Focus, Foundation, and Friends: Encouragement for the Weary Leader

by Angela Lasch
Oct. 6, 2026

You are probably about a month into your new homeschool year. Classes have started, and you’ve most likely organized at least one field trip. If you are a PSP, you may still have a few families that haven’t turned in all their paperwork. If you are a support group, you may already have some families complaining that their children don’t like their classes. 

Does any of this sound familiar? Are you already counting down the days until Christmas break? I hope not. I helped run a PSP in Southern California for many years, and I can relate to everything I’ve mentioned. 

How can we stay joyful while leading our groups when we have so much on our plates? Maybe you are still homeschooling, maybe you’re watching grandchildren or taking care of aging parents, and you are involved in ministry at your church. As a homeschool group leader, you have many plates spinning at once. Let’s give ourselves a firm foundation so everything doesn’t come tumbling down at the first sign of trouble.

Remember Your Focus

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

Why did you decide to help run a homeschool group in the first place? I admit I originally joined our admin team at our PSP because I wanted to make sure our group offered things my son would enjoy. I taught those classes and organized the events. That may sound selfish, but at first, that was why I was willing to sacrifice so much of my time to help run our group. But over time, the Lord really spoke to our leadership team that this was a ministry to families, giving them a place of community and encouragement, along with fun co-op classes, a school musical, and graduation, etc. Your leadership team needs to focus on leadership as a ministry. When you keep Colossians 3:23-24 as your foundation and remember you’re doing all of this as service to the Lord, He will give you the strength you need. 

Keep Your Foundation Strong

Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. Matthew 7:24-27

The longer we know the Lord, the more we read His Word and stay in prayer, attend church, and keep in fellowship, the stronger our foundation will be when the storm comes. Because it’s not “if” the storm comes, but “when” it comes. Let’s be wise builders of our homeschool groups. Make the Word of God your foundation. If you meet in person, I encourage you to start with at least a prayer or a short devotion, or take turns reading a scripture. It doesn’t have to be long (I know how squirmy the little ones can become), but beginning your co-op day, field trips, park days, and special events in prayer will strengthen your foundation. 

You Need Friends

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Even if you run your group as the sole leader, you need trustworthy people you can talk with, who will pray for you and be your Aaron and Hur, holding your hands up during tough times. If you already have a close leadership team, keep one another in prayer, and take that extra time to pray together before the day starts and the families arrive. If that’s too hard, make a point to schedule a weekly text thread or phone call to pray for one another and share scripture. The closer your leadership team is to the Lord individually, the closer they will be to each other and, in turn, the stronger they’ll be in leading the families well. 

And always remember, CHEA is here for you as well! If you ever have questions or need prayer about anything, please call or email the office. We are here for you!

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Angela Lasch is CHEA’s Support Network Director. She and her husband homeschooled their three sons. Angela co-led a PSP for many years during some trying times. She now enjoys being "Nana" to two granddaughters. Grateful for her own homeschool journey and the sacrificial giving of countless families who made it possible, Angela now dedicates herself to encouraging, supporting, and protecting homeschool families (and group leaders) throughout California.