...in his word I put my hope.

Transcription

1 Literacy & Evangelism INTERNATIONAL...in his word I put my hope. PSALM 130:5 NIV

2 THE MISSION Literacy & Evangelism International (LEI) equips the Church to share the message of Jesus Christ through the gift of reading. THE STRATEGY We develop Bible-content materials to teach basic reading in local languages and conversational English. We train church leaders and missionaries to use LEI materials for evangelism, discipleship and church planting. We develop partnerships that expand the mission of LEI....in his word I put my hope. PSALM 130:5 NIV 2015 Annual Report

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4 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT: Sid Rice Dear LEI Shareholders: I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. (Psalm 130:5 NIV) I resonate with the words of the psalmist and, like you, have the privilege of daily reading the words in which we place our hope. However, a billion non-readers around the globe are not able to read for themselves the hope found in the scriptures. Literacy and Evangelism International (LEI) missionaries and global partners continue to open the eyes of non-readers that they too may read of the hope found in God s word. I am encouraged by Christopher, an elevenyear-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who shared, before he could read and write he was feeling as if I didn t even exist. Now, after learning to read using an LEI basic reader, he shares, God has opened my memory. Learning to read has given Christopher a new hope. Christopher is not alone; he is one of over twenty thousand new Bible readers created in 2014 through the ministry of LEI. In our expanding e ort to share God s hope, new primers beginning readers were developed in the Lango language of Uganda, the Bemba language of Zambia, the Huambisa language of Peru and the Maxakali language of Brazil. Fifteen new languages have been added to our online primer library. This is an increase of over 12% from the prior year. We held a successful International Literacy Training Institute (ILTI) on our Tulsa campus, represented by graduates from eight di erent nations. The cumulative impact of this event is felt around the world by thousands of teachers being trained in regional training workshops hosted by LEI missionaries and partners. We continue to expand Literacy and Evangelism s impact and global fellowship through our Member Nation Partner initiative. These partnerships represent entire countries nations that have embraced the Mission, Vision and Name of Literacy and Evangelism International. Member Nations like AEI (LEI) Brazil, L&E Ghana, Literacy International Sierra Leone, and others represent the expansion of autonomous, indigenous, self-governing partners growing the ministry and its e ectiveness around the world. We celebrate that our God, plus your faithful support, has accomplished great things this past year. I personally want to thank you for your investment in giving hope to new readers. May God continue to bless you for your faithful support as together we expand God s kingdom by sharing the message of Jesus Christ though the gift of reading. Always your grateful brother in Christ, 2 Literacy & Evangelism International

5 PARTNERSHIPS L&E Ghana SAMUEL LAWERTEH (ILTI 2008) has been serving in literacy evangelism ministry for many years and is now president of L&E Ghana, a new LEI Member Nation Partner. Lawerteh attended this year s ILTI 2014 to instruct participants and encourage colleagues ELLEN ADJETEY-SOWAH (ILTI 2014) and SILAS SACKEY (ILTI 2014) who are doing literacy work with L&E Ghana. Others trained by LEI are also working along side Lawerteh. LEI Missionaries JOSEPH and GEORGINA MACCARTHY (ILTI 2003 and ILTI-Ghana 2003), HELENA AMOAKO KESSE (ILTI 2012) and NATHANIEL NUNOO (ILTI 2003) will join others to construct a primer for the Gonja unreached people group of Northern Ghana. The literacy rate among the adults of this people group is said to be no higher than 5%. Please pray for this team as they develop tools and train leaders to help reach people with the loving message of Jesus Christ. 3

6 PRIMER CONSTRUCTION Eight new post-primer booklets are available in English for translation into other languages. ASIA AFRICA Bemba (Zambia) Revision Complete Krio (Sierra Leone) Final Edit Lango Book I (Uganda) Complete Maxakali Primer in Brazil (See next page for story.) (M sho k lee) Yoruba (Nigeria) Revision ASIA Complete Kui Book II (India) Thai (Thailand) Complete Complete LATIN AMERICA Maxakali (Brazil) Huambisa (Peru) Final Edit Final Edit 4 Literacy & Evangelism Intern ati ona l

7 Jerry Manus, LEI-Peru, demonstrates LEI s reading method while helping with the Maxakali primer. MAXAKALI PRIMER CONSTRUCTION Brazil CAREY JO JOHNSTON, LEI-Canada and JERRY MANUS, LEI-Peru, worked with a team gathered in Brazil to create the Maxakali primer. Working under time constraints, an electrical power outage, with computer battery power nearly gone, the team witnessed that the Lord supplies His power for all He wants accomplished. Carey Jo Johnston, LEI-Canada (left) with new Maxakali friend. HUAMBISA PRIMER Peru JERRY AND KATHY MANUS, LEI missionaries in Peru, are working on the Huambisa primer which is now in the nal editing stages. Jerry recently shared this success story. Vicente, a leader of Urarina missionaries, tells how they were unwelcome when they went to plant a church in an Urarina village. When the villagers realized the missionaries brought literacy, that they o er to teach people to read and write, they were accepted. A door was opened for the Gospel, discipleship and worship Annual Report 5

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9 ENGLISH LANGUAGE MINISTRY (ELM) DON EDIC (English Language Ministry Director) has created a new short-term mission team curriculum, Nation to Nations, for teaching English to non-english speakers. Don with GEORG AND MARTHA ORT prepared short-term missionaries from HOLY CROSS ANGLICAN CHURCH in Alpine, Texas, to teach English in Croatia. ENGLISH LANGUAGE MINISTRY WORKSHOPS NORTH AMERICA 74 teachers trained TOTAL: 153 teachers trained EUROPE AFRICA 29 teachers trained 50 teachers trained TRAINING VIDEOS Litera ye angelism.org Resour es Training Firm Foundations and Using Everyday English digital trainings are available online Annual Report 7

10 INTERNATIONAL LITERACY TRAINING INSTITUTE ILTI 2014 Seventeen pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders from eight nations gathered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this past summer for the 33rd Annual International Literacy Training Institute (ILTI). Directed by TEDD LODES, this six-week intensive training experience o ered the best in literacy and ESL methods and materials. Participants studied Evangelism, Primer Construction and Use, Project Management, and Leadership. Though the coursework was intense, participants also enjoyed worship, prayer, Bible study and fellowship in a loving multi-cultural setting. You can apply to attend this yearly event through the LEI website <LiteracyEvangelism.org>. 8 Literacy & Evangelism International

11 ILTI IMPACT Our ILTI students go into the world and share the Gospel and the literacy tools they have received. Here is a sample of the worldwide impact of ILTI graduates. Uganda CAROLYN JONES, (ILTI 2013) KEITH JONES, and LEVI ABONGO (ILTI 2013) along with SILA-NDUNDA NZONGO, (ILTI 2011) LEI Primer Construction Consultant from D.R. Congo, led the team that gathered in Lira, Uganda, to create the Lango primer, Book 1 and Book 2 (now in its nal stages). These reading primers, along with a supply of new reading glasses, will greatly enhance the Lango people s opportunity for learning to read to read the Bible. Ravaged by war, schools in Uganda were closed for two decades. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2006, 72% of Lango adults have less than a few years of primary school education. We praise the Lord for all that is being accomplished through literacy missionaries in Uganda. Malawi CHANCY GONDWE (ILTI 2013), a recent Masters of Theology graduate ate from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, conducted Teacher Training Workshops in Mangochi District, Malawi, Africa, (literacy rate 47%). He also led workshops in Lilongwe (the capital city) with LEI missionary MAXWELL MPITANYANGA (ILTI 2006). This past year, 45 teachers were trained in seven Teacher Training Workshops in several districts. In October, the Bible Society of Malawi launched its translation of the Bible for the Chiyao people, a project that took nearly 19 years to complete. Now, more than ever, there is incentive to learn to read. Chancy considers literacy ministry one of the most e ective ways to reach this people group because of the high illiteracy rates Annual Report 9

12 MRS. ALICE RICE by Sid Rice Alice Rice was a missionary. Her foreign missionary journey began 65 years ago when she and her two young children boarded a boat headed for Korea. She would spend 15 years there. She left her family and friends, safety, her culture and material possessions, to serve a people she didn t even know. Why? To follow Jesus, to be obedient to His call to go and make disciples of all nations. Nine years ago, Korean missionaries with LEI, Gloria and Gamaliel, were staying in Tulsa at LEI s dormitory. A Christianity Today cover story at that time was titled, The Rise of the Korean Church, (the church Mom had served as a missionary for 15 years). I sent Gloria and Gamaliel a note of thanks with the edition of Christianity Today. The next morning Gamaliel stood in the entrance to my o ce. Bowing, he said, I want to thank you because your parents came to Korea. There are many around the world, who are standing on the spiritual shoulders and legacy of Alice Rice. Alice Rice was co-founder of LEI. The scripture from Luke 14:16-19 encapsulates the heart of the mission: We are anointed to proclaim good news to the poor... give sight to the blind... as we share the message of Christ through the gift of reading. Alice was recently referred to as LEI s missiological matriarch. In other words, LEI s mother, the mission s mama. At the end of LEI s International Literacy Training Institute (ILTI) each year, there is a graduation ceremony. ILTI students ocked to have pictures taken with the one whom they considered their mother, a mother who loved with an unconditional love the people of Korea, Indonesia, Kenya, DR Congo, India, and the list goes on. In India alone last year the impact of literacy evangelism was 3,493 new believers. Though her unconditional love extended around the world, it was also shared with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It s been said, and I believe it is true, parents give a child the rst perspective of what God is like. Mom re ected God s unconditional love. I was in my second semester of my sophomore year at the University of Tulsa when I withdrew from all my courses. As a parent, what would you say to a son or daughter who just dropped out of college? Mom s response: What are we going to do to celebrate? I know the stress you ve been under working and going to school. Let s have a party! (She probably meant an ice cream party.) 10 Literacy & Evangelism International

13 Amazing unconditional love re ecting the love of our heavenly Father. As a family, we believe in God s unconditional love: a love that loved us even when we were still in our sin, in rebellion; a love that extended to the sacri ce of His son so that we could be with Him for eternity. We have this hope, assurance, con dence. Jesus has kept His promise that He has gone ahead to prepare a place for Mom. She has gone where there is no pain and su ering. The disease that took her life is gone. In January, Mom told my older brother Roland, Call my husband to come and get me and take me home. The bridegroom, even Jesus Christ, has come and He has taken her home. Mom, our sister, Grandmommie, and Great Grandma, is gone from this earth, and she will be missed. But the memories of a strong woman of God, a pioneering missionary, a missiological matriarch, and a loving mother, on whose spiritual shoulders and legacy we stand, will never be forgotten Annual Report 11

14 LONGEVITY Biederman, Johnston, and Hickman This year we celebrate milestones in the faithful and long-term service of three key women in LEI s ministry. ANA BIEDERMAN (left) has served LEI for 20 years. She is the founder of, and is now liaison to, Alfabetização e Evangelização Internacional (AEI-Brazil). REV. CAREY JO JOHNSTON (middle) was trained by Dr. Robert F. Rice 25 years ago and continues as Managing Director of LEI-Canada. An expert in primer construction, Carey Jo serves locally and also travels internationally to create primers and train people in how to use them. PATTY HICKMAN (right) was hired by Dr. Rice 30 years ago. An irreplaceable asset to our organization, she is the executive secretary and desktop publisher besides having countless other responsibilities. These three ladies have made a tremendous contribution and impact in literacy evangelism ministry throughout the world. God has truly blessed LEI with gifted and talented people who share their skills, talents and love for God s people doing the vital work of sharing the message of Jesus through the gift of literacy. 12 Literacy & Evangelism International

15 LONGEVITY Rev. John Taylor The REV. JOHN TAYLOR retired from LEI in December 2014 after 30 years of dedicated ministry. Joining LEI as missionaries in 1984, John and his wife KATHY TAYLOR, along with their children, headed to Nepal in There, they published the Biblecontent Nepali primer, Naulo Jeewan (New Life), trained literacy teachers, and served the people they loved. Their church-based literacy programs are still in operation today giving thousands the opportunity to learn to read in their native languages, so they can read God s word and meet Jesus their Lord and Savior. Upon returning to the US, John became President of LEI ( ) following in the footsteps of Dr. Robert F. Rice, the founding director. As president, John was instrumental in establishing innovative leadership strategies and developing worldwide training programs, an English language learner curriculum, and dozens of new international language primers. After presiding over LEI for ten years, John returned to eld ministry serving as a Senior International Consultant and participating in a variety of mission pursuits. As this chapter closes for the Taylors, we celebrate all our Lord has accomplished through them and wish John and Kathy all blessings as they look forward to future ministry endeavors Annual Report 13

16 WEB RESOURCES TO THE NATIONS In LEI received 3,640 unique website visits from 138 countries LEI has created Biblebased literacy primers (basic readers) in more than 237 languages 183 are available for free download from our website. This is a 12% increase from last year. Through our website you can order resources, sign up for training events, take actual training, send us a message, discover how you can serve, and make donations Annual Report 14

17 ASIA LEI WORLDWIDE IMPACT ALSO NOW AVAILABLE... AFRICA Hindi workbooks and teacher training guide Thai Books 1&2: Thailand Kui Books 1&2: India Bemba Books 1-3: Zambia Lango Book 1: Uganda Yoruba Books 1&2: Nigeria 2015 Annual Report 15

18 LEI WORLDWIDE IMPACT THE AMERICAS Passport to the World of English audio CD #3 is now available. Media Director, KENYON GERBRANDT, with the help of others, increased Online Digital Training opportunities. CHRISTA RICE and BOB BIEDERMAN in the recording studio creating PWE audio CD s. Nation to Nations, written by DON EDIC, the new Short- Term-Team English Language Ministry (ELM) program, is now available Annual Report Literacy & Evangelism International 16

19 TULSA LITERACY CENTER ALICE BONES (Director of the Ministry Center, Sand Springs, Oklahoma), ANDREW AND DONNA (Andrew s tutor) celebrate Andrew s successful completion of Firm Foundations, Book 1. Andrew and Donna are volunteers at the Ministry Center where Donna tutors Andrew. With diligence, Andrew continues to work on Book 2 and read Bible verses. Pictured at right, IVAN (left) and his tutor, LEI Board of Trustees member MAX DEARDORFF (right), work on their lessons at the Tulsa Literacy Center on LEI s main campus. With hard work, great determination and success, Ivan has completed Firm Foundations, Book 3, graduating out of the Firm Foundations materials and on to reading the Bible. DWIGHT (second from right) and his tutor, JAN (second from left) celebrate Dwight s successful completion of Firm Foundations, Book 2. LARRY BUELL, TLC Coordinator (far left), and Dwight s encouraging wife TIFFANY (far right) share in the celebration. Dwight has recently nished Book 3, thus graduating from the Firm Foundations curriculum. A deacon in his church, he is now reading his King James Bible, reaching the goal we hope for each of our students. We congratulate the many students and tutors who are nding success in sharing the gift of reading as they share the message of Jesus Christ Annual Report 17

20 2014 FINANCIAL REPORT * INCOME $168,055 $621,370 $43,089 $32,841 $30,011 Unrestricted Gifts Missionary Support Project Support Tuition & Materials Other $895,366 Total EXPENSES Missionary Support 69.4% Unrestricted Gifts 18.8% Project Support 4.8% Tuition & Materials 3.7% Other 3.3% $692,081 $104,651 $78,844 $19,790 Missionary Support Mission Mobilization & Ministry Management & General Communication & Publicity $895,366 Total Mission Mobilization & Ministry 11.7% Management & General 9% Communication & Publicity 2% Missionary Support 77.3% *unaudited 18 Literacy & Evangelism International

21 Literacy & Evangelism INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2015 Ford Brett Max Deardorff Gary Dundee, Treasurer Mateen Elass, Vice-Chair Hess Hester Jim Miller Robert Perugino Kathryn Pile, Secretary Richard Reinking, Chair Sid Rice, Ex Officio Member John Stam MINISTRY DIRECTORS Gregory Bangura, West Africa Director Robert Biederman, North America Director Donald Edic, English Language Ministry Director Kenyon Gerbrandt, Media Director Carey Jo Johnston, LEI-Canada Managing Director James Kigamwa, Global Research Director (candidate) Gamaliel Kim, Central Asia Director Nam-Hyeon Kim, Southeast Asia Director Tedd Lodes, Latin America Director Robert Mulloy, Philippines/Refugees Director Georg Ort, Europe Director Roland Rice, Chief Financial Officer Sid Rice, President and CEO Philip Truesdale, Pastoral Care Director 2015 Annual Report 19

22 SHORT-TERM TEAM Dominican Republic IVAN AND CLAIRE ROSALIA, LEI Missionaries in Dominican Republic, hosted the PURDUE CAMPUS HOUSE TEAM. These and countless others ha e shared the message of Jesus Christ by sharing the gift of reading lo ally nationally and internationally. Is our Lord alling you to Literacy and Evangelism ministry? 20 Issue #2, 2015 The Messenger Annual Report 2015

23 LEI s latest news can be accessed through our twitter and facebook accounts and by signing up for LEI s newsletters. twitter.com/leiusa facebook.com/leiusa LEI is equipped to receive donations through Electronic Fund Transfers. Please contact our Tulsa o ce to request a form to initiate this service. LEI is a member of Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Media Director: Kenyon Gerbrandt Editor: Christa Rice Graphic Design: Emily Lodes Cover photo: Gyan Mochary Computer image page 14 created by Patrick Morrison of the Noun Project. Scripture, unless stated otherwise, is from the New International Version. Literacy & Evangelism International 21

24 Literacy & Evangelism INTERNATIONAL Rev. Sid V. Rice, President 1800 South Jackson Avenue Tulsa, OK Phone (918)