Elizabeth House has three loves in life — English, foreign languages and missions. Now she is combining all three as a Baptist representative serving as an educational specialist in Ukraine.
It is hard to know which came first for the Decatur native. At Judson College in Marion, House majored in English and then spent two years as a journeyman with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Senegal. She returned to the United States with serious digestive problems, but the experience put a love for international missions in her heart.
“It was a confusing time,” House recalled. “I thought my physical condition would keep me from long-term service overseas, but I always felt a tug toward internationals.”
Earning a degree at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif., cultivated that love as she studied missions among an internationally diverse student body. House went on to serve as an English teacher in Nicaragua and spent time in Iran. Her extensive travels have resulted in her ability to speak or read five languages.
When she accepted a position as language materials editor for national Woman’s Missionary Union in Birmingham, House thought that was how God would use her combination of skills. But it was not to be.
About two years later, she settled into a life of teaching English and Spanish at Christian schools, first in Birmingham and then in Decatur. But missions was never far from her mind.
Approximately three years ago, House was invited to teach English to English teachers in China for two weeks. That experience refocused her life.
“First I saw how important it was to reach teachers with the gospel. If they can use their Christian influence in the classroom, it would be phenomenal. And I realized God wanted me in missions,” she said.
Later that year, House began the appointment process to serve with the IMB in a career position. But Ukraine was the last place in the world she thought she would ever be.
“When my resumé was circulated and various fields were asked if they could use me, Ukraine wrote a job description to match what God had prepared me for all my life. It was amazing,” House declared.
In June, after a year of language study, she will assume her major responsibility: coordinating English-language programs used by Baptist representatives across Ukraine.
House pointed out that English is widely used as an outreach tool, especially with university students. Some churches have grown from English clubs. English camps are also popular.
She looks forward to developing various curricula for use in a church or a camp setting, for a week or a semester, among high school or university students, in a beginning or an intermediate English class and in evangelism or relationship building.
“Teaching English is hard,” House said. “It takes lots of work to make lesson plans. It is more than conversation.”
She hopes to put resources in the hands of Baptist representatives and national Christians alike that will help them be effective in their work.
House knows what it is like to teach a foreign language and what it takes to learn one, which will help her develop quality programs for use by all Baptist representatives in Ukraine and English as a Second Language personnel. “It is amazing how God shaped my life for this particular opportunity,” she observed. “When I was ready, God opened the door.”
Another responsibility House will assume this summer is serving as language coach for all Baptist representatives in Ukraine. That will include hiring teachers, making language study schedules and evaluating the progress of representatives as they learn either Russian or Ukrainian.
House said some people were surprised when they learned she was going to Ukraine, which officially became a Christian nation more than 1,000 years ago.
“I have to remind friends that our faith is not about having a religion; it is about having a personal relationship with Jesus,” House said. “It is hard to live here. Physically it is doable but the people are closed. There is a lot of hopelessness and sadness and some rudeness. But God has given me a love for these people.”
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