Narthex Parents
Take a moment to meditate on Mr. and Mrs. Zebedee (Matthew 4, Matthew 20, Mark 15, Matthew 27)
Clearly, they had prepared their children —James and John— to provide for themselves, their families, and their community. The family business and boats were available to them as they developed their fishing skills on the Sea of Galilee. They were likely quite competent and confident. And yet, when Jesus asked them to leave their nets and become “fishers of men,” they were willing disciples! Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Zebedee had also instilled in them a hunger for righteousness and an ability to see God when He showed up on the shore.
Mrs. Zebedee (Salome was her name) perhaps went too far in asking Jesus to seat her sons on either side when he reigned as King, but what a blessed vision. When Jesus acknowledged that she didn’t know what she was asking or what may be asked of them, she didn’t shrink from her vision. One son became the first disciple to die for love of Jesus and the other son lived the longest of all the disciples, writing the story of Jesus, the revelations of Jesus to the churches, and letters which urged Jesus’ followers, “Dear children, let us love one another.” Their parents had guided them towards capability and true compassion.
Narthex Community of Learners is an opportunity for parents to encourage their children to develop their potential while leaving them free to follow their calling. Because of this, parents do not “send” kids to Narthex. The choice to be a member of this community is the choice of the high schooler. Parents are welcome to join in morning prayer and to engage in a variety of learning experiences both inside and outside of regular school hours. But the one commitment guardians of Narthex students make is to spend one hour weekly in conversation with their child about what they are learning, how they are relating with other members of the community, and how they are growing in academic and spiritual disciplines. For this reason (and others), Narthex Community of Learners seeks to become an accredited school that can accept Indiana Choice funds for the full cost of tuition. We want to offer any student, regardless of family income, who desires the initiative of a fisherman and the moral imagination of a disciple the chance to pursue this education. Parents, we just want you to be your child’s champion. Listen to them, pray with them, and let them learn from your wealth of experience.