Why Homeschool Teenagers Need Faith & Purpose

I want to dedicate this blog to Mrs. DeWitt, Abby, and McKenna for helping me so much through this process.

I wouldn’t have been able to start this club without your help and support. Thank you.

In my first year of being homeschooled, I never realized how stigmatized it was. Only until I told a boy in my youth group—and he winced—did I realize how “weird” it seemed. I felt the need to follow up with “I used to go to public school,” as if it made me more qualified. For what, I don’t even know. 

Don’t even get me started on when I didn’t have a phone. My parents pulled me out of my public high school after the winter break of sophomore year. Without God, I was bound to make some bad choices. Along with that, my phone was revoked, social medias revoked, all privileges revoked … All for good reasons of course. But when I first started going to youth group at my church as a homeschooler, and making new friends, they’d ask, “What’s your Snap?” To which I’d reply, “Oh, I don’t use social media anymore.” Then they’d ask, “Well, what’s your phone number?” “I don’t have one.” You could practically hear the crickets chirping. Which I then followed up with “Well, I used to have a phone, I’m just grounded,” as if it made me less taboo. For what, I still don’t know.

The first year of being homeschooled was very hard. I didn’t have my social circle at school to rely on so that I wouldn’t look lonely. The first few months, I didn’t even have a phone! I had to make friends the way my parents did. Having face-to-face conversations with some people really put them out of their comfort zone. When I’d say I’m homeschooled, didn’t have social media, and didn’t have a phone, people just assumed I’d lived under a rock my entire life. That is, until I justified myself with, “Well I used to…” blah blah blah. If it was this hard for me to find community as a new homeschooler, I couldn’t imagine how others felt who had been homeschooled their entire life.

Before I was a homeschooler though, I hit rock bottom. High school is advertised as the time of your life, where you’re supposed to find yourself, your purpose, meet your high school sweetheart, find your ride-or-die friend group, and find your dream major for college in just those four fleeting years. But fitting in was hard. There was no time for me to find myself, and definitely no time for me to find my purpose. There was only time for me to find who others wanted me to be. My only purpose was to make them like me. Make everyone like me except myself. I lost my identity in high school, and I searched for it in all the wrong places—and people.

I had heard of a club called First Priority at my high school. It was very popular, with over 150 members, and it was at multiple high schools in the area. A few of my friends were in it, too. Something about Christianity and God? It piqued my interest, but I couldn’t join because their meetings conflicted with the club meetings of another. Unfortunately, I did not make God my “first priority.”

When I became a homeschooler, my life went from working me overtime to undertime. With this newfound time on my hands, I realized that this was it, my time to find my true purpose! In a radical turn of events, I just knew I needed God. I prayed to Him to forgive me for everything I had done. My mom ordered me my first Bible, and I started watching sermons on YouTube every night. I joined a local youth group, found Godly community at my church, and got baptized last August. In just three months my life had completely turned around. I never thought I’d be able to find community and purpose the way God had given me. But something was still missing.

I looked at Florida Virtual School’s club catalog for a First Priority, but they didn’t have one. I asked my friends, and they had no idea. A few months went by, and then it dawned on me: why don’t I start a homeschool First Priority myself? I gathered a team of club leaders, and together, we got this club up and running.

It has now been several months since our first meeting, and we’re still growing. My goal is to spread this club to every homeschooler in Florida. Many students believe they don’t need God though. If I hadn’t prioritized an honors music society over the First Priority at my high school, I may have had an encounter with God months earlier. But, I never truly understood who Jesus was or why I should’ve prioritized Him in the first place. In this blog, I want to share with you why it is so important to have Godly friends, and how Jesus, along with my Faith & Purpose - FL Homeschool Club (aka First Priority) can help you find your people, identity and purpose the way the World never could.

All following Bible verses are in English Standard Version (ESV)

First of all, who is Jesus?

Matthew 5:17 (NT) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

John 10:30 (NT) “I and the Father are one.”

John 15:14 (NT) “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

Romans 3:24 (NT) “… and justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NT) “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

1 John 2:6 (NT) “… whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

1 John 4:14 (NT) “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies (Matthew 5:17), fully God and fully human, our Heavenly Father (John 10:30), our Friend (John 5:14), our Savior and Redeemer from our sins (1 John 4:14 & Romans 3:24), our Protector (2 Thessalonians 2:3), and our prime Example as how to govern ourselves (1 John 2:6).

In Faith & Purpose – FL Homeschool, we discuss all these attributes of God / Jesus, and what this means for us as humans and followers of Christ.

Community

Galatians 3:28 (NT) “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Matthew 18:20 (NT) “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NT) “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together; as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…”

Finding community is hard enough as a teenager and being a homeschooler doesn’t make it any easier.  Sometimes, when we do find community, it doesn’t pour into us. This “community” can bring us down, leaving us lonelier than before we found it. Thankfully, through Jesus, we automatically receive the Godly community of believers around the world. Once a Believer, we are all made one in Christ, being brothers and sisters in his family through him (Galatians 3:28). This verse highlights equality and unity, meaning that we are a part of an undivided community. Not only this, but when we gather as brothers and sisters in Christ, he is present (Matthew 18:20)! This shows that God motivates and awards community, since God’s presence is a gift and a blessing. God also encourages community to gather frequently, encouraging each other in good faith, giving us a goal to strive for as a community (Hebrews 10:24-25). 

In Faith & Purpose - FL Homeschool, we are a growing community of Godly believers. Every club meeting, we gather as brothers and sisters of Christ, being awarded for our diligence with His presence, and encouraging each other through devotionals and deep, Biblical conversations. Whether you are or aren’t a believer, this club is a great way to feel a part of an amazing community full of kids like you.

Friendship

Proverbs 13:20 (OT) “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companions of fools will suffer harm.”

John 15:15 (NT) “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Faither I have made known to you.”

Galatians 6:2 (NT) “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

While Jesus gives us broader community, he also gives us friendship. Not just with Him, but with others. When we accept Jesus into our lives, he is automatically our friend (John 15:15)! We will never be solitary, lonesome creatures again. When we choose our friends, we should also take Christ’s friendship as the ultimate example. Jesus reveals to us true wisdom in the Word, and it is our responsibility to find friends who do the same (Proverbs 13:20). Jesus also endured the greatest burden of dying for our sins on the cross. The least your friends can do is to endure your burdens and support you through your hard times as well, which meets every prerequisite of true friendship (Galatians 6:2).

In Faith & Purpose - FL Homeschool, we’re all here to support you! Finding friendship that allows you to express yourself and feel acknowledged is hard to find. We will never make you feel silly for going against the grain of commonly accepted Wordly ways. Never! We will also never make you feel silly for asking questions on the basics of the Gospel—we’ve all been there. We will pour into you, encourage you, and make you feel accepted.

Truth

John 8:31-32 (NT) “So Jesus said … ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

John 17:17 (NT) “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Every human seeks the truth in every situation, whether you’re homeschooled or not. But, as Christians, we know what that truth is, always! Trying to decipher between lies and honesty is a battle we all face. It can be hard to determine what is real and what is fake, but Jesus comforts us by telling us the Bible is our truth. Once we believe in the Bible, we’ll be released from the burden of deceit (John 8:31-32). If we do ever face that battle, we won’t be doing it alone. God is on our side. When we dive into our Word—our truth—it confirms and deepens our faith and identity in Christ. We become stronger, holier believers because of it (John 17:17).

In Faith & Purpose - FL Homeschool, we dive into the Bible with interactive lessons every week. We learn about the truth, what it is, what it means, what it does, and how we can apply it to our life. These lessons start with the basics, good for people who are just curious about God, and good for reviewing the basics for believers. No matter what, you will leave the meeting with a better or re-established understanding of the topic than going in.

Purpose

Proverbs 16:9 (OT) “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (OT) “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NT) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Our teenage years are branded as our time to find ourselves. But as homeschoolers, it can be especially hard to find our interests, passions or “purpose.” Since we aren’t at a middle or high school that has a large hub of extracurriculars, unique classes, and sports teams, how do we test what we’re meant for? Do we have a purpose if we haven’t found it yet? Yes! We actually already have a purpose. God reveals that we already are predestined for greatness. Purpose isn’t about finding something you’re good at. It’s about trusting God’s plan, and remembering your identity through Christ as a unique creation that has a role to fill no one else could (Ephesians 2:10). God has the foundation of your purpose inside of you, and you can access it through Him. Set your heart and mind on something good, and He will show you the way (Proverbs 16:9). God does not want you to feel hopeless and purposeless, that is why he prepares us to do great things, giving us a hope in our promising future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Though Faith & Purpose - FL Homeschool cannot give purpose alone, God can work through it to highlight your purpose. After our Bible studies, we have discussions about our interests, the ups and downs of our week, and the things God has put on our heart lately. Share what’s on your mind! As the club grows, there will not only be more club leadership opportunities open to others, but hopefully an in-person meeting on the horizon.

Faith

Luke 4:1 (NT) “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.”

Luke 15:10 (NT) “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Acts 3:19 (NT) “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out…”

Romans 10:9 (NT) “… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Ephesians 2:13 (NT) “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

How can we access all of this? Jesus. Teenagers and homeschoolers don’t need to search in separate places, for community, friendship, truth, and purpose. We receive all of this through faith in Jesus. We can start this relationship by following the directions of Romans 10:9 and continue this relationship by following the directions of Acts 3:9. If we believe in our heart of the full power and purpose of Jesus and what he’s done, we’re promised eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Savior, as well as the community we’re blessed with as brothers and sisters in Christ. We continue a healthy relationship with Jesus by asking for forgiveness of our sins when we mess up. Jesus was a human as well, he faced temptation (Luke 4:1). Don’t feel too afraid or ashamed to apologize, he died so that you’d be able to communicate with him intimately (Ephesians 2:13).

If you are ready to take this next step in your life of accepting Jesus, one of our Faith & Purpose - FL Homeschool club leaders can guide you through the prayer of salvation. Or, find an adult at your local church who would also love to walk you through the prayer of salvation. It says that when even one person accepts Christ, there is a party in Heaven (Luke 15:10)! Be proud of yourself, I know God is.

For those who are not ready to take this step yet, Faith & Purpose - FL Homeschool is here to support every step of your spiritual journey. It’s okay to not be ready yet! You showing interest in God shows that He is working through you.

Club Information

Faith & Purpose (aka First Priority) is a student-led, nondenominational Christian faith-based club, sharing the gospel with middle and high schoolers, Believers and Unbelievers across the country. This club explores faith, purpose, the gospel, Jesus, testimonies, and how these all intertwine into a student's life. For more information, please refer to this website: https://www.yclprograms.org/

Our specific branch of the club, Faith & Purpose – FL Homeschool, accepts Florida students ONLY.

Middle School Meetings are Fridays @ 1 p.m. (virtual)

High School Meetings are Mondays @ 1 p.m. (virtual)

Club Sign Up: https://forms.gle/WTwm3GvcXdMGjSgQ7

Once you fill out the club sign up, you will be reached out to with further information.

Prayer Request Form: https://forms.gle/e3uyG9tf9RuxnWSaA

Pray for anything big or small, our club leaders just want to support you.

Instagram: @Faith_PurposeFLHomeschool

Following our Instagram is a great way to stay posted on future updates! You can also DM us for any questions :)

Thank you so much for reading! We can’t wait to connect with you soon.