Literacy Ministry

Last Fall Natasha Betancourt and I set up an exhibit about English as a Second Language at this Hispanic Health Fair sponsored by Memorial Hospital at the St. Andrews Center.  Natasha coordinated volunteers from her church to paint faces and give out tattoos or salvation bracelets to all who attended.  This event was an excellent opportunity for her church youth group to reach out to the community.  It was a grand venue for me to talk face to face with various organizations who also provide services to help Internationals.

    On November 2, First Baptist Church English classes hosted our annual Thanks Meal for Ethnic groups and classes.  We had 110 present for the dinner. John Echols presented a wonderful lesson by musical sing-a-long about Holy days and how Christians celebrate during the year. All directors and students met  casually with their families.  It was a delight!

        The Cambodian group  meets with Burl Newport (ESL Director of Brainerd classes) at Brainerd Church.  The Cambodian Mission has regularly contributed to HCBA general budget as a mission church. 

Cambodian Baptist Mission

• Membership:  41      
•  Average Sunday School Attendance:  19      
• Average AM worship attendance:  19.
• (SS Teacher:  Burl F. Newport)

    The Cambodian Baptist Mission does have deacons, but no one of them has been elected as Chairman.  As for Sunday School, while most of the SS members are adults, they have two young people in their class.

     For their worship service (only AM) they have a song service, Bible reading, and one of their lay members (this is rotated among them) gives a devotional talk.

    They have been very mission-minded in that they have financially supported a Baptist church in the Cambodian capitol, Pnom Phen, as well as assisted another outlying Baptist church in Cambodia.

   Pastor Jaime Betancourt continues to minister with the Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana Red Bank. He also continues to have devotions with the Silverdale jail inmates on Tuesdays. He is on call for various groups in the city and has ministry opportunities constantly.  The church was able to purchase the house across from their property for classrooms. As of January 2007, the Red Bank Church is working together on budgeting along with Pastor Jaime and Treasurer Dee Parker.

   The Korean Church sponsored by Ridgedale is meeting in Concord Chapel building instead of the Children’s Home on Lee Highway. Mission Oaks Baptist Church in East Ridge has a Korean Congregation meeting in their facilities.

     The Filipino Church continues to meet in the Lee Highway City Church property. It is still a Baptist Church meeting in that location due to friendships with the mission pastor there.

        Rush Woodside, our homebound volunteer crafter, is busy working to supply all students with a personal handmade gift for Christmas.  Continue to pray for him and his wife, Loretta.

    What is EFL? -- a one day class for those who want to teach English on a short mission trip.  Avondale goes to Venezuela often on a mission trip. During May  Avondale  hosted English as a Foreign Language training taught by Brenda Myers. This equips and certifies teachers to work in a foreign country on a short term trip teaching English.

    Mark your calendars as  the English teacher training (ESL) will be  held January 25-26 and February 2.

    On two Saturdays (Jan. 26 and Feb. 2) the two day sessions in math, reading and other areas to train you to help a child will also be offered.  This two session Tutoring Children & Youth workshop will  be facilitated  by Loretta Swingle from 9-3pm. During this past year we had members from Silverdale, Cross Roads, East Ridge, First Chattanooga, Red Bank and Love Fellowship present plus others from the community. The TCY training is very exciting for those interested in helping within local schools, their family, neighbors or within the church.  Ten persons completed the work to become certified by the North American Mission Board this past year in TCY. Twenty three enrolled this year, making a grand total of forty-three certified in tutoring children and youth this year.

   Thirteen of the twenty-six enrolled in the English as a Second Language training workshops also certify in that area of  literacy training. 

    The ESL class schedule (page 15) is on the website and cards are available for your use in inviting those who need to learn English. They need to come to as many different classes as possible each week. Pray for Red Bank, Concord, FBC, Brainerd, Primera Iglesia Baptista Hispana de Red Bank as they host classes 7 times weekly.  

    During July alone we have changed schedules based on needs. We have purchased certification text books from the NAMB for the training for ESL and TCY totaling $411.28.  We have ordered a  new series to use in ESL totaling $4,078.52 . We are using Easy English newspapers for students and teachers at a cost of $977.50.   Many more expenses have followed as First Baptist started the new year with 42 present  (18 new refugees). We have also purchased new materials for practicing writing and conversational discussions.

    The classes continue weekly including a  2006-07 center on Hickory Valley Road in the Commons Apartments that started  September 12 – May 07.

        Continue to pray for the students and teachers.

      I received this email from a marine in Iraq who is one of our active teachers of English. ee the following:

    “Just think, we have reached another milestone…. 2007.  Seems just yesterday my men and I arrived here in Iraq.  I want to thank you for all your support and prayers.  I want to especially thank those who sent care packages over the holiday season.  Your gifts are greatly appreciated and from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. I am making a plea for various size underwear (boxers and briefs), bath towels and monetary donations.  The monetary donations are to purchase Marine regulation green t-shirts and anything else that these men need when they come in for medical treatment.  Our unit supply will refurnish desert uniform, but they do not supply underwear and other necessities.”

International  Sunday School Class at FBC

       Dot Forlidas has spent hours picking out materials for her class. We ordered her a Bible with two languages side by side so that she could assist one student with  personal Bible study. Dot and the student will be able to read each scripture and hear it in their own heart language as they study God’s word.

Appreciation Banquet for  volunteers with English classes

    There were seventy-four registered for the dinner this year at China Moon Restaurant.

The volunteers were able to select a gift of appreciation and enjoy fellowship around the meal. Usually all of their time is involved with the International students and leaves very little time for talking together. It is a highlight of the year for all of us. This year we recognized those teaching twenty years. Rush and Loretta were able to attend again this year as our craft volunteers.  Mary and Thatch Swingle joined us as special guests since their retirement at the Red Bank ESL site.

    The Directors’ Council for ESL meets  during January and July yearly. As a result of the meetings we were given permission from FBC to place a “free English” sign on 6th Street.  We also have one in front of our building and plan one for the Brainerd ESL location.

      The Chattanooga Literacy Council reorganized  on July 18th at the Baptist Building. We invited area agencies that provide services relating to Literacy issues to come together to share information. This was a large group and confirmed that we will meet quarterly at HCBA. Our next meeting is October 17th at HCBA.

    We are fortunate to have three national trainers locally: Edie Barry, Brenda Myers and Loretta Swingle. Thanks to the host of  volunteers who love this ministry and serve faithfully.