“The people who are doing the most are capable of doing the most.”— Blake Willard
Blake Willard began college intending to become a nurse. He was the first person in his family to attend college, wrestled while studying, and experienced a period of homelessness as he tried to stay enrolled. His route into education and ministry was far from settled.
He eventually transferred to Azusa Pacific University and completed a degree in Biblical Studies. Looking for ministry work afterward, he found an online posting for Cameron Boys Camp, which serves at-risk young people through a therapeutic camping setting. He expected to stay two years. He stayed six.
At camp, he had to learn how to handle conflict, build trust, and care consistently for young people facing difficult circumstances. Those responsibilities gave him a practical education in leadership and in communicating care to people who might struggle to accept it.
While serving in camp leadership, Blake completed an MEd in Organizational Leadership through Clarks Summit University. This was a predecessor program delivered by our team through a contracted partnership before ACU launched; it was not an ACU degree. His ministry responsibilities supplied the context for integrated coursework.
The assignments addressed problems and projects in the organization where he worked. Research could inform a decision, and a finished project could be put to use by colleagues. Graduate study became part of how he approached his job.
After camp, Blake completed a doctorate and worked in church leadership and Christian education. He taught in a classical Christian school and became the founding principal of a new school in Las Vegas. Those roles brought him into closer contact with parents making decisions about their children’s education.
He went on to found Homeschool Mastery Group, offering coaching, resources, and support for families. His work asks parents to consider what they want education to accomplish for their children, including their formation and discipleship.
The settings have changed considerably since Cameron Boys Camp. The questions about responsibility, care, and education have remained useful. Blake now brings experience from camp, graduate study, and school leadership to conversations with families deciding how to teach their children.
