CFS History - In the Beginning

By Todd Cooper, Former CFS Chairman
Circa 1999

Linda knew there must be a better way. Something was missing! Even though her daughter, Jenny, was only in the 4th grade at a Christian school, she was already getting burned out and negative attitudes were starting to show.

Soon after that, though, she found herself talking with a man who not only understood her frustrations and the problems that her children were facing but also gave a glimmer of hope, a different path that made more and more sense the longer she listened.

In 1981, home schooling was just getting started and Linda had never even heard of the phrase. Acting as a Girl Friday for her parent's T.V. show, 'LaHayes on Family Life', she had the remarkable good fortune of helping Dr. Raymond Moore, often considered the father of the modern home education movement, get ready for the T.V. interview. As she asked him one question after another about home schooling, Dr. Moore not only described her 1st and 4th grade children "to a T" but also explained how to go about making the transition from school to home school.

By the end of the day, Linda was sold hook, line and sinker on the whole idea. But then she realized, "What will my husband think?!" Pastor Murph, as her husband was affectionately called by the youth group at Shadow Mountain Community Church where he ministered for 19 years, listened as Linda explained what she had heard, and decided it was worth giving it a try. Her parents, Dr. & Mrs. Tim LaHaye, were also very supportive of their decision. Therefore, armed only with the information she had gleaned from Dr. Moore and his wife, Dorothy, and their book, Linda set out on her own home school odyssey.

We're talkin' serious pioneering here!

God heard her prayer and the news quickly spread: "Hey, did you hear what Linda is doing?!" Little did she realize what the Lord was going to do.

Soon, Linda found herself spending more and more time on the phone explaining what they were doing and why. Finally, they decided to hold an informational meeting in their house and invite everyone who had been calling. Linda had seen Tom & Cheryl Cantor mentioned in a newspaper article, so she invited them to come and speak. By word of mouth, news of the meeting spread and 45 people showed up that 1st night, including Steve Coffman who was already home schooling. They started having these "newcomers" meetings every other month and invited different speakers or watched the taped interviews with Dr. Moore.

In fact, it was at one of these living room meetings that Michael Farris (President & Co-Founder HSLDA) first spoke in San Diego about home education. Mike was serving on the board of Concerned Women for America and was more than happy to share what was on his heart regarding home education and the importance of parents seriously considering and responding to the biblical mandate to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Mike and Elizabeth Smith (Vice President & Co-Founder HSLDA) were also around in those early days.

It wasn't long before Linda realized that things were quickly outgrowing her living room and that some organization needed to be put into place. Also, many new people were starting to home school their children, some of whom shared the Murphy's Christian convictions and vision, and others who didn't. A new organization brought on a host of new questions and issues, such as: What do we call it? and What about a doctrinal statement or educational philosophy? Here is an excerpt from the original version of the CFS Doctrinal Statement:

This spiritual focus was central to what CFS was all about. In fact, when asked what message she would most like to pass on to today's home schooling parents, it is to remember that home schooling is a spiritual battle and needs to be fought with spiritual weapons. CFS needs to be a ministry concerned with helping other Christians who have somewhat unwittingly stepped right into the middle of a spiritual mine field and need support and direction in order to navigate a path to success[1]. Linda says, "Circumstances can be overwhelming, and putting your children in a school can look very enticing, but if home schooling is your calling (and it is a calling), don't throw in the towel. Rather, persevere in the Lord!"

Often, Linda found herself listening to mothers pouring out their hearts about the problems and frustrations they were encountering. "Home schooling is not supposed to be like this!", they would say. Linda would respond, "Have you been praying?", "How have your quiet times been going?" and other basic Christian life questions. Sound familiar?!

In the spring of 1982, park days started in earnest, with the first one being held in La Mesita "Dallas" Park in La Mesa. It proved to be a great opportunity for children to spend time together and realize that they were not alone; there were other families who had the same weird ideas as theirs! Mothers and children came from all over the county and in that sense, La Mesita became a kind of county park group.

As things grew, though, mothers realized that traveling to La Mesa was getting old and there were enough people in their own areas to start additional park groups. Thus, CFS became an association of park groups, coordinating activities and building community across San Diego County.

So what were the activities that Linda most fondly remembers from those early years? The bicycle safety tests was the first event that came to mind, where children would bring their bikes to be inspected by an officer and to hear about safety. Sea Lab was also a great time as well as Christmas programs and annual home school mom retreats with Debbie Beyer.

Today, the Murphys are a busy family. Gareld, Linda's husband, has been in the ministry for 25 years and is now working with Tim LaHaye Ministries coordinating their prophecy conferences. Linda is busy working on a crisis pregnancy center, College Area Pregnancy Services (CAPS), which was originally started by her daughter, Jenny, who is now married and working with her husband up at Hume Lake. Factoid: Jenny was the first recipient of the CHEA High School Scholarship...right here in San Diego!

Their son Joel is at Talbot Seminary studying Christian education and works with 80 Jr. High students definitely a man of great courage! And Jeremy, the youngest son, is at a Jr. College and learning to fly a helicopter.

Over the years, people have said, "Linda, you did such a good job!", but she is quick to acknowledge that it was totally the Lord's doing. She has been excited to see how He has raised up families and leaders all over the County who share the same vision and compassion for Christian home education that she had from that first conversation with Dr. Moore. It has also been very good to see fathers take an increasingly strong role in directing their family's spiritual growth and education.

Praise the Lord that he has blessed San Diego so much through faithful families like the LaHayes and the Murphys, that He inspired leaders like Dr. Raymond Moore, Michael Farris, and J. Michael & Elizabeth Smith, and that he brought them into our lives at a critical point in time. May He be glorified in all our families, and may His praise be always on our lips!