May 27, 2002

LifeWay enters home-school market
___NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention has become the first major evangelical publisher to enter the home-schooling market.
___Broadman & Holman, a division of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, recently released the "Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling: 2002-2003" by Brian Ray. It will be updated annually.
___This summer, Broadman & Holman will release "Thinking Like a Christian," a 12-week curriculum for high school students. Following in September is "The Heart of Homeschooling," a trade book aimed at helping parents and others understand this specialized form of education.
___"I think it's a significant step," Ray said of the Nashville publisher's decision to produce home-school materials. "What I've watched over the last 10 years is coming to fruition. Basically, popularity breeds popularity. And, from what I know from the people at B&H, it's also a belief and a value that this is a good thing."
___Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute, estimates between 1.6 million and 2 million children currently are taught at home. He projects the number to reach 3 million by 2010.
___David Shepherd, senior vice president and publisher of Broadman & Holman, said that while it is a relatively small niche, home-schoolers represent an expanding audience. He pointed to test marketing done two years ago at four LifeWay Christian Stores.
___In those stores, home-schooling materials outsold all other children's materials--including the popular "Veggie Tales," according to Chris Rodgers, vice president of merchandising.
___By the end of this year, 33 LifeWay stores will carry home-schooling materials.
___"They're a small but consistent market," Shepherd said. "Homeschoolers have proven to be more willing to buy at retail than they used to; they still use catalogues and go to curriculum fairs. But more and more, as Christian book stores offer home-school products the stores act like a year-round curriculum fair."
___Earlier this year, Broadman acquired the rights to four books previously released by Oregon-based Loyal Publishing:
___"The Home School Father: How You Can Play a Decisive Role in Your Child's Success," by Michael Farris, president of the Home School Legal Defense Association.
___ "The Home School Mother: A Mom Just Like You" by Farris' wife, Vickie, the mother of 10 children; and their daughter, Jayme Farris Metzgar.
___"Home Schooling: The Right Choice" by Christopher Klicka, senior counsel for Farris' organization and author of the upcoming "The Heart of Homeschooling."
___ "A Sacred Foundation: The Importance of Strength in the Home School Marriage," co-authored by Michael Farris and Reed Elam.

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