The American Bible Society and the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA), a trade organization of the Christian retail industry, have joined forces to tackle illiteracy with a Bible-based learning program.
“With 70 percent of primary and middle school students not able to read at grade level, a huge chunk of the next generation is at risk of not being able to know God through reading the Bible,” said Trevon Gross, senior vice president of programs at the New York-based American Bible Society.
“Together we can put the tools of our literacy program in the hands of community groups and churches across the nation,” he said.
The literacy program, called “Read All About It,” can be used in a classroom, in one-on-one tutoring and with groups teaching English as a second language.
The program, which was developed by the American Bible Society and the Bank Street College of Education in New York, includes student activity books, flash cards and tutors’ guides.
Designed for children and adults, it aims to allow volunteers with minimal training to successfully teach literacy.
Advanced literacy
Pilot programs in churches and other ministries have advanced student literacy.
The society hopes to start 1,500 new programs before the end of 2002, aided by Christian booksellers who can identify local groups that could run a literacy program.
“Providing churches and individuals with tools to teach people to read using the Bible is at the very heart of what Christian retail stores are all about,” said Bill Anderson, president of CBA.
“We see this as an excellent partnership,” he added.
The partnership between his Colorado Springs, Colo,-based trade association and the American Bible Society was announced July 15 in Anaheim, Calif., during the CBA’s annual international convention, according to the statement.
(RNS)
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