The Power of Gathering Together:
The Heart and Soul of Our Regional Homeschool Mini-Cons

by Zan Tyler
Oct. 6, 2025

[Editor’s note: Zan Tyler will be the Keynote speaker at our upcoming Regional Homeschool Mini-Cons. Here is a small taste of the wisdom she will be bringing to those events for you!]

I have a son who never wanted to go to bed when he was little. As I was contemplating this quandary one evening, I heard James Dobson on the radio relaying the story of a little boy who kept calling for his daddy at bedtime because he was afraid. The exasperated father finally and emphatically told the son, “You need to trust God when you are lonely or scared.”

“But, Daddy,” the little boy whimpered, “sometimes I just need someone with skin on.”

After the pandemic shut-downs and the transition to a lot of online learning opportunities, we are all like that little boy. We need someone with skin on. We need fellowship. We need to laugh together (which is hard to do alone). We need to cry together. We simply need to be together.

We find strength in gathering. We receive comfort from each other. We experience encouragement. We encounter new ideas and challenges. And as Christian parents, we are called to serve our families and each other.  We need to seriously “consider how to stir one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 11:24, ESV).

There is no better way to do this than to attend the 2025 CHEA Regional Mini-Cons — and to encourage others to come as well. It is time to gather together to give and to receive encouragement intentionally and in person, face-to-face.

Gathering takes effort. You have to get dressed, leave home, and travel, whether you live nearby or on the other side of the state. Ginny Yurich, author and podcaster, said it this way, “It is easier to stay put than to go out.” But I know from Ginny’s life and my own experiences that getting out and getting together with others is well worth the effort.

Jesus was a people magnet. People were drawn to Him. They gathered around Him everywhere He went: the disciples, whole cities, the multitudes, his enemies, immense crowds, hungry people, thirsty people, sick people, needy people, skeptical people, poor people, rich people, old people, children. The oppressed, the self-righteous, the broken-hearted, the disenfranchised. These people, these crowds, gathered around Jesus quickly, constantly, and relentlessly.

Jesus knew the value of being with people. He left His exalted place in heaven to be with us. What a sacrifice He made to come to earth, live among us, and lay down His life for us. Even His name Immanuel means “God with us.” The CHEA Regional Mini-Cons provide a unique opportunity for us to be with others as well. There is nothing quite as powerful as being together in person with others on the same journey. 

Here are some things you can do to prepare for this year’s Regional Homeschool Mini-Cons.

1. Rejoice in the opportunity to gather together and invite others to come. Share this amazing opportunity with homeschooling friends and those interested in learning more about homeschooling. Homeschooling is growing by leaps and bounds, and new families need to know the resources and the help that awaits them at these CHEA gatherings.

2. During the conference, look for opportunities to talk with other parents — while waiting for a workshop to begin, standing in line at a sponsor table, walking in the hallways, or enjoying the lunch break. You may be delightfully surprised when a fellow attendee encourages you by sharing a little about their experience. And through casual conversation, you may find you can bolster another parent in their dedication to homeschooling with a simple word that brings hope and inspiration.

Recently while traveling home from a homeschool convention, Joe and I made an unplanned stop to grab a bite to eat. We were talking about the event while waiting for our food, when quite unexpectedly a woman sitting at a table nearby looked at us and said, “I want my son to homeschool his children.” We spent the next 30 minutes sharing information with this woman. It was a powerful, God-ordained moment. Parents today are looking for good news in education. I believe they find it in homeschooling.

3. Look around and appreciate the dynamic community of families teaching their children at home. What a powerful reminder that you are not alone!

Joe and I can’t wait to see you in California in November. I’ll be sharing encouraging words and helpful hints to aid you in making your homeschooling journey as productive as possible without burning out at the same time.

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