Children and youth are not the only ones who have difficulty reading. According to Oklahoma.gov, 12 percent of Oklahoma adults over the age of 18 have a below basic literacy level and 31 percent were at the basic literacy level. Now think of how many times God has revealed something through reading Scripture. Oklahoma Baptists Literacy Missions equips tutors to help those with reading issues so they can not only have better literacy, but also so they can dive into God’s Word.
“Literacy Missions Ministries allow churches and individuals the opportunity to share the Gospel while meeting a very practical need in people’s lives,” said Literacy Missions Coordinator Cheryl Wilkinson. “We have the chance to help meet someone’s most pressing need, which is saving relationships with Christ, but also help and adult or child have better success in life through improved literacy skills!”
Pictured: Tutoring Children and Youth Workshop, L-R: Cheryl Wilkinson, leader; Beth Coppoc, Afrika Pruitt, JoNell Haden, John Ryan, Janelle Breiding; Barbara Marlett, leader
Over the summer, two training workshops were held which equipped 27 individuals to share the Gospel as they meet the practical literacy needs of their students. These workshops were a Tutoring Children and Youth Workshop which was held at Mustang, First from June 28-29 and a English as a Second Language Workshop held at Bethany, Council Road on July 26-27. These workshops are developed by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and are available to train volunteers working in the three areas of Literacy Missions: English as a Second Language (ESL), Adult Reading and Writing (ARW) and Tutoring Children and Youth (TCY). The ESL and TCY workshops are the most in demand in Oklahoma currently, according to Wilkinson.
A wide range of subjects are covered in the workshops. Subjects include organizing a ministry, using teaching materials, locating and placing students, lesson planning, understanding students’ needs and sharing faith with students. People who complete the training sessions also receive a certificate from the National Literacy Missions Partnership through the NAMB.
Literacy Missions ministry reaches into all communities, meeting the literacy needs of adults, children and youth alike. A main focus is training individuals to share the Gospel and demonstrating the love of Christ all while assisting those with literacy issues. This gives Southern Baptist churches and associations more opportunities to reach out into their own communities. Multiple children and parents have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, be baptized and joined a church through Literacy Missions.
“While leading an after-school tutoring ministry, I have seen unchurched children, and their families, come through the doors of the church to take part in the program and then be introduced to the Bible and Jesus Christ, while being helped with reading skills and school work,” said Wilkinson.
Typically, there are 2-4 workshops per year. The most recent ones in June and July were the final workshops scheduled for the year, but there is an ESL workshop planned for January. That workshop does not have a specified time or location yet.
For more information about future Literacy Missions workshops or to get in contact with Literacy Missions, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/evagelism/literacy/.
Feature image provided. Pictured: English as Second Language Workshop, L-R: Back row–Martha Wilson, leader; Glenda Fournier, Tony Fournier, Steve Pelphrey, Diana Fine, Jean Peterson, Heather Blackburn, Rhonda Malahy, Deidre Hopkins, Rhonda Boyce, Becky Horrigan, LaDayne Hardage, Terry Hardage, Xavier Robles. Front row — Deb Chamberlain, Heather Murr, Fay Tilley, Beth Corcoran, Anita Charlson, Valerie Haynes, Marissa Crowson [Not pictured- Stacy Neuschaefer, leader]
