“I spent a couple of years completing a masters degree in Family Studies and then found that home education is the best therapy there is for a family.”
~ David Parkerson, founder of HomeLife Academy

Our journey into the homeschool movement began in 1988 when my younger brother, Tyler, encountered difficulty in 4th grade. Like many children, he was slapped with the label “learning disabled” and segregated to "special needs" classes. After three years of failed formulas and mounting frustrations he became suicidal. As a last and desperate attempt, our parents decided, against the counselor's advice, to try home education. Immediately, things changed for the better. "He stood up," Mom would tell people. "I told him he did not have to go back to school and he stood up." In a letter to a homeschooler in 1995 she described those early beginnings:

"My husband, Wayne, and I began our homeschooling adventure in 1988 as a crisis-management move to salvage our youngest son, then 13 years old. We had left the public schools several years earlier and gone to private Christian schools because of our son's learning disability. However, after a considerable amount of money and almost no progress, we were discouraged, in debt and our son was emotionally defeated.

"We began to hear talk about 'strange' people who homeschooled their children. Since we felt like we had always 'homeschooled' from kindergarten on... after regular school hours, weekends... seemingly, every waking moment, surely we could do this for a short time, just to finish out the 7th grade! After all...we reasoned...we would be doing it in the daytime when we were fresh and he could once again go be a boy after school. We never dreamed it would work so well. He came alive! His natural curiosity and zest for discovering God's creation reappeared. Well, we finished the 7th grade and didn't have a plan for the 8th grade, so we stayed home for the 8th grade too. God was working on us all this time. I'm pretty hardheaded, so the Lord did some major work on my spirit.

"We are so excited about so many young families choosing to home educate their children. We want to encourage you and will attempt to answer your questions as best we can and direct you toward those who can offer you assistance. The most important thing we can say is...TEACH YOUR CHILDREN GOD'S WORD FIRST...everything else will fall in place.

"May God bless you and your family, Sue."

Results did come quickly for my brother. In one year he caught up in most subjects, excelled in others. He became a genius on the guitar, a master in art, and a whiz on the computer. He graduated with pride, went to a top college in Orlando, and today is a web and software developer.

While Tyler was in high school, mom began working with a large church-related school in Memphis as a guidance counselor. For eight years, she advised and inspired many home educating families. Though today she is with the Lord, her influence continues. She and dad inspired me to go to college and study families and homeschooling. So I did, for several years. The Lord gave me strength to complete a double bachelors in Bible and Family Studies. But that just wet my appetite. So I went to Abilene, Texas, to pursue a masters degree. It was wonderful (partly because every chance I got I did research on home schooling!). I spent a couple of years working on a masters in Family Studies, and came to find that home education was the best therapy there is for a family.

After receiving my masters, I returned to Memphis and the Lord led me to work with home educating families as well. It felt so good following in my mother's footsteps. Thanks to many friends and wise advisors, whom I worked under for several years, I learned the ropes of office administration, computer programming, solid home education philosophy, legal matters, customer relations, and a wide variety of other things. Mainly, they helped me to really regain a strong appetite for learning. I am forever great-full for the way God used them to shape my life.

Now, after weeks of prayer and months of work, we are so delighted to serve families through HomeLife Academy. I knew the Lord had obviously opened doors for my wife and I to begin HomeLife Academy when I met Dan Johnson, a home school father and absolute computer genius. Thank you, Dan, for building all these wonderful web pages (and all the behind-the-scenes administrative tools too!).

Finally, thank you to my wonderful wife, April. You have inspired and encouraged me more than you could ever imagine. Your confidence has made me dream. You are a wonderful mother and my very best friend. You told me when we were courting, “Making you happy is my hobby.” Well, you’ve certainly mastered that hobby. My father-in-law often says, “The best gift a man can give his kids is to love his wife.” So, April, “I love you, sweetheart.”

We dedicate this ministry in loving memory of Sue Parkerson, for all the wonderful work she did raising us and working with homeschoolers. She was home schooling before home schooling was cool. With her caring heart and wonderful ideals, we pray HomeLife Academy will help you teach your children and encourage you on your journey.

May you and your family be blessed with all the riches of our Lord's grace and mercy. May your children learn of Him and follow Him all their days.

1ST ANNUAL STAFF & BOARD MEETING
December, 6th 2003

From Left to Right: Dan & Lee Anne Johnson (Benjamin, Rebekah, & Stephen); Jimmy & Lynn Knowlton (Kelsey & Kevin); Chris & Elyse Fenton (Chase & Sage); Bobby & Kelli Appleton (Justus, Shalom, Gabriel & Sarah); Wayne Parkerson; Lani Carey (holding Zachary Parkerson); David & April Parkerson (Nathan); Liz & Barry Fowler

Aren't children a joy?