mission Imperative

Reared in South Africa as the son of missionary parents, Mike has always been fascinated with wildlife. Growing up in an area that teemed with remarkable and diverse creatures, he had a wide variety of "pets" and fascinating experiences, which helped to mold his future. After graduating from Oak Hills College in Minnesota in 1979, he returned to South Africa to work for the National Parks Service in the world-famous Kruger National Park and later began a career as an African wildlife artist. In 1986, he and his wife, Carrie, returned to South Africa with TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) and served by teaching at Durban Bible College. Since returning to the U.S., they have developed a ministry of teaching creation through a series of seminars using nature and wildlife as a basis. They established Mission: Imperative in 1995 as a non-profit corporation. The ministry necessitates much travel, both in this country and abroad. Mike and Carrie have homeschooled their three children since 1991. Mike is the author of Creation or Evolution: A Home-Study Curriculum and has produced seven DVDs on a wide range of topics related to creation issues.

LILLIAN SNIDER, Math-U-See

Lillian Snider has been serving in Christian education for approximately 40 years in a variety of roles. She has had the privilege to minister to families as a preschool teacher, LD resource teacher, educational therapist, curriculum consultant, Sunday school teacher and director of children's ministries. Mrs. Snider began her homeschooling journey as a mom and is now teaching two of her five grandchildren. She is also the authorized Virginia representative for Math-U-See. It is her desire to help equip homeschooling parents and to encourage young mothers to embrace with joy their God-given role as keepers of their home. 

BARRY STEBBING, How Great Thou ART

Barry Stebbing has been an artist his entire life. He is the artist and author of How Great Thou ART Publications, with more than a dozen art texts teaching homeschoolers of all ages the fundamentals of drawing and the academics of color theory. He and his wife have extensively traveled throughout North America teaching homeschoolers in three-day classes and estimate they have personally instructed more than 60,000 Christian students.

PHILLIP TELFER, Media Talk 101 

Prior to starting Media Talk 101 in 2005, Phillip Telfer was a youth pastor and a speaker for two years with a national youth ministry. He is the author of What Wouldn't Jesus Do? Media Choices in the Light of Following Christ, and has ministered to youth and families over the last 18 years, sharing at camps, retreats, conferences, Christian schools, and church services around the country. Phillip also serves as co-pastor at Living Water Fellowship in Bulverde, Texas, with Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler, and is a director and teacher for Living Water School of Ministry. He and his wife, Mary, have been married for 18 years and have four children. 

CYNTHIA TOBIAS, www.cantmakeme.com, Apple St.^TM

Cynthia Ulrich Tobias is founder, manager, and CEO of AppLe St.^TM (Applied Learning Styles). An author and speaker, she is known throughout the United States and internationally for her entertaining, practical, and life-changing presentations. Cynthia earned her bachelor of arts in education from Northwest Nazarene University and followed with her master of education degree from Seattle Pacific University. Her successful background includes more than twenty-one years of private practice and business ownership, eight years of teaching in public high school, and six years in law enforcement.

Cynthia is a busy mother of twin teenaged sons, and is internationally recognized as the best-selling author of The Way They Learn, The Way We Work, Every Child Can Succeed, Bringing Out the Best in Your Child, Do You Know What I Like About You?, You Can't Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded), Redefining the Strong-Willed Woman, and I Hate School! She is also a popular presenter at workshops, classes, and seminars for businesses, government agencies, churches, and school districts throughout the U.S. and the world, and is a featured guest, with radio and television appearances throughout North America.

LINDA TRUMBO

Linda Trumbo, mother of five children, has been home schooling for 23 years. She published the How to Homeschool Newsletter from 1995 through the spring of 2002. She has also written articles for Homeschooling Today Magazine and contributed literature studies to KONOS: Orderliness and Attentiveness.

For the past decade, she has taught literature and writing classes for homeschoolers in the Richmond area. She is currently homeschooling her last child as well as enjoying her grandchildren (seven so far). Her heart's desire is to encourage moms to grow in their love and delight in the Lord and His calling on their lives.

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