Who Merits Honor?

**Honor** *(noun):*
“the respect, esteem, or deference paid to, or received by, a person in consideration of that individual’s character, worth, or position”
*britannica.com/topic/honour*

*“Render therefore to all their due… honor to whom honor.” - Romans 13:7 (NKJV)*

This year at WCFS, honor has been frequently on our minds.

To honor means to give considered value to God’s ordained authorities in your life.

Honoring God’s ordained authorities includes paying taxes to the government, requiting care for aging parents and giving to your local fellowship to support the elders and those in need.[1]

Honoring someone for who they are is actually the first step towards honoring yourself! God said, “For them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.” (1 Sam 2:30b)Your own identity is influenced by how you see others before God.

Our value is fixed by God. He values mankind so much that He has paid the full price of our redemption by the blood of His own Son. Jesus died so we might live with Him forever!

Honor. You don’t take it upon yourself - God gives it to you[2].

Jesus did not honor Himself but received honor from His Father in heaven. (Phil 2:5-12) “Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered — to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.’ And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.’ And the four living beings said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.” (Rev 5:11-14 NLT)

God is specific when telling us who we should honor. We are told to honor all men, and love the brotherhood. We are to fear God, and honor the king. We are instructed to honor widows who are widows indeed. A husband is to give honor to his wife. Servants are to honor their masters. And countless times, from Exodus to Ephesians, we are told to honor our father and mother.

“…that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Exo 20:12)

Honor is God’s currency of respect.

[2] John 5:23, 41, 44, 54; 12:26

[1]Rom 13:7; 1 Tim 5:4-5, 17

Mid Year Teacher’s Conference

‘A Heritage of Honor’ was the title of Gary’s Keynote address at the Midyear Teachers conference, and began our musings on this call to honor.

Gary could not speak in person at the conference because he was honoring his Grandparental duty and attending the adoption of their 51st granddaughter, Anaiah Serenity Evans in Colorado. Thankfully, the blessing of technology allowed us to record his address ahead of time. In it, he encouraged families to cultivate honor in their homes by each member valuing the others as Christ instructed.

Gary’s session was followed by an interesting interview between himself and Joel. Using question and answer format, they explained our newly introduced Family Heritage Honors Courses.

For the first time in many years, Ms. Becky Wyand did not give an address at the Midyear conference, instead choosing to honor the limits age is placing upon her. We gladly supported her decision but missed the refreshment of wisdom inspired by a lifetime of honoring the Word of God.

Admin Update

In March of this year, Joel notified us that he had applied for a job with the Idaho Family Policy Center in Boise, and that their family would be moving to Idaho in June.

Joel’s 8 years of service as the WCFS Administrator have been an incalculable blessing from God to our school! His background as a homeschool graduate, training as a lawyer, and years working for the Homeschool Legal Defense Association gave him a foundation uniquely suited to meet WCFS’ needs.

The genuine interest, care, and Biblical counsel that Joel poured into each person he met during his years at WCFS made him a beloved member of our staff – and difficult to say goodbye to! We are grateful that he stuck around until after graduation and Expo, even as his new team in Idaho was eager for him to join them out there.

We still miss him! The weeks and months since he left have seen us all scrambling to find new footing as we adjust to the changes in our roles. (The lateness of this mailing is a fair testament to our progress; we’ve been getting things done, but not always on time!)

One of the things we were quickly reminded of, once Joel was not here to enforce it, is the importance of keeping work and home life separate. It can be a struggle to honor that boundary, but we’ve been working hard lately to make sure that each other are actually ‘off’ on our days off.

Joel’s dedication to honoring God’s order in every area of life and his passion for helping others do the same was a daily inspiration and blessing to all of us at WCFS, and will continue to be a so in each new place God calls him to.

Honoring Our Graduates

Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2025 were held at the Wellspring campus on May 31st.
Of this year’s 6 graduates, 3 were able to attend in person.
These brief excerpts from their testimonies encourage us that as they follow the Lord into the next chapters of their lives, the Class of 2025 may well receive the promises that come with honoring their parents:

“…First, I’d like to thank my mom and dad for always being there to help me no matter the situation. They have been a major reason for my success in my high school journey…”

“I want to start by giving thanks to my parents Patrick and Jessica Hill. Thank you for always encouraging me to follow my dreams and teaching me the value of dedication and perseverance…”

“…Thank you to Mama and Papa for all the things you taught me outside of formal schooling, for 20 years of patient teaching, for readiness to help with any of life’s problems, and for 20 years of sacrificial care…”

“…Dad took me to the local quarry and Mom took us to a sheep farm, which gave me some good memories. God helped me get through my classes and taught me to stick with it till the end.”

“…I’m grateful to my family for their continued encouragement, inspiration and prayer which enabled me to perform at my best. I also want to thank Grandmother for taking care of me when my parents were working, and my sister for providing me with comic relief in tense moments…”

Two of this year’s graduates had the distinction of being the last two students enrolled through one of our affiliates, Westminster Christian Family Schools.

During the ceremony, we were privileged to honor Westminster’s longtime director, Mrs. Susie Davis, for the loving and meticulous supervision she has given to the scores of students she mentored during Westminster’s near-decade with us.

We offer our heartfelt thanks to the families and friends of this year’s graduates who helped celebrate their student’s achievements by beautifully decorating the WCF fellowship hall, bringing refreshments, taking photos, and making the day a memory to treasure!

Honoring Effort at the Expo

With the Fischers leaving for Idaho just two days afterward, the 2025 Family Heritage Expo served double duty as a grand student project show and a fabulous farewell party!

God answered our prayers for good weather on June 6th with gorgeous sunshine, perfect for warming up those who have been drenched in a dunk tank!

Yes, at his very last Expo, we finally fulfilled Joel’s longtime dream of getting repeatedly dumped into a tub of water by gleeful students.

In addition to the dunk tank surprise, WCFS presented Joel with a farewell and thank you gift, and recorded messages from many of the attendees to turn into a video compilation for the Fischer family.

This year’s showing of projects, presentations and products to sell was an inspiring showcase of careful work and persistent effort, and it was a delight to honor so many of students with blue ribbons and ‘Grand’ and ‘Reserve’ champion awards!

Some of the students brought games as their Expo submissions, which you could play for a fee, and help support a good cause!

WCFS had also prepared games, and both parents and students had a hilarious time competing in our ‘Family Recreation Day’ course, whereby we observed the many peculiar activities, items, and creatures that June 6th and its surrounding dates have the dubious honor of representing.

By the time everyone headed home, wowed by creative genius, stuffed on fried chicken, tired out by tug-of-war, damp from the dunk tank and watery-eyed from ‘till we meet again’s, we all agreed that this year’s event was one of our most enjoyable Expos yet.

Family Leadership Conference

Less than two months after the Fischers departed, while we were still frenetically learning to compensate for the absence of our most relied-upon coworker, the remaining staff at WCFS orchestrated our biggest event of the year, our annual four-day conference at Roxbury Holiness Camp near Orrstown, PA.

Jesus, as always, lovingly and precisely provided for our every need. Incredible volunteers of all ages stepped in to plan and run sessions, help prepare and serve our three school-sponsored meals, host the ladies’ tea, assist with the children’s lessons, tend the nursery, man the tech booth, and pitch in with cleanup.

To each of you who gave of your time and labor and love and prayers, thank you, from the depths of our hearts! We could not have done it without you.

The 2025 conference theme was Connection. Thursday evening’s Interactive Bible Story demonstrated how Sampson’s connection to God was the source of his strength. In Friday’s hands-on project called “Mission Geo-Connect”, families formed connections to other countries by researching them, presenting their findings, and praying for their chosen nations. In his keynote addresses, Gary reminded parents that they are their children’s first connection to Faith.

We were honored to have Karen Schott lead the devotional during Saturday afternoon’s ladies’ tea, where she reminded us of our connection with our Heavenly Father, and how when we delight ourselves in Him, He gives us our heart’s desires.

It was our desire that our families form closer connections with one another and their creator through their time at conference this year. From the many testimonies we heard, God honored that wish.

The 2025 Family Leadership Conference concluded on a high note, with seven young people from WCFS publicly declaring their faith in Jesus through baptism in the campground creek!

Student Council Events

Little did the 2024-2025 Student Council know that not only were they to be the last council to benefit from the aid of veteran WCFS Student Council Staff Liaison, Joel Fischer, but also that their president, Truth Shell, would move to Asia during his last months in office!

Despite the lack of foreknowledge, the council rapidly learned to honor the requirements of communicating across time zones, and over the course of the school year did an excellent job collaborating with our Liaison and their officers to organize an ice-skating trip, host a movie night fundraiser, support the Senior Class with graduation preparations, sell ice cream at the Expo, and carry on the tradition of sub sales at our Conferences.

Legislative Day

In the end, one was the perfect number, because it was the right one.

Field Trips

From an awe-inspiring visit to the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center, to knocking over pins at a bowling alley, to a ride on a C&O Canal boat in Williamsport, to a tour of the Monocacy National Battlefield, WCFS students got to attend many fun field trips last winter and this spring!

Adding to the list of dear fellow laborers whose role at WCFS changed during the past year, Ms. Dawn Adams, our faithful field trip orchestrator, notified us this summer that she is stepping down from the position.

For over a decade (it’s been so long that we’re not sure of the exact date), Dawn has sought out educational and entertaining excursions for our students and managed all the coordinating required to make them rewarding and memorable outings. It’s been an honor to have her as part of the team.

Going forward, the WCFS Student Council will be helping plan and organize field trips. Our hope is to create more school and family wide involvement, and include service in addition to education.

Workshops

At the first workshop of the 25-26 school year, on September 24th, our nation and the world were still vibrating from the shock of Charlie Kirk’s murder. That tragedy, among other things, helped inspire our topic for this year’s workshops, ‘Raising Christian Patriots’.

This topic is one of WCFS's foundational pillars. Regardless of the kind of government that a nation is ruled under, Scripture’s call to “honor the king” results in believers being ready, when asked, to give an answer for the hope that lies within them, and to do that in meekness and fear.

It takes faith to honor God when a government creates laws that are contrary to our duty to obey God. We often may be dishonored as believers by mockery and persecution. But when we honor God first in our heart, and know what we believe and why we must obey, we can often influence government to change its laws– or in the least, be a testimony for God while being persecuted!

Our 25-26 workshop goal is to learn the art of discussion from 2 Timothy 2 which teaches us not to “Strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. [And] shun profane and idle babbling, for they will increase to more ungodliness. [And] avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”

The Elementary Bible class at workshops was another area where we had to find a replacement for Joel. Miriam Benkendorf has done well in stepping in to teach those classes.

Gary and Donna are collaborating to lead the Jr. High and High Schooler’s session this year. They are focusing on teaching the principles of meaningful debate; how to honor your opponent as a person and his argument as worthy of consideration, while not compromising the truth.

After sorely missing her input during our conferences this year, we are thrilled to once again have Becky Wyand remotely hosting the mom’s discussion time during workshops!

2025-2026 WCFS Student Council met their new Staff Liaison, Ruth Shell, at our first fall workshop, and over the course of their following meetings have elected their new administration.

Echoing his predecessor, President Joshua Schott will also be leading and delegating Council matters from across the globe!

Honored to Partner

This year, Wellspring welcomed 7+ new directly enrolled families, as well the many more who enrolled through our Heritage Education License Program (HELP).

Through HELP, we also welcomed another school to our group of affiliates; Lamblight Academy, based in the Philippines, with three applications already pending.

Through Lamblight, Kingdom Citizen Homeschool, and Homeschool Global, we are now serving over 1,300 students around the world!

Our primary service to our international student body continues to be using our Christ-centered graduation requirements to provide validated transcripts and diplomas for homeschool students in Asia.

The system of authenticating student documents so that they are honored between nations is ever changing, which we learned first-hand this summer when the UAE and Qatar (two of our primary document destinations) both changed their requirements for document attestation. In the case of the UAE, the change was so drastic that even with the kind assistance of our affiliate staff, it took us three months to work out the last kinks in the new process.

While international partnership continues to present new challenges and occasionally steep learning curves, the honor of helping so many students around the world receive a Christian Education makes each hour spent solving new problems fully worth it.

Staff Updates

It took three years and four hospital stays to get there, but this December, Gary and Sally finally took a whole week and went on their long overdue 50th Wedding Anniversary trip! This is their 53rd year of marriage.

We are praising God for Becky Wyand’s ongoing overall good health and indefatigable good spirits. God has granted her a constant stream of visitors since Ralph’s passing, and each minute of fellowship with these friends is one of her highest joys, especially when they are WCFS moms!

Though Joel is no longer a member of WCFS staff, it seems fitting to include their family in the staff updates one last time. The Fischer children are still enrolled in WCFS, and we receive regular updates from their family, telling of their new lives in Idaho. We miss them dearly, and at the same time rejoice that they followed God’s call and look forward to seeing how He blesses and grows them there.

Donna Fleharty continues to be one of the lynchpins by which WCFS holds together (though she would contest that statement). She has taken on the role of Registrar, handling the forms and paperwork pertaining to our directly enrolled families.

Ruth’s role also expanded as the WCFS Administrative Secretary, which covers many duties, much to her excitement! She assists Gary with the bookkeeping for our affiliate schools, has taken on the bulk of homework grading for our Credit Courses, and handles all of our international document shipments.

This year marked the marriage of another WCFS staff member! Francy Shell, our lead affiliate records specialist, married Merek Williams on October 18th. The Williams are living in Lynchburg, VA, while Merek completes his studies at Liberty U. We have been blessed to have Francy continue working remotely, producing transcripts and diplomas for our international students.

God performed a miracle and preserved the life of our Ignitia specialist, Miriam Benkendorf, and her husband, Josh, when a tree fell on their house this spring, nearly crushing them while sleeping. To our endless thankfulness, God spared them, and they are now resettled in Martinsburg, WV. Miriam oversees all our Ignitia students, manages our social media accounts, and performs our website upkeep.

Marie, our contract accountant, has begun training in our newest staff member, Sarah Castillo, to assist us with some of our bookkeeping.

Two other new additions to our staff are Cecilia Sayre and Joseph Cox.

Cecilia is a literal answer to Gary’s prayer for a new staff person located in Sabillasville! She and her husband, Luke, and their four daughters live just up the road from our office. She is assisting with our affiliate records. (The Sayres welcomed their 4th child, Matilda, this past fall.)

Joseph and his wife, Erica, live in South Carolina. Joseph joined our team of remote staff this spring and has been assisting Francy with affiliate records production. He is also helping with the implementation of our new online database.

NEW Digital Tools

Classter:

One of the major projects we’ve been working on this year, and blessed to have Joel, Joseph, and David Cox’s assistance with, is implementing a new comprehensive online database, produced by a company called Classter.

Our goal is to provide a simple record keeping platform using Classter, which will allow families access to upload and maintain their students’ information. While implementation is still ongoing, we hope to be able to offer access to Classter at enrollment time next year.

Tutoring:

Imagine Learning (the parent company of Ignitia) rolled out a brand-new request-driven tutoring service this year, which we are very excited about! The service is live, human, not AI based. It does not require video, but has a live whiteboard for interactive discussions.

For only $150/year, a students can access help with all core subjects 7 days a week, 14 hours a day, from 8am-10pm, EST.

Information and registration are available through the Members page on our website.

Family Heritage Matters

Maryland is performing its routine review of homeschool regulations within the state, and FHM continues to provide information and input to the State Board of Education.

At the invitation of the Maryland Association of Christian Home Educators, (MACHE), Gary recently participated with HSLDA in a podcast about the current status of the review. The proposed changes are mostly cosmetic in nature.

WCFS on Air

Our ‘Family By Design’ radio broadcasts (WTHU 91.9), as always, are accessible on our website, under the ‘Programs’ tab. Our most recently aired series, on the topic of Creation vs Evolution, hosted by former WCFS dad, Jay Auxt, has received the highest listener ratings of all WTHU Sunday morning programing!

Joel and Gary’s final series together is currently airing. Pray for our future broadcasts.

Gary was a four-time guest speaker this year on ‘The Plumb Line’ radio show, hosted by Jay Rudolph. ‘The Plumb Line’ broadcasts are also available through our website, and on WAVA-AM 780 and FM 105.1 in the Washington D.C./Baltimore area, and distributed nationally.

Honoring God

This year was one of our busiest and most change-filled in recent memory.

Amid the chaos, God, as always, proved Himself faithful. He provided for every need and answered our countless prayers. He protected multiple members of our staff from near-death experiences and gave us gifts we had not even thought to ask for.

Our goal at WCFS has always been to honor God, by honoring and championing His design. His design for education, for relationships, for rest, for government, and especially for family, is perfect, and life and health to those that live it.

As this year draws to a close and the next approaches, our goal for the future and prayer for all of you, is that you too will experience the joy that comes from honoring God’s designs for your life!

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” - Proverbs 3:1-2

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life. - Proverbs 22:4

2025: Honoring God’s Design