What Does the Scripture Say?

Our little family has been so tremendously blessed by God through knowing and loving the Bradricks. Most of you who know us well can testify of the huge impact they have had on our lives as individuals and as a family. The Lord has graciously granted us the joy of becoming very close friends and our fellowship in the Lord is as sweet as can be on this earth. Let me introduce you a little more to this amazing family.

We met in the summer of 1999 at a Colorado Homeschool conference. We had been introduced to homeschooling the prior year by a coworker’s family. We were so impressed with the homeschooled children of this coworker that we decided to check out this homeschool conference even though we did not have any children at the time (let alone homeschooling age children). We had taken some days off work and had planned out the entire conference. We would be going to all the “New to Homeschooling” sessions during the 3 days there. Somehow during that first day, I happened upon a session called “Bewitched by the World” by Michael Bradrick. I was so convicted during this talk that I wanted to try another session by this man whom God used in a powerful way. So I went to another session and continued to be convicted by the Holy Spirit on the Biblical issues that Michael talked about.

Upon arriving at home in the evening, I told Christy about how wonderful the day went and was so excited to go back the next day, but the Lord had a change of plans. Instead of going through the “new beginners” track, we would go to every single Bradrick family session! This was a God ordained meeting and a real life changing experience. I honestly thought we would come out of the conference more knowledgeable about the how’s and why’s of homeschooling. But the Lord used this conference to draw me closer to Him, to purify me by showing me my selfish, sinful ways and to turn me on my face to Himself. I do not call many experiences in my life “life changing”, but this truly was.

One of the main issues that God confronted me with (through the Bradricks’ sessions) was man (me) trying to be in control over certain areas of life (specifically conception). I remember being so utterly convicted by the simple Bible verse “Children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward…how blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” It was one of the few times that it was crystal clear to me that I was giving lip service to a verse, but not really believing it. The Bible says children are a blessing, and I would give mental assent to that fact. But in reality, I was trying to stop my own children from coming into this world. It was deeply convicting that I could give lip service to a Bible verse, say I believe it, but not really believe it by not acting in accordance with it. Anyways, I could go on for hours on just that topic. I will probably to a blog post sometime in the future on just that.

Back to the Bradricks . After that conference, the Lord opened up an opportunity for Christy and me to go to the Northwest for me to get water baptized at Southwest Bible Church by Pastor Scott Gilchrist. I called the Bradricks to see if we could swing by and say hello. To my great surprise, they not only had us over for a meal but offered for us to stay with them in their home for a few days including a special thanksgiving feast. This was a real treat and honor, especially considering that we only met them that one time the previous summer. Well that week with the Bradricks and with the families from Southwest gave us a little taste of heaven. After that our families stayed in touch and became really close friends. I especially became very close to their oldest son still at home, Peter (who recently got married to Kelly Brown, see HERE for pictures of the wedding in which Peter asked me to be one of his groomsmen).

I honestly could go on writing for hours and hours about the tremendous work of God in the Bradricks and how they have been such a blessing to us. I wanted to give you a taste of this work by giving you a little preview of THE BEST parenting seminar I have ever seen. It is called “Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World” and is on DVD in four parts (almost 6 hours worth, I think). I forgot to mention that Michael and Susan have 9 children who, by the grace of God, ALL love and serve the Lord with everything they’ve got! Of course these great friends of ours are not perfect, they are not gurus, they are simply sinners saved by grace and in whom the Holy Spirit has done a transforming work. They are tremendously humble servants and hospitable to the nth degree.

Below will be two video clips from the DVD series. I highly suggest you view these and even purchase the DVDs directly from them if the Lord leads. The email address to contact them is bradricks@intergate.com I have about a half dozen of these DVD sets, so if you want one, please let me know. This conference was taped in 1991, while they where still in the midst of raising their houseful of blessings. The baby you see in the film, Stephen, is now 17 years old. The series comes with a very helpful booklet. Their prayer for each viewer is the following:

We pray that as you participate in these sessions you will carefully study each scripture passage to see “if these things be so.” ( Acts 17:11) We pray that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will apply God’s Word lovingly and diligently, “as you sit in your house, as you walk in the way, as you lie down, and as you rise up” ( Deut 6:4-7) that each precious child may be trained “in the way he should go,” so “even when he is old he will not depart from it.” ( Prov 22:6) And we pray that, in doing so, you will never aim for just external obedience, but that you will patiently (1 Cor.13) seek to win each child’s heart, encourage his heart to obey you out of love, and lead his heart to trust and obey Christ Jesus our Lord.

To learn more about the Bradricks and their ministry (which includes overseeing a Washington State Homeschool organization) please visit www.FamilyDiscipleshipMin.com and www.ChristianHeritageOnline.org

 Raising Godly Children Intro: Downloads 273
 Raising Godly Children Clip: Downloads 180