English as a Second Language

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Vision Statement

Reaching the World at Our Doorstep
The Biblical Mandate

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you s the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Lev. 19:33-34

“. . . in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“Go and therefore make disciples of all nations….” Matt 28:19

“Don’t begin by traveling to some far off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them the kingdom is here…Don’t think you have to put on a fundraising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep going is three meals a day… This is a large work I’ve called you into, but don’t be overwhelmed by it. It is best to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for instance. The smallest act of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won’t lose out on a thing.” The Message, Matthew 10:5

Examples: Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch, Lydia; Cornelius

The Need
How many international residents live in your church’s outreach area?
What are their countries of origin and their languages?
How many lay members of your church are actively involved in hands-on, dynamic, fruitful, outreach ministry?

The Vision
To mobilize, develop and equip a team of lay-people to have an evangelistic ministry reaching local ethnic communities for Christ through teaching English as a second language.

a. To equip and empower lay people to be dynamic, fruitful, outreach missionaries and revive the local church
b. To reach the lost with the Gospel of Christ.

Core Values
1. Thinking like Missionaries – having a renewed sense of calling to the world around us, particularly internationals in our communities

2. Ministering as part of a team – becoming equipped and actively using the gifts God has given us

3. Valuing community – by realizing that the world must see the values of the Kingdom in us by demonstrating the love of Christ to them and each other

4. Pursuing spiritual empowerment – knowing that only God’s Spirit does a lasting work.

Strategy
Create a new, interactive and interpersonal outreach environment through developing International Programs & Services: Conversational English School, International Sunday School Class, Neighborhood Bible Studies, Mercy Ministries, Friendship Partners, and so on.

• Introducing spiritual content into the English School at break time, etc.
• Building relationships between teachers, helpers and students.
• Getting students into the scriptures to investigate Jesus at neighborhood Bible Studies and at international Sunday
school class.
• Spreading the Gospel through relational networks.
• Giving mercy during crises and times of need.

Mobilize and equip your lay members to think like missionaries

• Understanding the gap between my world and the world of my international neighbor
• Developing skills to connect with people in relevant and culturally sensitive ways
• Take initiate to love people
• Being empowered by prayer to reach my unbelieving friends and neighbors
• Become aware of the cultural differences, world-view differences and learn new and better communication styles and relational skills

Building the people of God in the context of community
It is out of the power of this community that the best outreach, discipling, equipping and reproduction are accomplished.

Criteria for Maintaining Thriving, Reproducing Ministry

1. Intimacy/Passion for Christ is developing through clear commitment to the Word and Prayer.
2. Intentionality: lay people are being trained and led in reaching the lost; people are coming to faith in Christ.
3. Multiplying Ministry: foundations are being laid for multiplying ministry initiatives in other churches.
4. Team: men and women are partnering together in ministry, equipped to reach and disciple others.
5. Leaders (lay) who love God and love people are being developed in ministry.
6. Fruit of the Spirit is prevalent in the ministry and the love of Christ is being demonstrated and modeled.
7. Ownership of the mission and vision of the ministry is being developed and maintained by those involved.

Terry Graham and Diana Mood
(MNA ESL Conference 11-20-03)


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