Your Children Are Not the State’s Property

Why Fathers Must Take Back the Responsibility to Educate

By Pastor Joseph Spurgeon

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it." — Proverbs 22:6

I’m bored of education.

Not because learning is boring—but because the modern education system has become a factory of fools. It produces weak men and bitter women. It catechizes children to hate their fathers, their faith, and their heritage. The public school system is not neutral. It is not passive. It is a discipleship program run by the state, and its chief aim is to shape your children into servants—not of Christ, but of the state.

As a pastor, a father of eight, and a man under the authority of God, I refuse to hand my children over to Pharaoh. And I believe you shouldn’t either.

A Vision Planted, A School Built

Years ago, when Sovereign King Church was still a vision in our hearts and a prayer on our lips, I dreamed of starting a school. I didn’t know how or when it would happen—I just knew that if we were going to plant a church that trains men to be men and families to take dominion, we needed to disciple not just adults, but children too.

By God’s grace, that dream has become reality. Last year, we launched Sovereign King Academy, a hybrid Christian school that partners with parents—not replaces them—in educating children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

I sat down recently with my assistant pastor and headmaster of Sovereign King Academy, Greg Anglen, to talk about how we built the school, what we've learned, and what other families and churches can take away from it.

Fathers—You Have Authority. Use It.

One of the most powerful truths we’ve rediscovered is this: God gives parents—not the government—the primary responsibility for educating their children. That authority flows especially through fathers. Too many men have simply outsourced this role, either to the public school system or even to their wives alone. That’s not biblical. That’s abdication.

Greg shared how he used to be hands-off in homeschooling. He assumed his wife could handle it all. But the result? Years of disjointed curriculum, discouragement, and missed opportunities. Only when he stepped up as the leader—guiding decisions, choosing structure, and investing his time—did their homeschool bear real fruit.

Men, you don’t need to do everything, but you do need to take responsibility for everything. You are the captain of the ship. If your children’s education is sinking, that’s on you. It’s not that fathers can’t enlist help but it must be intentional. A wise father may make use of a private school, a co-opt, or some other method that is God-honoring but he is still responsible.

Sovereign King Academy was created to be a help to fathers reclaiming their responsibility. Rather it enables fathers to partner with the godly men and women in raising up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Why We Split Boys and Girls

At Sovereign King Academy, we do something controversial: we educate boys and girls differently. Every Friday, we divide the students—boys focus on physical fitness, vocational trades, and skills that prepare them for biblical manhood. Girls learn domestic skills, homemaking arts, and biblical womanhood.

Why?

Because God made boys to be men—and men are builders, protectors, and providers. Girls are made to be women—and women are nurturers, helpers, and keepers of the home. The state wants to erase those distinctions. We exist to train boys to be men and girls to be godly women—without apology.

The Fruit We’re Seeing

In our first year, five students were either baptized (if credobaptist) or admitted to the Lord’s Supper (if were baptized already as an infant). Ask us sometime about Sovereign King Church’s commitment to unity even while having differences on the time and mode of baptism. We saw a young man, chewed up and spit out by the public school system, go from dreading education to loving his teachers and thriving. We’ve seen fathers grow, mothers encouraged, and children take hold of the faith for themselves.

Is it perfect? No. We are still growing and getting better ever year. But it’s real, and it’s good.

We raised over $80,000 last year to get this off the ground—everything from furniture and curriculum to building renovations. And we’re trusting God again this year as we grow. But the biggest win isn’t the money raised. It’s the families being rebuilt.

What Can You Do?

1. Take ownership of your child’s education.
   Don’t just pass it off your responsibility blindly. Don’t be passive. Ask hard questions. Get involved.

2. Join or build something local.
   If you’re in our region and need a school like ours, reach out. If not, build one. It doesn’t have to be perfect—just start.

3. Ask boldly. Give generously.
   If you’re in a position to give, help us keep this school running and growing. We offer scholarships and keep tuition low to bless families—but that means we need help from the broader body.

👉 Give here: SovereignKingAcademy.com

Expect big things from God. Attempt big things for God.
You might not feel ready. You might not feel equipped. That’s fine. Obey anyway. God provides when His people walk by faith.

The War Is Here. Are You Fighting Back?

We’re in a war for the souls of our children. The question isn’t whether they’ll be discipled—it’s who will disciple them. The state? TikTok? Or you and your church?

It’s time to take back what belongs to God. It’s time to lead.

Build. Fight. Protect. Lead. This is The Patriarchy.