Steve Beegoo has recently joined Christian Concern to begin his role as Head of Education. In this interview, he shares why education is an issue at the heart of Christian freedoms and essential to advancing the hope of the gospel to the next generation.

Q: Steve, it’s great to welcome you to the team here at Christian Concern. Can you tell us a bit more about your background and how you came to be working with us?

Thanks so much – it truly is a privilege to now have the opportunity to serve as Head of Education for Christian Concern. It became clear to me about 2 years ago, when I was praying about the next stage of my working life, that God was calling me to a big change! I’ve been working in schools since I left university – including as a teacher in state, special and independent schools, leading in Church of England and Independent Christian schools, and as Principal at The King’s School Witney over a period of 8 years.

In June 2019, the Lord clearly spoke to my wife and I in saying, “Step out of the boat!”, which meant to hand in my notice for August 2020! I didn’t know what I would go to next having been Principal, but felt the Lord would lead and that we wouldn’t sink as a family. With my educational and Church leadership experience, I wanted to serve him with what he had been teaching me over the years. When I put my CV together and passed it on to some friends and colleagues, it soon became apparent that a role at Christian Concern might be a possibility. Andrea had long felt that the area of Education was a crucial one for the sake of our children, the nation and the future. I agreed! And as we discussed this over the following months, my own sense of calling, and what the Lord had been speaking to Christian Concern, aligned. And so here I am!

Q: What does your role as ‘Head of Education’ entail?

I have been told I am an elbow! There are many Christians involved in education, doing some fantastic work in state schools, independent schools and in home education. There are also many Christian organisations influencing education. Many of these, including church leaders and parents, have been contacting Christian Concern about education-related issues. Christian Concern recognised they needed someone who knew the field, and so I have become the ‘go to’ person for this knowledge and understanding. I have had a lot of requests for my support already!

In order to make the biggest difference for the Lord in the area of education, we must also be networking, informing, advising and inspiring the Church and parents in a number of ways. Much of my time so far has been spent in meetings with key people who are having influence through their networks and organisations, and I’ve been seeking to recognise what effective work is occurring, making alliances and strategic connections.

The body of Christ needs elbows, so that the strength of the body can be properly connected to those practitioners who are implementing and handling the issues on the ground. I have found much work to do in this area since starting my role. I have also been able to provide evidence and advice to policy makers and influencers. It is essential for a Christian voice to remain alive in the public square in terms of education- related issues.

I have been producing videos and articles to hopefully inform, challenge and inspire, so please do check these out on the Christian Concern website.

Q: Why should Christians care about Education?

Because God cares deeply. Education literally means ‘to lead out’. Our children and young people are being led somewhere. Where? The Great Commission gave us clear instructions – to make disciples who will be led by Jesus through teaching them. But frankly we are forgetting our children. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them” (Matthew 19:14). But we are hindering them.

Less than 50% of the children of Christian parents are said to become followers of Jesus. We are reliving Judges 2:10. And so the church dies. Over 80% of people in the Church today say that they made their commitment before the age of 18. Yet less than 5% of most church budgets goes to this area of outreach and discipleship. This is strategic suicide. We have bought into the lie that the state educates our children (30 hours a week), and our role is simply to take them to church (90 minutes a week). And so their faith is steadily undermined by their environment and the prevailing culture. The lack of focus from busy parents and churches, hinders our children from knowing and finding faith in Jesus Christ. This is an ongoing and increasing disaster for the church. We must wake up!

I believe education is the defining issue for the church today.

Q: What are some of the key issues surrounding Christian freedoms in the area of education right now?

Many Christian and other parents are finding that their traditional and Biblical views about marriage, gender and sexual intimacy are not being tolerated in school. They are finding that schools are teaching their children inappropriate content in order to challenge the ‘outdated’ views of the parents and children.

Children as young as 4 are being taught to question whether they are actually male or female. The introduction of Relationships and Sex Education has been allowed by schools to become an opening for anti-Christian and unsafe indoctrination, and is deeply disturbing.

The role of Religious Education is also being undermined, as schools flagrantly disobey the law in delivering Christian – or even any religious – content to the children and young people. There is also pressure to regulate and monitor Christian home educators in ways which could easily result in inspection of morals, and literally having government sanctioned ‘thought police’ in your home.

Q: How is Christian Concern helping those affected by these issues?

We are giving much direct support to those who call or email us. We are also invited to speak to churches and groups, and there have proved to be several great online opportunities for me over the last few weeks to give teaching and advice. I have appeared on a number of panels where Christian Concern have been asked for someone to contribute.

Our legal team has directly supported parents and school staff, and we have legal cases pending where we are providing crucial advice and support.

We have a excellent and professional legal team. So there is a lot of direct support, but also much awareness raising more generally, including contributions to government ‘calls for evidence’ and consultations. We are seeking to rally supporters to stand with those affected, which needs prayer and significant financial support for the growing work to continue.

“I believe education is the defining issue for the church today.”

Q: What opportunities for Christians in the area of education have you seen this year?

There are many opportunities as there is a great need for Christians to be involved in education, and God is doing something new! Parents have the key role and are making the most of their time-limited opportunities. I see Christian parents bravely taking a stand, when many are too frightened to do so. I see some preparing to start their own schools where they can be assured that a Christian worldview will be encouraged – sometimes a church is supporting them. I see parents recognising again their authority and responsibility before God to train up and disciple their children. I see parents waking up to the presence of brilliant independent Christian schools, where all the teachers are Christians, and realising that it can be possible, with faith, to join these schools. I see parents being inspired to consider home education, and I see sound Christian organisations willing and able to support them.

I see church members and parents becoming governors, who won’t remain silent on key issues, but will graciously but clearly bring Christian influence to these schools. I see volunteers and organisations providing great resources – ‘Lovewise’ RSE resources, ‘CBR’ pro-life resources and ‘Open the Book’ assemblies for instance. I hear young people recognising the call of God to become teachers – teachers who will be examples of Jesus Christ in the classroom. This is what I see and hear. There is a move of God happening!

“Over 80% of people in the church today say that they made their commitment before the age of 18. Yet less than 5% of most church budgets goes to this area of outreach and discipleship.”

Q: How can we – churches, parents, teachers – ensure that children receive an education that helps them flourish in God’s good ways?

Six things! First, we must all ‘Look Up!’ Look up from our busyness, our mobile phones, our careers, our church programmes, and actually see our children. Look at their faces. And value them as God values them. Don’t forget them, Church, but see them.

Secondly, parents and the church community must ‘Train Up!’ Assess, audit and decide whether what we are doing for our children is enough to train them up so they are unhindered from following Jesus.

Thirdly, we must ‘Show Up!’ Go to parents’ evenings, AGMs, become governors, ask for a meeting with the Headteacher, become a church leader, and make your presence felt as a servant of Jesus Christ who cares about our children.

Fourthly, ‘Give up!’ Sacrifice is essential to Christian love, and to give up time, money or reputation, is part of God’s call so we can radically answer this key question. We may need to totally ‘Give up’, on what we have been doing, where there is no openness to the urgent changes needed.

Fifthly, we must ‘Speak up!’ Speak up to the government, and to any relevant authorities – to ‘Speak up’ boldly and unashamedly of the hope of the truth of the full gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as of the dangers of society’s trajectories.

Finally, we must ‘Wake up!’ We must wake up the church, especially our faithful but busy church leaders. There is an irony here, as so much energy is expended on so many fronts to fulfil the great commission. But when children are mentioned, there is a blind spot – we must not allow our leaders to switch off and fall asleep in this area.

Q: What are your hopes for 2021?

I have so many hopes – and so many reasons to be hopeful! I’m praying that we will see victory in places where we are providing direct legal support, especially where Christian parents have been discriminated against. I want to see some new Christian schools established, both independent and state. I want to hear of many more Christian parents responding to the call to home-educate. I am praying and hoping many more church leaders and parents will ‘see’ their children, and see these issues, and so properly value children. I am hoping that many Christian organisations will work together and speak well of each other even if they do different work in different ways.

One great hope of mine is that we will gather many teachers and school staff to our online weekend conference in February ‘Further Up, Further In’. We have some excellent speakers lined up, and the online networking opportunities the conference platform affords should be edifying, not just during the conference itself, but by building long-term supportive relationships. We have already got over 200 booked in – it’s a very exciting opportunity!

I hope that we will build relationships, so that we can function well as the body of Christ in this nation and beyond, so many are supported to see children flourishing.

“ Look at their faces. And value them as God values them. Don’t forget them, church, but see them.”

Steve has worked in the educational sector for over 25 years. He has been a teacher in state, special and independent schools, has led in Church of England and Independent Christian schools and was principal at The King’s School Witney over a period of 8 years. He is CEO of the Christian Schools’ Trust and a member of several national inter-organisational teams. He is married with three children. Head to our website to find resources from Steve to help you think about education in a Biblical way.