Literacy & Evangelism International MESSENGER THE Summer 2012 The Worldwide Training Edition A Publication of Literacy & Evangelism International Issue # 2 From the Executive Director LEVERAGING OUR LEGACY with DIGITAL TRAINING Literacy and Evangelism International (LEI) has a 45-year-old rich and productive heritage. Our mission equips the worldwide church to share the message of Jesus Christ through the gift of reading. The number of Bible-content literacy primers (basic readers) continues to increase with 228 languages already available. We have digitally archived 139 primers on our website which can be freely downloaded, at no charge, anywhere in the world. Now, we are taking our brick and mortar training events to a digital format to expand our training efforts nationally and internationally. We continue to host the five-week crosscultural International Literacy Training Institute on our Tulsa campus each summer. This year this included fourteen missionaries from eight different nations. Yet, procuring visas and the cost of airfare are huge obstacles for those interested in attending our US training. One answer to these challenges is found in hosting Regional Literacy Training Institutes. However, the ultimate answer is to take our training to digital platforms. Part of our training institute is already available online, giving us entré into closed countries and expanding the LEI teaching and training methodology globally. By God s grace and with your continued partnership, we will move further into the digital world for the sake of God s people, advancing his Kingdom. Your brother in Christ, Reverend Sid Rice From the Media Director What do we mean when we say that we are taking our training digital? That is a great question, and it is important to start by saying the idea of digital training is constantly evolving. With that as the foundation, let us begin by answering another question, Why? Why do we need digital training? First and foremost, this gives Kenyon Gerbrandt the opportunity to expand and leverage the ministry of LEI. God has given us an incredible mission and a wonderful set of tools to accomplish that mission. We need to steward our resources and opportunities for the glory of God s Kingdom. The second compelling reason for a digital version of LEI s training is access. Over the past few years it has become increasingly difficult for individuals to travel globally, not just in terms of Christian workers from distant lands coming to the US, but even for US missionaries to travel to other parts of the world. It is difficult in terms of finances and the availability of visas. Digital training represents low hanging fruit. It is a relatively cheap production and distribution process. With the right equipment, editing videos can be accomplished almost instantaneously, making the training videos ready for immediate distribution. When it comes to distribution, access via the Internet is the most cost-effective and efficient medium. Not everyone has access to the Internet, especially an Internet connection that would allow for the streaming of hours of video. Transferring the videos to DVDs and sending them out worldwide is much faster and cheaper than assembling a team, arranging and organizing a training event, and carrying out the plan. (continued on page 5) LEI takes brick and mortar training events to digital formats to expand training efforts nationally and internationally.
Funlola (South Africa), and Rosanne (USA), memorize the Firm Foundations script. Faith (Kenya, Africa) and Tania (Bulgaria) practice using word cards. Phil Truesdale, a teacher during Module I, presents Erin (USA) with her certificate of completion. International Literacy Training Institute USA MODULE I The LEI staff prepares all year long for the annual five-week International Literacy Training Institute (ILTI), USA, which happens at Tutor Place (the Tulsa campus training facility) every summer. ILTI consists of two modules. In Module I, students are introduced to the concept of literacy evangelism. They complete English Language Ministry training using Passport to the World of English (PWE) or Using Everyday English (UEE). This training is used to teach English to those for whom English is not a primary language. Another significant piece of Module I is called the Literacy Tutor Training Workshop. In this class, the LEI Firm Foundations literacy materials are explored. Firm Foundations is primarily used with adults who already know and understand English, though it has been used at times for teaching children, those with reading disabilities, and those who speak other native languages. These materials contain lessons packed with Bible content which is consistent with the evangelism aspect of the LEI program. Within this module, students also learn how to lead a small group Inductive Bible Study (a churchplanting tool), and they are introduced to cross-cultural communication. For some students, this is their first visit to the United States. Because students live in community at Tutor Place, they are instructed in how to serve one another in love through community chores and fellowship times. Several come to Tulsa for only this first Module of training. Ted (USA) demonstrates one of the steps in Using Everyday English. Helena (Ghana, Africa) and Pat (USA) look over the Firm Foundations series of books. Michelle (USA) watches and learns from the Using Everyday English demonstration. The LEI Messenger: Worldwide Training Edition 2012 page 2
International Literacy Training International Institute Literacy USA Module II Training Institute USA MODULE II Emmanuel (Ghana, Africa) leads his first TTW. David (Togo, Africa) takes notes during class instruction. Module II begins with the third week of ILTI. Students learn how to develop and expand their outreach through an effective literacy ministry and methods for developing literacy materials. The first part of the training consists of instruction in how to lead a Teacher-Training Workshop (TTW). At the end of this third week, students prepare and conduct a workshop, training volunteers from the community in the LEI method used with international languages overseas. In the fourth week, students are trained in the development of leadership skills. Project management for literacy includes initiating and supervising literacy classes, reporting progress made, and working within a ministry team. And finally, introduction to Primer Construction explores the philosophy behind and the detailed steps necessary to create a Literacy Evangelism primer. Once students complete ILTI, they are ready to take materials back to their home countries and begin a literacy program. In this way they can promote the mission statement of LEI: Literacy & Evangelism International (LEI) equips the Church to share the message of Jesus Christ through the gift of reading. 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. Tania learns to teach the Overseas Literacy Method using a poster she created in her native language, Bulgarian. Harold (Columbia) carefully letters his instruction poster in Spanish. ILTI graduating class of 2012, Modules I and II, represent the USA and seven other countries from around the world. The LEI Messenger: Worldwide Training Edition 2012 page 3
Latin America: When training literacy workers, we often tell them that Satan doesn t want people to read because God wrote a book. This book has forever changed my life, and I want it to do the same for others all over the world, says Tedd Lodes, LEI Latin America Director. For a decade, I ve been traveling East Africa: An international literacy Teacher Training Workshop (TTW) was hosted by PALM (our partners in Nairobi, Kenya) in July 2012 with eight participants from three countries (Kenya, Uganda, and USA). Joseph Matheka, the TTW leader, concluded, What emerged from the workshop was the effectiveness of the Bible-based literacy materials in teaching literacy. One of the organizations represented - Caris Foundation - is already using the each one teach one strategy, producing on average 57 newly literate women each month. PALM plans to have another training next year. India: Some Teacher Training Workshops, like those of our missionary Chrystella Walchli in northern India, have to be relocated at the last minute to safer places due to terrorist groups intent on kidnapping and killing foreigners for media attention. Most recently, Chrystella traveled for a month, as she put it, by a variety of transport, plane, bus, train, open jeep, share taxi four-wheel-drive, auto rickshaws with a lot of walking. Excessive heat, students with minimal education, undependable electricity, and overcrowded transportation Regional Literacy Training Institutes Tedd Lodes stands with the LAMP team - LEI s newest strategic partner organization in Guatemala. around the world to train volunteers to become literacy teachers in their own languages. My wife Emily and I are convinced that it s time to identify faithful national workers to teach people how to read as a service to God and to their fellow brothers and sisters. This is the heart of developing Regional Literacy Training Institutes. (You can read more at http://teddlodes.blogspot.com). Literacy missionaries in Olkoroi, Kenya, travel to their class on foot because local roads became impassable due to rains and flooding. TTW Kenya Literacy trainer Jonathan demonstrates the teaching steps on a lesson chart. are just a few of the challenges literacy missionaries face. Yet sometimes the work is easy to carry out as it was for Chrystella in Ziro, India, where she was treated like family as she worked with Apatani and Nepali Christians. She confides, regarding a trip in April 2012, The greatest joy is that one Hindu lady has become a follower of Jesus Christ and is now a very ardent believer and witness to her neighbors. Hallelujah! Central Africa: Pastor Nzongo Sila-Ndunda, LEI missionary in DR Congo, reports that a trip was postponed because of a new rebellion in Goma. Sila trained teachers in 40 churches and communities, but because of post electoral events, many activities were paralyzed because centers were nonoperational for three months in Kinshasa, Bandundu and Bas-Congo. Now, literacy programs are revitalized. Sila writes, Do We Know the Price of a Soul?...LET S LOOK FOR THEM! With this in mind, we go everywhere and make people His disciples teaching them first to read and write. West Africa: With the Mende and Themne primer launches in Sierra Leone last year, Pastors Gregory and Agnes Bangura have led four Teacher Training Workshops since February 2012 and have prepared 56 Literacy Champions to teach others. Thirty have been trained in Gbendembu and twenty-six in Lungi, Sierra Leone. This is just one example of the worldwide training potential. The Banguras will conduct an International Literacy Training Institute in Sierra Leone in 2013. (See page 6 for information.) New Look and Name Literacy workers from DR Congo cross Mai- Ndombe Lake to deliver literacy materials. Our newsletter has a new name and a new look. The title, The Messenger, was inspired by the definition of the word messenger. A messenger is a bearer of news. Angels are God s divine messengers and the word angel can be found hidden in our ministry s name, Literacy & Evangelism. At Jesus birth, an angel announced to the shepherds in the fields, I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. (Luke 2:10, NIV) With our newsletter, we bring you good and joyful news. We tell the stories of missionaries around the world who actively tell the good news of the message of Jesus, while sharing the gift of reading with those who are illiterate. Thank you for being a part of this Great Commission work. The LEI Messenger: Worldwide Training Edition 2012 page 4
English Language Ministry Training Institutes Don Edic Rev. Don Edic Over 120 people were trained for English Language Ministry in Ghana, Africa, Sept. 1-21, 2011. Don Edic, LEI s English Language Ministries Curriculum Development Director, and Lori Martin, ESL Director LEI-Canada, teamed up with volunteers and national literacy champions to conduct two ESL Training Institutes in Abokobi and Takoradi. The first training held in Abokobi included pastors from the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. These leaders have returned to their churches to train people to tutor others with Using Everyday English (UEE) written by Don Edic. One participant, Helena, owns an international literacy school where she has already begun using UEE. (Helena came to Tulsa this summer to receive further training at ILTI-USA) Due to the curriculum s great success, a colleague of hers will be using the curriculum in Asia. Another participant will introduce UEE, with its Bible content, into the educational programs in the prison system with the full knowledge and blessing of his superiors. Rev. Innocent, an Anglican priest and church planter, attended the training. He plans to have an inter-denominational conference to introduce church leaders to the ministry of LEI and Bible-based Literacy Evangelism. Rev. Innocent also attended ILTI-USA this summer. Students expressed their sincere appreciation for the new tool they have to share the Gospel as they teach English. Lori Martin It is easy to forget, when we are involved in Literacy work whether Adult Literacy or English as a Second Language that it is front line ministry. The battle on our mission field is fierce. Praise be to God, the charge He gave us to train and equip, was carried out successfully. ~Lori Martin, LEI-Canada The LEI Messenger: World Wide Training Edition 2012 Helena speaks at ILTI - USA graduation and encourages her classmates. She also attended UEE training in Ghana. Rev. Innocent from Cote d Ivoire, demonstrates a step of Using Everyday English for his classmates. The previous story is just one example of the many LEI workshops that go on around the world. This year, Don Edic trained a group of 14 in Louisville, Kentucky, where a Chinese-speaking church is teaming up with the English-speaking church to provide classes for both the Chinese folks as well as immigrants from Myanmar who live nearby. Don also led a training in Derby, England, with a total of thirty-four trainees and seven students. Classes are being offered to Roma-speaking gypsies from Slovakia. There s a fairly large gypsy congregation, and we are told that about 100 members want to learn conversational English, Don reports. LEI missionaries Dr. Nancy Sue Laminack and Rev. Bob Biederman also led training in Bloomington, Illinois. They plan to do another with LEI Missionary Phil Truesdale in Kansas City this fall. (Continued from page 1.) Pictured above, Jeanie teaches one of the classes established from the Bloomington training. LEI Digital Training Kenyon Gerbrandt Does this mean that LEI is going to move away from conducting live in-person training? That has never been a part of the goal or vision. Having just completed another International Literacy Training Institute (ILTI), there will always be tremendous value in conducting this type of training (see articles on pages 2 and 3). Our annual ILTI training in Tulsa, regional ILTIs, or smaller Teacher Training Workshops (TTWs) will continue to be planned, offered and, God willing, conducted all around the world. Digital training will fill in the gap, allowing LEI to train more trainers and teachers so that we can share the gift of reading AND the message of Jesus Christ! ~Kenyon Gerbandt LEI Media Director page 5
Bible Verse: Psalm 119: 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (NIV) PRAYER REQUESTS MONDAY: Please pray for the work, progress, and partnerships needed to take our LEI literacy training program to a digital platform. Please pray for Kenyon as he leads this initiative. TUESDAY: Please pray for the fourteen students from eight countries who graduated from our summer US International Literacy Training Institute. Pray that the literacy programs they plan in their home countries will prosper. WEDNESDAY: Please pray for the success of International Literacy Training and Teacher Training Workshops in Africa (March 2013), Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America (October and November 2012). THURSDAY: Please pray for all those who are learning to read, so they can read the precious Word of God for themselves in their own languages. FRIDAY: Please pray for Tutor Training Workshop teachers, that God will keep them safe from all harm, and that they will come up with effective ways to address challenges. WEEKENDS: Please thank our LORD for his gift of saving grace and for his gift of literacy. Find LEI Digitally on the Worldwide Web LEI Website Home Page https://www.literacyevangelism.org Find the Online Literacy Training Videos https://www.literacyevangelism.org/resources/training Download Materials https://www.literacyevangelism.org/resources/materials Follow on our Blogs https://www.literacyevangelism.org/mission/blogs Follow us on facebook http://www.facebook.com/leiusa Follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/leiusa NORTH AMERICA Basic Literacy Tutor Training Workshop October 23, 25, 27, 2012 Tulsa, Oklahoma Contact: BobBiederman@literacyinternational.net ESL Tutor Training Workshop (Passport to the World of English) November 15, 16, 17 Kansas City Contact: PhilTruesdale@literacyinternational.net SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA International Literacy Training Institute 2013 March 11-22, 2013 Contact: gregory@literacyinternational.net For more detailed information about Literacy Trainings and Digital Resources, please see our website. https://www.literacyevangelism.org/resources/training Interested in trying something new this Christmas? Please consider blessing an illiterate person with the gift of reading in honor of someone you love. LEI Christmas cards that say, A gift has been made in your behalf, are available to be given in lieu of a Christmas gift. The suggested donation is $10.00 per card. Please contact info@literacyinternational.net for more information. The Messenger: Literacy & Evangelism International is published tri-annually in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Literacy & Evangelism International The Reverend Sid V. Rice, Executive Director 1800 South Jackson Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74107-1897 Phone (918) 585-3826 FAX (918) 585-3224 E-mail: info@literacyinternational.net Website: www.literacyevangelism.org Would your church like someone to make a mission presentation? Please contact our Executive Director: SidRice@LiteracyInternational.net The LEI Messenger: Worldwide Training Edition 2012 page 6