Biblical Worldview at Home: Andrea Crum on Discipling Kids Through Cultural Chaos
Summary:
Are you a homeschool parent wondering how to effectively equip your kids to stand strong in today’s rapidly changing culture? In this powerful episode of the "Show Me Homeschool" podcast, host Erin sits down with Andrea Crum—biblical worldview apologetics expert, author, and leader of Genuine Family Ministries—to unravel the importance of raising children with a rock-solid Biblical foundation in a postmodern world. With over 25 years of experience in Corporate America and credentials from the Colson Center, Andrea shares her personal journey from secular work to ministering alongside her husband, Matt, providing families with the tools they need to navigate cultural chaos with wisdom and faith.
Listeners will gain practical advice on how to start meaningful conversations about identity, gender, and truth with their kids at any age, from toddlers to teens. Andrea explains why parents can no longer afford to avoid tough topics and how knowledge of both Biblical truth and cultural worldviews is essential for helping children discern right from wrong. She also offers hope and guidance to parents feeling overwhelmed or worried they’ve missed the boat, emphasizing that it’s never too late to foster restoration and resilience in your homeschool environment.
Links & Resources:
Andrea Crum’s Genuine Family Ministries: genuinefamilyministries.com
Raising Biblical Kids Conference: raisingbiblicalkidsconference.com
Andrea’s book: “Christ Over Culture”
Follow Andrea on Instagram: @genuinefamilyministries
Connect with Erin & Joe at Show Me Homeschool:
On Instagram, @show.me.homeschool
On X, @ShowMeHomeSch
On Pinterest, @showmehomeschool
Be sure to leave a rating and review, and subscribe so you never miss an episode! For questions or comments email us: info@showmehomeschool.com
Transcript:
Erin:
Hello and welcome back to the Show Me Homeschool podcast. Today we have a lovely guest, Andrea Crumb. She is a biblical worldview apologetics and family discipleship leader. She also equips families with biblical truth for navigating today's cultural chaos. A wife and mother of two, she beautifully combines her passion for the word of God in the family by leading Genuine Family Ministries with her husband Matt and hosting the Raising Biblical Kids conference. As the author of Christ Over Raising Christian Kids to Stand in a Postmodern World and a graduate of the Colson center for Christian Worldview, Andrea provides parents with the insights and strategic tools they need to prepare their children to stand up, stand out, and stand apart as a Christ follower in a confused culture. I'm Erin.
Joe:
And I'm Joe.
Erin:
We're the hosts of the Show Me Homeschool podcast with where we guide parents through the wilderness of home education. Each weekly episode will focus on supporting and encouraging homeschool moms and dads through conversational interviews with like minded Christian leaders in the homeschool community.
Joe:
In our experience, we've seen the lack of resources and support available for homeschool dads, so we want to address that by covering relevant topics concerning husbands and fathers as they lead their families through this lifestyle of home education.
Erin:
We understand the need for creating connections and building authentic relationships to sustain a healthy homeschool environment for yourself and your children.
Joe:
Our goal is not to show you how to replicate our homeschool, but to show you how you can create a home learning lifestyle that is sustainable for your family.
Erin:
Show Me Homeschool is here to come alongside you. So welcome. Andrea, how are you?
Andrea Crum:
I'm great. Thanks so much for having me. I'm glad to be here.
Erin:
Yeah. So we would love to hear more about you. Tell us how you got into this ministry and this calling and a little bit about your family.
Andrea Crum:
Absolutely. So I've been married for 22 years to my husband Matt. We have two boys, one 15 year old and one 12 year old. And we are in the midst of all the things going on in the culture just like everyone else, every other parent. And I was actually in Corporate America for 25 years and you know, by God's providence, got laid off and ended up starting to ask God what he had for me and really started to say, hey Lord, I don't want to just keep doing what I've always been doing. I want to do what you've called me to do. And so through that it was, I feel like it's, it's like following breadcrumbs, you know, to figure out exactly what God has for you, but just keep going and saying yes and. And doing all the things he calls us to.
Andrea Crum:
And pretty soon, probably about within a year of that process, realized that he was really wanting us to speak truth and the culture, truth and love, and a culture that is very chaotic. And so from there, I went to the Colson center for Christian Worldview. And about two and a half years ago, my husband and I started Genuine Family Ministries. And our mission is to equip parents and students to know the biblical worldview and also understand the postmodern worldview so that it can discern between the two, and then it can be equipped. And in the same way, we also have a care ministry for parents whose kids have fallen into some of these ideologies so that we can help them in their relationships and help them to speak truth and love in their. With their kids.
Erin:
That is so exciting and so needed. Because this world is crazy. So crazy. A little bit, yeah. And I love that you don't even. You don't just touch on what the problem is, but you give the solution, and that's the word. And then I love that you also have a wraparound ministry for those that have fallen into those ideologies, because, as you know, this is so prevalent. So what's your approach to addressing those cultural things and the postmodernism that's happening here?
Andrea Crum:
Yeah, so I think one of our biggest approaches as a ministry is we really just look at kind of what. What is out there from an apologetics perspective. And a lot of the apologetics that we have today really are speaking to the naturalistic or scientific worldview of, you know, what's proof for the existence of God and creation versus evolution and things like that, which are all really important topics. But we're now dealing with a culture that doesn't care about truth, doesn't care about, you know, so much about science and biology. And it's more about feeling. So how do you start to talk to kids growing up in that kind of environment? And so we really look at, you know, what is it? What does the word say about our identity? What does the word say about our. Our purpose? What about the patriarchy? Because you hear a lot about the patriarchy. What about women's roles? I mean, so it's kind of like looking at the biblical world view of these things and then really speaking to kids about why God's way is better, you know, and how that leads to a flourishing environment versus the chaos and Destruction that we see today from some of these other environments, from some of this other worldview.
Andrea Crum:
So what we do is really teach them the biblical worldview, but then we also teach them the framework of the postmodern worldview. Because all the worldviews, all the, all the ideas, feminism, you know, radical feminism, sexual and gender ideology, critical race theory, all of those ideas are built on the same framework, but they just show up in society in different ways. So if we can teach them the framework, we just feel like the kids are gonna be better equipped just to see through some of the messaging that they are encounter along the way.
Erin:
Absolutely. And do you see a kind of a disconnect with parents on how to even broach these topics with their kids? Because I feel like some of these conversations, when I was growing up, I never even had to have a conversation about what's a. What is a woman? You know, with my parents, we just knew, you know, even within the last 10, 15 years. So how do you help parents broach those topics with their kids?
Andrea Crum:
I think that it's absolutely. It's been challenging sometimes because I think as parents we are very overwhelmed. I also think that as parents, we want to protect our kids innocence for as long as that we can. And so sometimes I find that as parents, we can be resistant to having these conversations. Simply kind of want to stick our head in the sand and just pretend it's not happening and just kind of hope our kids are busy enough to not get sucked into it. But unfortunately, being in this ministry for so long, we see that conservative Christian families, homeschool families, wherever the families are coming from, that does happen as well. And so that kids are, you know, get introduced to these ideas. So we have to be giving them armor.
Andrea Crum:
We have to be giving them the preparation that they need so that they can be defend against that and so that they have a proper view of themselves and their identity and who God is in the midst of all of that.
Erin:
Yeah, and you brought up a really great point. You know, you look back at the history of homeschooling, and the movement largely in the 80s, was conservative Christian families. And that was the demographic. And now, you know, especially since COVID there are so many more homeschool families from all different backgrounds. And we were already seeing, even pre2020, a different kind of movement with a secular homeschooler. So now you go to sign up for a co op or some activity. And before it was just kind of understood that this was the worldview that you had, was this really conservative Christian insulated type greenhouse situation. And now even within the homeschool community, we're seeing a huge shift in some areas of the country of the rise of secularism and feminists wave coming in, even in the ideology and like you talk about on your website too, just not just the feminist side or the gender ideology and all that, and how it's all wrapped together, but how we're seeing this now even with our children as young, as very tiny.
Erin:
So let's talk a little bit about your book, Christ Over Culture. What was the catalyst for writing that book and what kind of things do you cover in there?
Andrea Crum:
So I've been teaching worldview and apologetics to high schoolers and junior hires or middle school type age kids at our church for a couple of years now. And the catalyst was really wanting to get them equipped and really seeing how kids are not being taught certain ideas and so, and how, how persuasive the ideas of culture are because they rely on conversations about compassion and love and justice. And those sound very biblical, you know, and so it can be very easy to sway even strong Christian child because some of the ideas can sound good. And so, so really when I started working with master books, it was really about like, we need to start arming our kids up with, you know, this, this, this information so that they don't fall for it when they get to college or whatever it is. And through that was what came about in the book for parents to really help them to start to understand the urgency of the situation, that this isn't something that we can just kind of hide from, even though we want to, because it's all around and we have to be able to help our kids think critically and to discern these ideas as parents if we can get them the information first, it's going to have a lot more credibility, you know, than if they hear it in the world first and start to get introduced to those ideas. So we think we start talking about some of this information about what is a boy and what is a girl. You can start talking about it as early as three, but we can also start talking about the differences starting at 8, about how we're designed differently mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. We can start talking about these ideas and creating a framework and a foundation so that when they do get hit with some of these ideas as they get older, they'll just go, that's ridiculous, that's irrational.
Andrea Crum:
That doesn't even make sense, you know, because we've trained them that yes, a man's brain is different than a Woman's brain. Yes. Our bodies are different, you know, so being able to use that as a way of creating a foundation, I think is really helpful.
Erin:
I love that you not just address what the truth of the word says, but you are also having the side of the conversation on what we don't believe. I think a lot of parents kind of shy away from that. That perspective, or, you know, we just want to focus on the word only. But arming yourselves with what other people believe to be the truth is also very helpful in understanding your own argument and the whole apologetics of what we believe as. As believers. So you wrote the book, and that book is for parents to kind of guide those conversations. And you also have a conference, and I'm really interested to tell our listeners about what you do for the conference. Because the conference is more for the kids, right?
Andrea Crum:
It's actually for the parents. It's. It is, yeah, it's kind of an apologetics conference for parents, a preparation, equipping for them. And we have OurNext1 November 15th in Grapevine, Texas, which is near Dallas area. We have a church there hosting us, and we have six speakers, and we come and we just spend a day with parents and we just really get them prepared and equipped and help them not to feel so helpless, I think, and hopeless sometimes in this culture, because I just, you know, that saying that knowledge is power, I think the more you know and the more you can share it, it actually is a defense mechanism against the enemy and the schemes of this culture. And so that's what we spend that day doing. So we talk about. We talk about all of it, all the things, a lot of culture, conversations.
Andrea Crum:
But we also talk about raising your kids up in leadership and Christian leadership and what does that mean for them in society. We also talk about what does it mean to practically disciple your kids in the home, and how does that look? And then we're also talking about the harder cultural topics as well.
Erin:
So do you offer a. Is there a curriculum for what you teach, or is it more just training the parents and how to go find that in the Word and move through it that way? Or what's your strategy for communicating this?
Andrea Crum:
Yeah, so to be announced. Yeah, we will have a curriculum for students. So I'm super excited about that. And that will be coming out hopefully the beginning of next year. So very excited about getting kids equipped and teaching them and helping them to really see again why God's way is better. You know, because the culture wants to say this, their way is better, but God really, His Design is so beautiful. And we, we think about the way that he has created intentionally with care and such precision, you know, and it really is for us to live good lives, you know, that honor him and our. Each other and, and that, that lead us to that peace and contentment that so many of us are searching for.
Erin:
Yeah, I was reading through your blog and your website and just kind of seeing that theme too, of what we're doing is not for just ourselves, but it is an evangelism tool, essentially. So how, how does creating a strong, culturally, you know, minded child that's not of the world, but is in the world, what does that look like when it does come to evangelism?
Andrea Crum:
It looks like being on a light on a hill that can't be hidden. You know, it looks like being set apart. It looks like doing something different. We're really blessed. Our oldest son, he. He is an, he's an evangelist and he's also a leader and he, he does Bible studies to his peers and, and you know, even watching him navigate what that looks like, because it's not always popular, you know, and I think, I just think, gosh, he's growing up with so much more wisdom than even I grew up with. Like, he knows how to do the truth and love thing. He knows how to share the truth and then also come back and, and, and reconcile when there's conflict.
Andrea Crum:
And I'm like, wow, I did not know how to do that. I still sometimes struggle with that, you know, But I think when you start to build that up in your kids early and they are being sanctified, you know, they are spending time with the Lord. They are, the Holy Spirit's moving and changing them so that they can do these things and be bold and courageous. So I think it looks like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. I think it's that we're like, hey, there, there's darkness out there and hey, you can live a different way. And I think our kids are really confronted these days with the darkness in some cases, you know, they're really seeing things and, and whether they have tech or, you know, social media or whatever it is, they're just seeing things in a different way than we did growing up, and they are realizing there's like darkness out there, you know, and so if we can live differently and show them what it looks like to live differently, then I think that's very attractive in an evangelism kind of environment.
Erin:
Yeah. And I think it can only build that confidence in who that child is in Christ. And as their confidence grows, the more they're willing to share. So what would you say to the parent who's listening, who's like, that all sounds great, but my kid is 18 and we didn't start, start out that way. What, what can I do now?
Andrea Crum:
Yeah, yeah. The way I kind of look at it, I always think of it like in these little age groups, I think of it as, you know, zero to, to seven, zero to seven, probably. I'm really trying to protect my kid. I'm really trying to make sure they're not seeing certain things on TV and making sure they're not listening to certain type of music. I'm going to continue to do that as they get older. But that's kind of. My main mode is like protection mode. As we get into like 8 to 11, 8 to 12, 13.
Andrea Crum:
Now I'm in preparation mode. I'm really trying to prepare them for the world that they're going to be engaging with. I want, I do if I can, I want to teach them theology first because. But most of the kids that we end up meeting and talking with, that's kind of missed. So theology is of course first and best to be able to talk to them about and then the culture. But if you're now talking about 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, they started to develop their worldview. They've started to come to their own conclusions about what the world is like, like, and what they want to be in the world and what they believe and don't believe. And so at that point, I think the conversation is more about positioning.
Andrea Crum:
I consider that your positioning phrase because that's your, your phase where you are really starting to have more grownup, intentional conversations where you haven't, you're have an independent thinker now. And so now you're, you're kind of talking about, let's talk about these ideas, let's talk about where that idea leads to ultimately. Um, let's talk about, you know, maybe the damage that can be done because of that particular idea, not only to yourself, but to your family or to others. Um, so I think you just start to talk about things more from a, you position it and you start to talk about it more from a, let's have an adult conversation now.
Erin:
Yeah, I love that because, gosh, even like we were talking about, you know, before homeschool community was very conservative and now even, I mean, at co ops, I know even locally, to us, there's a child who was struggling with their identity and, and then it's like, how do you Wrap around a family who's going through that. So do you want to talk a little bit about that wraparound? Because I. I'm sure there are homeschool moms listening or dads who are like, we really feel like we screwed up, we missed the boat, and now our child is embraced. These wrong ideologies. We don't know what to do to get them back on track. What kind of hope do you have for those parents?
Andrea Crum:
Yeah, it's. It's been a beautiful blessing.
Erin:
As.
Andrea Crum:
As we started doing teachings and equipping and. And talks, we would have parents who'd come up to us and say, you know, even in our conservative Christian churches, right, Come up and say, hey, my child, you know, identifies as. As trans. And so that was what was really the beginning point of us starting a support group for parents whose kids identify this way. Christian parents, these kids identify this way. And it has been one of the. Been doing it for two years. It's been one of the biggest blessings to be able to walk with these parents, because there's a lot of shame, a lot of feeling of isolation.
Andrea Crum:
They do not tell people about it because to your point, then they feel like people are going to look at them and go, what did you do wrong? Or what did you do? And how'd you allow this? And, you know, there's just all of that. So for them to feel like they're not alone, you know, in a lot of ways, they're the canary in the coal mine. You know, they were the ones that went first. And it's because of them that we now know, hey, we need to start preparing our kids and equipping them. Right? But unfortunately, they're, you know, in this position that's really, really difficult. And so through that, I think one, if they can find a community, of course they can reach out to me. I'm always happy to. To meet and chat with anybody and give them any kind of feedback that.
Andrea Crum:
Anything that we could have in terms of insightfulness, because our goal is to ultimately bring these kids out of this ideology. I mean, that's ultimately what we want to do. And we want to equip parents with ideas for how to do that when they're in the home. It's definitely easier. So because you do have more oversight on technology, you do have more oversight on, you know, potentially friendships and other things, schooling choices that, you know, so. So many things that you can impact that can help to eventually bring these kids out of it. And we have seen that. We have seen success that parents have had in doing some things where they really start to take a more attentional, intentional approach, which can almost feel like isolating their kid.
Andrea Crum:
But at the same time, it actually can be very helpful to get some of these ideas, get them away from some of these ideas and start to get them to be healthier in their mind and in their heart.
Erin:
I love that. So do you see as you're working with these parents? I'm just thinking of some of the situations I know of where, you know, when you homeschool and you're with your kids most of the day and you feel like you're doing everything you possibly can, pouring into whatever they're learning. And then there's still these things that come up in the culture because they live in the world. I just. Could you speak maybe to that mom who is just really struggling with feeling like a failure or feeling like, can that really possibly be true what she just said, that there is hope or that there is a way to guide my child back to the Lord.
Andrea Crum:
Our God is a God of restoration. And I think that is the most beautiful thing about the Gospel. He restores things that are broken. And I know that all of our stories are different, and we don't always know what that looks like. But what I would say is, mom, you've done everything that you can do, and now you have to give it to the Lord and really follow him in every direction he gives you. He knows this Holy Spirit knows, like, what your child needs and the right approach. But what I would also say is you need to act with courage. You need to set boundaries where you know it's going to be difficult to set boundaries because you know in your heart that's where you need to do.
Andrea Crum:
And I. And you've got to be able to be strong in those. Even if you know your kid's going to rebel or want to rebel against them, you've got to do what you know is right for your child. So I would say also you have to remember that your child is their own individual child, and they're going to stand before God and you are not ultimately responsible for the end decision they make in terms of their salvation and what they choose to do in their life. And so I think really surrendering all of those things to God. And I think a lot of it is it's our pride, right? Like, all of a sudden, like, we. We wanted to be this great parent. We've done all these things, and now they're making choices as kids and sinners, as we do, right? And then We.
Andrea Crum:
We also worry it reflects on us. So I would also take any of that kind of fear or worry, Fear of man or any of those kind of things to the Lord and just ask him to hold it. Because, um, he says, in our weakness, we are made strong, or he is made strong, he's made perfect in our weakness. And so his strength. And so I. I think that those are the things that we have to rely on to go to God's word and say, you know, this is what's true in this situation. Um, this. It's.
Andrea Crum:
It's not my fault. Right. It. It's not. You know, could. And I do think sometimes we do have to own up to the things that we could have done differently. Sure. Now take that to the Lord and surrender that to him as well.
Andrea Crum:
If you have to apologize to your kid, do that as well. You know, those are good things. We. We do have to live in that posture of humility and being humble, but also not to take on the shame of decisions that are not ours.
Erin:
Yeah. Oh, my goodness. That is just like, ah, speaks to my. To my heart here. I. I love having you on because there are. There just. The culture is so prevalent and is so in your face, no matter what.
Erin:
What choices you're making. And we need to know. This is why I love booking you is just. There are people like you and your husband who are. This is your ministry. This is the calling that God has laid on your heart because you know that there is restoration to be had and that hopefulness to be. To be there. So how is it as a.
Erin:
You started homeschooling this year? How did your first year go?
Andrea Crum:
I just loved it so much. I have loved every minute of it. We had so much fun. I feel like, you know, I've gotten to help in areas that I think, well, this is really cool, you know, to be able to help watch your child develop. And I think the sweetest thing has been just the time together. I just. I didn't know. I think I didn't know what I was missing, you know, and just that sweetness of being together so much.
Andrea Crum:
It's been really sweet.
Erin:
Excellent. So let's talk a little bit, because I like to incorporate the fact that you're a working homeschool mom. How do you make that work? And especially you said you're ministering with your husband. What. What does that dynamic look like for your family?
Andrea Crum:
So we both work from home, which is really nice. That actually helps. And actually we both take part in our homeschooling, which is Nice. And so, because we both have flexibility to do that. Um, and so, yeah, actually, my husband is looking to come. He. So a lot of the things that he's been working on so far in our ministry has been. I call him my guy.
Andrea Crum:
He's the IT guy. He's the, you know, there's a lot of the back end and things like that. Um, but he's also going to be going in the next year or two to the Colson center for Christian Worldview and really starting to teach and things like that as well. So I'm very excited about that.
Erin:
So. Cool.
Andrea Crum:
Yeah. Because God did even how he designed our ministry. We had genuine women ministries first before it became genuine family ministry. So I've been able to minister to a lot of moms and women along the way. And we're really excited about the. The father, the husband element that my husband's going to be able to bring because he's such. He's amazing at both of those things. And so I think that's going to be a really.
Andrea Crum:
A really neat addition to our ministry when we're able to kind of have that kind of holistic approach as well.
Erin:
Yeah, I love it. So how have you found a way? You said you both kind of take part in the education part for your son. And are there any tips that you would give a working mom or someone who's looking at maybe being an author or, you know, putting themselves out there in a ministry that's. I don't know. It's so terrible to say, but even in the Christian culture, it could be controversial. And it's like, not even stuff that shouldn't be controversial. It's just like biblical truth, right?
Andrea Crum:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It can be. You know, I think that that's. I think maybe that's one of the one. One of the reasons that God has called me into this particular topic, because I certainly. Ten years ago, if you asked me what I would be doing in 10 years, this would not have been, you know, something that I thought the Lord would call me into. I would actually probably be very afraid of it, to be honest, and really not want to stick my neck into those conversations, even though I have very strong beliefs and convictions. But I am a truth teller.
Andrea Crum:
And so I'm very black and white when it comes to what is right and wrong. And so I think that that is one of the things that has helped to do that. So I. What I would say is if anybody's looking to kind of follow the Lord in ministry or writing or what care Ministry, whatever it is, is really to just focus on you and him, you know, and, and your family and where he's leading you. Because we felt like a piece of the puzzle, you know, and wherever our puzzle he's meet, we meet and we meet with and we start to be fitted next to other people. Right. And we don't always know what that's going to look like. We might have an idea of ministries or things that we've seen other people do, but his thing for you is unique, you know, and it's not going to look like what everybody else's looks like.
Andrea Crum:
And he has, you know, when we first started, I thought for sure we were all equipping ministry, you know, and now we have a care ministry. And for a long time I thought, well, we'll be 80 equipping in 10 or 20 care. And now I'm like, we might be more care at some point than we are coming. So it's just holding all those things lightly, you know, and just putting before the Lord and then allowing him to bring the people into your life that are going to, uh, start making some of that clear. Because a lot of times we, we want to put a plan and a presentation together and say that this is what it's going to look like and this is how we're going to do it. And the Lord's like, not really, you know, that's not really how I have it planned. And then all of a sudden you go, oh, well, this person's in my life. Oh, this per.
Andrea Crum:
You know, and it's, you know, some, some things just start to kind of unravel and become more clear because.
Erin:
Yeah, that's great advice. Thank you. Yeah, yeah, it's. It's always great to talk to other moms who are just figuring things out. You know, I don't think any of us has the answer for any one person other than our. But it's always nice to hear the different perspectives and the encouragement. And I appreciate you so much and thank you for taking the time to have a conversation with me about what you're doing with your ministry. And so how can people find out how to register for your conference or get connected with you?
Andrea Crum:
Absolutely. So we have our website, genuinefamilyministries.com you can go to the event there. But we also have raising biblical kids conference.com which is where you can actually do the registration for the conference. You can also follow us on instagram @genuine familyministries. And if you ever do need to chat or talk, you can always message us there and we would be happy to to to catch up and and meet and help and support any way we can.
Erin:
Excellent. And be sure to check out Andrea's book, Christ Over Culture. That's really awesome. I love that title too, by the way. It's perfect. So. Well, thank you and we will catch you next time.
Andrea Crum:
Thank you, Aaron. I love talking with you.
Erin:
Yeah. To learn more about booking one on one or group homeschool coaching sessions with with us upcoming events, see our speaking schedule or to get access to more resources, be sure to check out our website, www.showmehomeschool.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram@show.me.homeschool on Pinterestomehomeschool, or email us@infohomehomeschool.com this episode was sponsored by Podcast with Faith, our favorite Christian podcast production company.