Kitchener Home School Conference starts tomorrow.

This afternoon we will be packing up the van and heading over to Rockway Mennonite Collegiate for our annual Home School book event. I am always amazed at the range of theological questions you can get in one day and the breadth of Christendom that is represented in one room. It is an honour to be among so many Covenant families that give serious consideration and understand that ultimately, it is their responsibility before the Lord to take charge of all aspects of their children’s education. Even in such a protected setting there is opportunity to share the Gospel.

Several years ago,  during morning setup, I was granted the opportunity to speak with a Muslim family in the vendor hall.  The wife’s garb was unmistakenly middle-eastern and we had an amicable discussion about the various teaching aids at our booth. I soon turned the conversation to spiritual matters and she promptly directed me to speak with her husband since he was the one who dealt with religious issues in their home.

I politely said, “I can’t help but notice by your clothing, that you and your wife are practitioners of Islam”. He then told me, “Yes that is true”.

I then followed up with, “Forgive my indiscretion, but I am understandably curious as to why a practicing Muslim would attend a home school conference that aggressively and unashamedly promotes a Christian worldview”? He explained, that he and his wife were totally dissatisfied with the state run education system in Ontario and had opted to educate their children at home. After exploring various educational options, he concluded that the Christian home school movement had the best materials available and that Christian home schooling families seem to do a very credible job of educating children.

His next statement was very interesting. “After all when everything is said and done, there really is not much difference between Muslims and Christians”.

It was a glorious and providential opportunity to share the fundamental difference between Islam and Christianity, namely the Gospel as evidenced by the life and work of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. He listened intently and hopefully the seed that has been planted will result in fruit at some point in his life. We parted on friendly terms and made sure that he took home some reading material that fleshed out the Christian Faith in more detail.

I am praying today that the Lord will present another opportunity tomorrow to present the Gospel once again.