With this year’s great lineup of workshop speakers, you are sure to find many that encourage, challenge and strengthen you and your family.

You will not want to miss the 2021 Christian Heritage Digital Conference!

Workshop Speakers

Christian Heritage has many new speakers this year to share with you for your home discipleship journey!

Douglas Bond

Douglas Bond, author of more than twenty-eight books, is husband of Cheryl, father of six, and grandfather of six. He is Director for the Oxford Creative Writing Master Class, two-time Grace Award finalist, adjunct instructor in Church History, advisory member to the national committee for Reformed University Fellowship, award-winning teacher, speaker at conferences, and leader of Church history tours in Europe.

In the face of cultural hostility, followers of Christ must not compromise the bold historical witness of the Christian faith. We stand not on a mere idea or a fanciful myth, but on historical events that testify to the fact that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

In an age of simplistic and repetitive choruses, many churches are rediscovering the blessing of theologically rich and biblically informed songs. Douglas Bond introduces us to Isaac Watts, “the father of English hymnody.” Bond urges Christians to delight in the grandeur, beauty, and joy of Watts’ poetry. We pray that you would regain a sense of God’s majesty as we celebrate the God-given poetic wonder of Isaac Watts.

In this session author Douglas Bond explores the life of John Knox, the great Reformer of Scotland, who is often remembered as something akin to a biblical prophet born out of time—strong and brash, thundering in righteous might. In truth, he was “low in stature, and of a weakly constitution,” a small man who was often sickly and afflicted with doubts and fears. For those who see themselves as too weak, too small, too timid, or simply too ordinary for service in God’s kingdom, Knox’s life offers a powerful message of hope—the biblical truth that God often delights to work most powerfully through people who are most weak in themselves but most strong in Him.

Susan Bradrick

Susan Bradrick wrote Understanding Writing, a Christ-centered, mastery-oriented English and Composition curriculum and co-teaches the Christian Heritage Homeschooling Start-to-Finish Seminar and Parent Qualifying Course. Michael and Susan Bradrick, co-founders of Christian Heritage and directors of Christian Homeschool Network (CHN), parents of nine children and fifty grandchildren (all home educated!), began homeschooling in 1981 and minister together at homeschool groups and conferences nationwide.

This session is courtesy of the Christian Heritage Start-to-Finish Parent Qualifying Course.

Are you ever frazzled, frenzied, and frustrated because you can’t get it all in? A hint: We can’t! But we can significantly reduce the pressure by making choices based on God’s priorities. So, come and learn practical ways to design a workable, flexible, Bible-based schedule by evaluating, from God’s perspective, the myriad of viable “good” activities in order to choose what is very “BEST” for YOUR FAMILY. And discover that using His principles can bring joy and peace to your home-based discipleship adventure.

Jonathan Brush

A first generation homeschool graduate, the President and CEO of Unbound, and homeschool dad of six, Jonathan has spoken for over a decade to parents, students, and groups across the country about effectively preparing young adults for life, the excitement and adventure of raising a family, maximizing higher education options, and how to be extraordinary at ordinary things. With a fresh, enthusiastic speaking approach, he consistently provides new perspective, practical advice, and honest hope to audiences of varied ages and backgrounds. Jonathan worked for nine years as a Director of Admissions for a private liberal arts college and has since worked in non-traditional higher education for over a decade. Jonathan and his family make their home in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

In this webinar, you’ll learn three specific ways to make the most of your gap year, focusing on community, learning, and adventure. Community is more important than ever before. Engaging in real Christian community is critical to prosper in this difficult season. A gap year is a unique opportunity to earn both college credits and money. Learn how to leverage this year to maximize both. This year could be a year remembered by shattered plans, or as a year of unmatched exploration. The choice is yours.

Dianne Craft

Dianne Craft has a master’s degree in special education. She has over 25 years’ experience teaching bright children who have to work too hard to learn. She has developed the successful “Three-Pronged Approach” to reducing and eliminating learning disabilities: Brain Integration Therapy, Right Brain Teaching Strategies, and Targeted Nutritional Interventions Parents across the country have seen their children overcome learning struggles using these tools. She has designed the Craft Right Brain Readers and a right brain reading program for children with dyslexia and other reading problems. As a nutritionist, Dianne specializes in natural treatments for kids with sensory processing dysfunction and focus/attention issues. She is president of the consulting firm Child Diagnostics, Inc. in Denver and is considered the leader in Alternative Teaching Strategies by several teaching universities.

This is for your “puzzling child”. Is it a maturity issue, or is something else going on? If you have a bright, hardworking child who has to work too hard to learn, he is telling you that one or more of his Four Learning Gates is blocked. Find out specifically how the brain processes information, and where that processing can break down. Learn how to be your own diagnostician using a checklist of symptoms; then learn the necessary interventions. It doesn’t have to be so hard for your child!

These wonderful children learn in a different manner than their left brain siblings. You will learn how to identify the right brain child, and learn many simple teaching techniques, such as Right Brain Reading and Right Brain Math. Right Brain Reading is the method Dianne used in her Resource room to help students make a two-year gain in reading in one year! For kids who find math “miserable”, this is a Godsend. No curriculum required! Help your children get in touch with the “smart part of themselves”! Poor test takers will learn how to store facts using their photographic memory. Everyone looks smart when these strategies are used.

Many people think that some are just born with a “photographic memory”. But we now know that this amazing ability can be easily taught. The ability to use the photographic memory is one of the best gifts you can give your child. Your child can store his spelling words in his photographic memory for quick retrieval. Vocabulary is learned in a totally different way! Imagine your child actually having fun improving his vocabulary for the SAT.

Do you have a child whom you suspect has an Auditory Processing Problem? There are ten auditory channels. Some channels affect academics (reading, phonics and sight words, spelling, and math), while others affect everyday life (easily confused, misunderstands verbal information, poor working memory, speech delay or articulation issues). Become your child’s own diagnostician as you identify, bypass, and correct auditory processing problems at home. Learn to bypass the auditory learning glitch by using the child’s natural photographic memory and how to correct the auditory glitch by using the proven methods of home Brain Integration Therapy and Targeted Nutritional Interventions.

Daniel and Megan Craig

We first started homeschooling about 25 years ago… well, our parents did! As homeschool grads, we’re enthusiastic about home education, discipleship, and the church, and we take that into our daily life. We desire to raise our family (two little ones so far!) to know and love Christ wholeheartedly, and we’re grateful for every opportunity to share that passion with others!

  • Discerning what your kids will remember most from your parenting
  • Practical tips to build strong relationships with your children
  • Building a family team that stays together and enjoys one another
  • Four factors for strong family relationships

Mary Craig

Mary is the wife of Neil Craig, mother of five, and grandmother of eighteen under age twelve. Since her children were small, she has desired to learn and grow in parenting. She can witness that God has always sent help via people and resources. Now she desires to pass this wisdom along to others looking for help and hope.

This session is courtesy of the Christian Heritage Start-to-Finish Parent Qualifying Course.

What else is there to learn about child training? What do you do when your parenting seems to be missing the mark? Here is a perfect opportunity to learn wisdom and practical specifics by: learning more in-depth the foundations of training, identifying and correcting negative character traits like laziness and pridefulness, and helping your children mature and develop more of a Christ-centered focus.

David Eddy

David Eddy is Senior Pastor of Manchester Community Church. In 1993, he began to pastor there, where he and his wife, Carol, had attended from childhood. That same year, they welcomed their first baby into their home. Since that timehis joy and privilege has been to serve the church and home educate their ten children. 

What is wrong with homosexuality? Our nation is rapidly moving from a position of accepting homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle to demanding its acceptance even among those who have biblical convictions against it. The wise Christian will have a biblical answer ready for those who question why they uphold “traditional” (biblical) marriage values. Is homosexuality wrong? Why is it wrong? Why does it matter, really? Understanding Romans 1 is key to knowing what the Bible teaches on this contentious subject.

Bill Jack

Bill Jack is faculty advisor for Worldview Academy, an academic leadership program that seeks to train Christian students to think and live in accord with a Biblical worldview so that they will serve Christ and lead the culture. Bill has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. Bill’s passion is to raise up a generation who have the vision to reach their culture with the gospel, who have the valor to engage that culture with the truth and who rely on the virtue of the Word of God. Bill has three grown children, two grandchildren and lives in Castle Rock, Colorado.

The Nazis used language to redefine Jews out of the human race. Once that was accomplished, atrocities and death camps followed. Language is important for it lays the tracks that are the ideas that carry the consequences—boxcars filled with people’s lives. Christians are on a search and destroy mission; we are destroying ideas but not people. Learn 4 Killer Questions that will empower you to derail faulty thinking and challenge others to think God’s thoughts after Him.

What can evangelical Christians, evolutionists and atheists have in common? The Pharisees wanted people to observe the law, but they forgot the purpose of the law and ended up honoring God with their lips but having hearts far away from Him. Learn how to recognize the masquerade of artificial authority when it parades in culture and even marches into church.

Doug Nunziato

Doug’s interest in pursuing missions began through a short-term mission trip in 1997 with his church. Doug trained 8 years to become a pilot/mechanic to serve on the mission field. In 2008 the Lord providentially redirected he and his family to church planting in Spain. After 2 years of serving in Spain the door reopened to serve in aviation at MATA where he and his family have been since 2016. Doug and his wife Amy have been married 14 years. They have a daughter (13 years) and a son (9 years) who have been homeschooled the past 4 years. At MATA, Doug’s roles include marketing, Bible Study coordinator and aircraft maintenance.

Missions is the great call of our Lord for all believers to take part in. Yet, not all of us are evangelists, church planters, or pastors. Is there a place for the technically minded in missions? Yes! God has gifted each of us in unique ways so that we can use those gifts for His Kingdom’s work. In this presentation, come learn about how the skill of aviation in missions is spreading the Gospel farther and faster to the most isolated parts of the world.

Bradley Pierce

Bradley Pierce is a co-founding attorney of Heritage Defense. Since being licensed in 2007, Bradley has defended the parental rights of Christian homeschooling families around the country against threats by social services. Bradley and his wife Cindy are homeschool graduates who are now blessed to homeschool their own nine children.

Politicians and bureaucrats across the country are getting ready right now to push a new vaccine on children, even when parents object. This could result in a tidal wave of attacks upon many homeschoolers across the country. As an experienced parental rights attorney, Heritage Defense attorney Bradley Pierce will discuss what parental rights challenges lay ahead and the three things every family should be doing right now to prepare for them.

Steve Riddell

Steve Riddell is a sought-after dynamic speaker, trainer, coach, manager, author, and entrepreneur with a reputation for excellence. His business connections are numerous, from mortgage and sleep businesses, telecommunications, home improvement, and call centers, to management, sales, and customer service. An Abilene Christian University MBA graduate, he is dedicated to improving performance, enhancing skill development, and inspiring others to greater degrees of excellence.

This session is from Kickstart: Launch Your Life, courtesy of Daniel Craig. Read the following description of the Kickstart program!

“What am I going to do with Johnny?”

When 36% of college graduates show no cognitive gains after four years of study, and only 51% can find full-time employment after exiting a higher education system with an average price-tag of $72K (public) to $140K (private), it’s impossible to deny that the college paradigm has failed us.

How then are we to prepare our young people for their God-given calling so that they’re able to successfully engage the marketplace in a difficult economy?

Though man’s education systems are declining, God’s program of relationship-based, character-focused, and life-integrated education has never been more effective. Mentorship prepared 12 men who change the world 2,000 years ago, and it’s still the most powerful method for launching young men and young women into life today.

And that’s why we’re excited to announce the release of Kickstart–your student’s step-by-step guide to launching their life with clear vision, through powerful mentoring relationships and real-life application.

Designed for young men and women, ages 15+, this breakthrough self-study program. This program is also great as a study with parents.

This session focuses on the following:

  • Ordered Steps – Psalm 37.23
  • Four Keys to Getting Started
  • Action Steps

This session is from Kickstart: Launch Your Life, courtesy of Daniel Craig. Read the following description of the Kickstart program!

“What am I going to do with Johnny?”

When 36% of college graduates show no cognitive gains after four years of study, and only 51% can find full-time employment after exiting a higher education system with an average price-tag of $72K (public) to $140K (private), it’s impossible to deny that the college paradigm has failed us.

How then are we to prepare our young people for their God-given calling so that they’re able to successfully engage the marketplace in a difficult economy?

Though man’s education systems are declining, God’s program of relationship-based, character-focused, and life-integrated education has never been more effective. Mentorship prepared 12 men who change the world 2,000 years ago, and it’s still the most powerful method for launching young men and young women into life today.

And that’s why we’re excited to announce the release of Kickstart–your student’s step-by-step guide to launching their life with clear vision, through powerful mentoring relationships and real-life application.

Designed for young men and women, ages 15+, this breakthrough self-study program. This program is also great as a study with parents.

This session focuses on the following:

  • Common Misconceptions
  • Getting Started with the Basics
  • What Should I Do?
  • Take One More Step!

Pat Roy

Pat Roy presents episodes from his audiobook, Time Chroniclers!

What do a boy, a watch, and a journal have in common? They’re all clues that unravel a past that has the Penner Family trying to figure out what really happened on the voyage of the HMS Beagle. From the original creators of the Jonathan Park series, Time Chroniclers is an audio drama that continues to give great evidence for creation in an exciting and informative way. Follow the Penner family, Scott, Suzanne, Winny, Hope, and Heath, as they find secrets from the past that unlock their future! This project is an opportunity for kids of any age to see that they are not the products of random chance process, but were made especially by God.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

We recommend this audio series for children 12+ years old, both due to the story level and themes like a kidnapping, losing a parent, and the children’s attitudes. Parents, consider talking with your children in advance about themes like these and the need to grow in one’s relationship with the Lord. We recommend listening to all the episodes, whether live or after the conference, to see the full story unfold! These productions are of professional quality, and the scientific information helps to learn the truth is found in God’s Word.

Jimmy’s 15th birthday goes from joy to disaster after his father passes down a watch and a journal containing information that two men are sent to silence. In modern day, Scott Penner finds his faith challenged when he’s handed an assignment to cover Darwin’s voyage to the Galapagos. At home he must confront the family’s bad habits and poor attitudes towards each other.

Jimmy’s captured and put in a place where nobody seems to care that he’s been kidnapped, except a young boy, Tom. For the Penner family, Scott’s father, Ian, dies. This leaves behind his mother, Ellie (who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s) and living in a mysterious home.

The two men who burned down Jimmy’s barn (Marley and Clive) comeback, looking for his father’s journal and threatening Jimmy’s mother. The Penners come to Ian’s funeral and find that there’s no one to take care of Grandma (Ellie). The family begins to work together to fix up the house, but Ellie refuses to sell.

Marian and her brother (Daschel) discover where Jimmy has been taken, and risk everything to rescue him. At the Penners, rumors around town abound about strange activities surrounding the Penner family.

Jimmy’s transported to the port of Plymouth, England. Marian and Daschel are in a race against time to find Jimmy before Marley and Clive. For the Penner family, Ellie shows up with a burnt diary containing a code. Winny, Hope, and Heath must work together to try to discover the meaning.

Jimmy and Daschel come face to face with his captors. Who will prevail? The Penners have to work together to get to the parade in Ellie’s small town. Later, they find Ellie remembering enough to help the family decode the secret of the Penner home. What will they find?

Tj Schmidt

Tj was homeschooled starting in the second grade through high school graduation. For much of that time, his family served as missionaries in Haiti. He earned his juris doctor from Oak Brook College of Law and began working as a legal assistant at HSLDA. Now, as an HSLDA Staff Attorney, Tj assists members across the country with legal questions and challenges to their homeschool freedom. Tj and his wife, Susan, homeschool their seven children: Josiah, Suzanna, Ella, Makenna, Jonah, Annika, and Ezra.

In this workshop Tj Schmidt, an attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association, will go over the basics to homeschool in Washington. In the accompanying PowerPoint, Tj provides more detailed information about the homeschool laws in your state.

As a member of HSLDA you will get all the help you need in your homeschool program as well as the assurance that we stand beside you to defend your right to educate your child(ren) at home! At the end of the workshop you will also learn about some of the additional benefits that are part of HSLDA.

Kevin Swanson

Homeschooled himself in the 1960’s and 70’s, Kevin has 43 years of experience in the homeschooling movement and serves as the Director of Generations – a ministry he founded to strengthen homeschool families around the country. As a father who wants to leave a godly heritage for his own five children, Kevin’s passion is to strengthen and encourage the homeschooling movement all over the world, and to cast a vision for generations to come.

This session is from Kickstart: Launch Your Life, courtesy of Daniel Craig. Read the following description of the Kickstart program!

“What am I going to do with Johnny?”

When 36% of college graduates show no cognitive gains after four years of study, and only 51% can find full-time employment after exiting a higher education system with an average price-tag of $72K (public) to $140K (private), it’s impossible to deny that the college paradigm has failed us.

How then are we to prepare our young people for their God-given calling so that they’re able to successfully engage the marketplace in a difficult economy?

Though man’s education systems are declining, God’s program of relationship-based, character-focused, and life-integrated education has never been more effective. Mentorship prepared 12 men who change the world 2,000 years ago, and it’s still the most powerful method for launching young men and young women into life today.

And that’s why we’re excited to announce the release of Kickstart–your student’s step-by-step guide to launching their life with clear vision, through powerful mentoring relationships and real-life application.

Designed for young men and women, ages 15+, this breakthrough self-study program. This program is also great as a study with parents.

This session focuses on the following:

  • What Is Wrong with Us?
  • Vision: Where It Comes From
  • Vision – What It’s Not
  • The Kingdom of God
  • Seeking God vs. Seeking You
  • Vision: What Is Yours?

This session is from Kickstart: Launch Your Life, courtesy of Daniel Craig. Read the following description of the Kickstart program!

“What am I going to do with Johnny?”

When 36% of college graduates show no cognitive gains after four years of study, and only 51% can find full-time employment after exiting a higher education system with an average price-tag of $72K (public) to $140K (private), it’s impossible to deny that the college paradigm has failed us.

How then are we to prepare our young people for their God-given calling so that they’re able to successfully engage the marketplace in a difficult economy?

Though man’s education systems are declining, God’s program of relationship-based, character-focused, and life-integrated education has never been more effective. Mentorship prepared 12 men who change the world 2,000 years ago, and it’s still the most powerful method for launching young men and young women into life today.

And that’s why we’re excited to announce the release of Kickstart–your student’s step-by-step guide to launching their life with clear vision, through powerful mentoring relationships and real-life application.

Designed for young men and women, ages 15+, this breakthrough self-study program. This program is also great as a study with parents.

This session focuses on the following:

  • The Big Picture
  • Boys vs. Girls
  • Girls: Trap #1, Trap #2, and Proverbs 31.11
  • Boys: Genesis 1.26-28, Provider, Shepherd, and Your Specific Calling

Joel Thomas

Joel has been teaching science since 2000. He taught for a period of time in a formal classroom setting, then moved outside to direct outdoor school programs on the Oregon Coast. After nearly 10 years he started Glen’s Gizmos alongside his wife Roxanna and they have been blessed to travel and teach together. Recently they started the Glen’s Gizmos Homeschool Hubs in Vancouver, Washington and Newberg, Oregon. They now serve homeschoolers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond through classes, TV Shows with Awesome Science, curriculum and outdoor school programs.

In this workshop we will be completing a dissection together while taking a closer look at the challenges a dissection at home can present. Together we will also answer questions such as where specimens can be sourced, what preservation methods are available and what are important safety considerations.

Is your child interested in electricity and you aren’t sure how to support their interest? In this workshop we will demonstrate the best ways to present abstract concepts around electricity. We will also provide your family with a number of simple, low cost and high interest experiments to help cement learning.

Amy Joy Tofte

Amy Joy Tofte serves as Director of Education for NCFCA Christian Speech & Debate. She and her husband Nathan of twenty-one years have four sons and two daughters who have all participated in NCFCA. After earning a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy and working in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, Amy Joy turned her attention to raising and educating her children. She enjoys facilitating conversations, spending time with her family, and walking with her husband on a crisp Fall day.

Regardless of natural ability or internal desire, young people can learn to discover ideas, discern truth, and influence others by participating in debate. If your children are ready to meet their challenge, grow in grace, and communicate with confidence, check out debate. It’s an adventure worth taking!

Elisha Voetberg

Elisha Voetberg is a devoted husband and father of four, that shares his passion for family and music on his blog nowthatwereafamily.com, along with a weekly podcast with his wife Kathryn. Elisha began his music career at age 10 when he began learning classical violin and piano as well as Americana mandolin and guitar. Today Elisha encourages families to play together, and teaches students online at voetbergmusicacademy.com how to incorporate music into their life in such a way that they never stop playing.

All too often children spend years and hundreds of hours taking music lessons and practicing only to relegate music to something they did when they were younger. The music ends when the lessons and recitals end. What a shame! Music is not something we simply add to our regiment of schooling. The Bible tells us again and again to have music be part of our lifestyle forever. Not just when we have time to practice and perform but when we are about our day serving our Creator. But how do we equip our children to do this?