LITERACY

Sunday, March 4, 2011

In January, as people were volunteering for various parts of the next week’s church service, Rafael said that he was sorry that he couldn’t contribute because he couldn’t read.

Literacy is very common in our town and there are several in our church who have never stepped foot in school or learned to read.

For this reason, we have been making all our Bible studies oral. In fact, we don;t even bring our Bible to studies anymore. All the studies are memorized AND all participants are held accountable to memorize the story and memory verse each week. Plus, we put our lessons (and God’s word) on MP3 player chips for them to listen to during the week.

This method has been working.

About 6 weeks ago Rosi (who has never been to school) came to church and said, “I had my husband read this story to me and now I want to tell you.” She then began to recite from memory the story of the unmerciful servant. It was long too. We were all impressed.

Memorizing God’s words have made our illiterate believers thirst to be able to READ His words for themselves.

Jeff and I have begun literacy classes at our home each Sunday afternoon. We have three students.

Today Rafael read in church for the first time! Before he started, he apologized for only choosing just one verse, but that he was not yet accustomed to reading. It was AWESOME!

Reading lesson with Rosi


Reading lesson with Zulma


Rafael reading in church for the first time