Literacy Missions

What is Literacy Missions?  Literacy Missions is sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through ministering to those with literacy needs.

California Southern Baptist Churches can be involved in literacy missions to meet the needs of internationals in their community through English as a Second Language (ESL), designed to build relationships with international college students, refugees and other immigrants.  As churches help them gain a valuable skill – speaking English better – church members can naturally share Jesus Christ.

When I found out that Meridian Southern Baptist Church was hosting an English as a Second Language (ESL) training, I felt the Lord leading me to take the class.  While there, I began watching the teacher, Gil De La Rosa, and asked how I could become a leader to train teachers!  Wow!  I did not know what I was in for.  In July I flew to Arkansas to attend the Literacy Missions Leadership Workshop.  While there I made some life-long friends in the ministry, but more importantly I learned how to train teachers to do the ministry of English as a Second Language (ESL). It was a week long process and at times I felt like I was trying to drink from a fire hose. (there was a lot of information to cover and learn.).

What a wonderful opportunity we have here in San Diego to present the Gospel to those who do not speak our language.  We are commanded, as followers of Christ, to teach the Gospel to every nation.  While all of us cannot go to a foreign country to do this we can be missionaries right here in our own churches.

English as a Second Language ministries share the gospel while teaching internationals how to speak English.

Church-based English as a Second Language ministries:

• meet a specific, felt need — the need to speak English
• help the student develop skills necessary for functioning effectively in North America
• begin and nurture lifelong friendships
• reach multiple people groups, including those from closed countries
• share Jesus with internationals who may not have other opportunities to hear the gospel
• often result in new ethnic or language congregations

English as a Second Language is just one part of Literacy Missions, there is Adult Reading and Writing, and Tutoring Children and Youth.  My plan for Hilltop Baptist Church in Chula Vista is to offer FREE classes for English as a Second Language and Tutoring Children and Youth. 

Please pray for this ministry and what God would have you do for your community!