Mr. Joaquin Fernandez:  Homeschool Conference Speaker and Workshop Leader Details

• Art: Multimedia / Photography / Film

IndoctriNation: Public Schools and the Decline of Christianity in America
IndoctriNation is a 90-minute documentary film that takes the audience on a panoramic exploration of one of the most important and controversial issues in the history of mankind, the issue of education. Traveling all over America with his family in a big yellow school bus and conducting a series of candid conversational interviews, Colin Gunn, a Scottish filmmaker, actor, and homeschool father of seven children living in Texas, is on a quest to discover the origins of our modern educational system. What he discovers is a masterful design that sought to replace God's recipe for training up the next generation with a humanistic, man-centered program that fragmented the family and undermined the influence of the Church and its Great Commission. Part documentary, part testimonial -- a confessional and a rebuke, this film is above all a challenge and an encouragement to millions of Christians who need to know what history, experience, and the Scriptures have to say about what is perhaps the pivotal issue of our time: the discipleship and training of the next generation.

The History of American Compulsory Education
Most Americans, including Christians, believe the public schools had a Christian origin. While the new atheists fight tooth and nail to erase any vestiges of Christianity from our nation's early history, well-meaning ministries are fighting to "take back the schools" and for a return of the Bible and prayer to the government schools. Will any amount of salt and light turn back the tide of secularism in our schools? In this presentation, Joaquin will look at the obscure and surprising origins of the American compulsory education system, its architects and main players, and show you—in their own words—what today's public school system was designed to accomplish. So what is the proper response of caring Christians facing our godless educational establishment?
 
Mentoring the Next Generation—Apprenticeships
 Drawing from his experience mentoring young men from his church and around the nation, Joaquin will seek to cast a vision for how the recent resurgence of internships and apprenticeships has the potential to return health to the economy—at home and in our communities—and prepare men for leadership in the church and beyond. Joaquin will share some candid behind-the-scenes stories of how interns were responsible for much of what is seen in his award-winning film "IndoctriNation."
 
A Christian Education Manifesto
In the process of research for his documentary film "IndoctriNation," Joaquin, a filmmaker and homeschool dad, had his own paradigm significantly shifted as he was confronted with questions such as: 1) Where did the K-12 system come from and why do we subscribe to it? 2) What is the proper role of testing in the training of children? 3) What does the Word of God say regarding the purpose of education in the first place? In this presentation, Joaquin will share some of his discoveries and seek to bring Biblical hope to parents who may be fearful about the future—and ability to succeed in life—of their children.
 
Christian Filmmaking is not for the Faint of Heart
In this very personal presentation, Joaquin will share some of the challenges he faced by following God's lead during the production of his documentary film, when provision was guaranteed only by faith. Drawing from the biblical account of God calling Abraham out from his comfort zone into unknown territory, Joaquin paints a picture that may be helpful to those seeking to do God's will in the field of Christian filmmaking. He also brings a cautionary application from James 3:1 and tells young Christians: Let not many of you become filmmakers!

• Film writer/producer/director
• Media consultant: The Exodus Mandate Project
• President: The Lighthouse (video production and graphic design firm)

Joaquin is a veteran producer/director of documentaries, television commercials, and educational and marketing videos. He has worked in the U.S., France, Italy, Russia, Israel, Portugal, Japan, the Philippines, and the Caribbean. Originally from Miami, Florida, Joaquin worked for several multinational ad agencies in the 90’s, and provided video solutions for higher education. He is a media consultant for The Exodus Mandate Project and president of The Lighthouse, a video production and graphic design firm (www.videoandgraphics.com). Joaquin lives in North Carolina with his wife and four children.