Alabama Baptists minister to ethnic groups, nonreaders with literacy, language classes

The United States Census Bureau reports language diversity is on the rise, with Spanish topping the list followed by Chinese, French, German and Tagalog. Approximately one in five Americans spoke a language other than English at home in 2000. A clear indication of potential ministry opportunities, the same report shows almost 4 percent of Alabamians speak a language other than English at home.
   
Richard Alford, language missions director in the associational and cooperative missions office of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), is not surprised by the data. He believes the numbers could be higher, because not all ethnic populations report to the Census Bureau. The biggest need of most ethnic groups in Alabama is to effectively communicate in English, he said.
   
“This is not to require anyone to speak English. It is just a matter of practicality,” he said.
   
Alford explained that because most service providers use English and may not plan to learn Spanish, Korean, Lao or another language, the opportunity for assistance is essential. He asked, “How do you explain the pain in your stomach to the doctor? How do you answer the policeman when he stops you for a traffic violation? How do you ask questions in the grocery when the picture on the package is different from what you find in the contents?”
   
Gayle Leininger, retired North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionary for literacy missions, led the experienced English as a Second Language training at the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Literacy Missions conference at Shocco Springs last fall. She said language needs are no different today than when she first started in literacy missions more than 40 years ago when her husband’s military career moved them from Florida to Alaska. It was during this time Leininger met the Southern Baptist missionary and literacy missions pioneer, Lillian Isaacs, and had her first literacy training.
   
“The need has always been to communicate but the key is to help them communicate what they are doing in their lives. For example, do not teach a poultry worker how to carry on a conversation about how to get around on a campus,” she said. 
   
Leininger maintains the literacy training offered by NAMB is one of the most effective of any religious denomination. It offers certification in the 16-hour trainings in English as a Second Language, tutoring children, youth and adults in reading and writing. “I have trained a lot of teachers in English as a Second Language, and we get rid of all the theory and get right down to the practical stuff.”
   
Not only does the SBOM have the beneficial resource in the literacy curriculum supplied by NAMB but it also has leadership to help churches meet the needs of ethnic populations.
   
In 2003, NAMB named Gena Heatherly (see story, page 5) as the first state literacy missions coordinator for Alabama. “We have language teachers who attend our literacy training and can’t believe how simple but profound it is,” she said. “There is not one person who attends the training sessions who does not say they can use the information to help a family member, friend or in ministry,” she added, noting training is available at any time.
   
Different from functioning in a broader society, Alford said church planting is another approach to assisting ethnic populations. “We do not discourage any group from using their heart language and culture when worshiping and being discipled. Therefore, we are planting language churches,” he said.
   
One person responsible for guiding existing language churches and helping to start new ethnic congregations is John Yi, the special language ministry director of Madison Baptist Association and Asian population consultant for the ABSC (see story below).
   
He believes the key to reaching ethnic groups, especially the Asian population, is to be sensitive to cultural identity and building effective relationships.
   
“We need to have a special prayer for having a heart of Christ and to give us color-blind eyes to see everybody the same, regardless of social class or appearance,” Yi said, noting evangelism must be personal.
   
“I can offer resources, mentor them, start a Bible study, find a sponsoring church and lay leaders, but I have to understand their culture,” Yi said. He explained that if a leader of a group is an American-born Chinese then a pastor who is second generation or also born in America might be best for the congregation.
   
The same goes for Chinese-born leaders.
   
Yi said a great deal of time and energy goes into assisting ethnic congregations and starting ethnic churches, but the goal is always to reach people for Christ.
   
“It will seem to take longer but its fruits will be greater than we expect,” he said.