The primary goal of Literacy Missions is to intentionally share and demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is done as we meet the needs of adults who are functional nonreaders, people who need to learn to speak English, and school age children and youth who need help with school.
To Begin a Literacy Missions Ministry...
Determine which type of literacy missions ministry you need.
*Adult Reading and Writing: for native-English speakers who need to improve their reading and writing skills.
*English as a Second Language: for non-English speakers to learn to speak, read, and write English.
*Tutoring Children and Youth: for helping school-aged children and youth with their school work.
*Plan a basic Literacy Missions Workshop
*There is a basic training workshop for each of the three different types of literacy missions ministries.
*A workshop is also available for English as a Foreign Language to train volunteers for sharing their faith in Jesus Christ as they teach English where English is not the primary language.
Introductory ESL Class at Living Word Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff
Literacy Facts:
1-5 adults in the US cannot read at a functional level.
60% of the prison population and 85% of the juvenile offenders are functional illiterate.
Lack of reading skills is the primary cause of drop-outs among school-age youth. Children and youth who lack reading skills have very poor self-esteem.
More than 500,000 immigrants come to this country each year. Many do not speak English and have difficulty understanding our culture.
Benefits of Literacy Missions Ministries
Provides Christians with a non-threatening way to share the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ
Leads to new church members and starting ethnic churches
Involves church members in ministry locally and not all need to be trained. Many different skill levels and ages can be involved.
Allows church staff and others to visit and be welcomed in an un-churched family home
Become involved in Literacy Missions:
Learn how to:
*Create opportunities to share the gospel.
*Share the Gospel with your students.
*Pray effectively for your students and yourself.
*Organize a church-based literacy missions outreach ministry.
*Locate students.
*Understand students' needs and perspectives.
*Use language teaching techniques and resources.
Teach English in El Salvador on July 10-19, 2008
For more information on Literacy Missions Ministries contact:
Maryetta Dennis
Volunteer Literacy Consultant MBC
417-877-0713
mandmd@sbcglobal.net
