Annual Report 2015 Annual Report Download
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Literacy & Evangelism INTERNATIONAL “...in his word I put my hope.” PSALM 130:5 NIV 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 1 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 eleven- year-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 eort to share God’s hope, new primersbeginning 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 dierent 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 countriesnations 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 eectiveness 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 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.Partner Lawerteh attended this yyear’sear’s ILTI 2014 to instruct pparticipantsart and encouraencouragege colleacolleaguesgues ELLEN ADJETEY-SOWAHADJETEY- (ILTI 2014)2014) and SILASSILAS SSACKEYACKEY (ILTI 2014)20 who are doingdoing literacliteracyy work with L&E GhGhana.a Others trained bbyy LEI are also workingworking along side LawertehLawerteh.. LEI Missionaries JOSEPHJ and GEORGINAGEORGINA MMACCARTHYACCARTHY (ILTI(ILT 2003 and IILTI-GhanaLTI-Ghana 20032003),), HELENA AMOAKOAMO KESSE (ILTI(ILTI 2012)2012) and NATHANIEL NNUNOO (ILTI 2003) will jjoinoin others to constrconstructu a primer forfor the GonjaGonja unreached ppeopleeop group of NNorthernorthern Ghana. The literacliteracyy rate among the adults ooff this ppeopleeople ggroup is said to be no higherhigher than 5%. Please pray fforor this team as theythey ddevelope tools aandnd train leaders to help reach ppeopleeople with the lovinlovingg message of JJesusesus Christ. 3 PRIMER CONSTRUCTION ASIAAS Eight new post-primer booklets are available in English for translation into other languages. AFRICA Bemba (Zambia) Revision Complete Krio (Sierra Leone) Final Edit Maxakali Primer in Brazil (See next page for story.) Lango Book I Complete (MˢŗshoFkȇˢŗlee) (Uganda) Yoruba (Nigeria) Revision ASIA Complete Kui Book II (India) Complete Thai (Thailand) Complete LATIN AMERICA Maxakali (Brazil) Final Edit Huambisa (Peru) Final Edit 4 Literacy & Evangelism I n t e r n a t i o n a l 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 ȴnal 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 oer to teach people to read and write, they were accepted. A door was opened for the Gospel, discipleship and worship. 2015 Annual Report 5 6 LiteracyL&ElI & Evangelism International l 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 EUROPE 29 teachers trained NORTH AMERICA 74 teachers trained AFRICA TOTAL: 50 teachers trained 153 teachers trained TRAINING VIDEOS LiteraFyEYangelism.orgResourFesTraining Firm Foundations and Using Everyday English digital trainings are available online. 2015 Annual Report 7 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 oered 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 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 ȴnal 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. CHANCY GONDWE (ILTI 2013), a Malawi recent Masters of Theology graduateate from Stellenbosch University, Southth 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 Ȋone of the most eective ways to reach this people group because of the high illiteracy rates.” 2015 Annual Report 9 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 oɝce. 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.