August 14, 2000
WMU launching literacy project
___WACO--Lynette Bowen reeled off a series of statistics depicting the problem of illiteracy in America. Then she asked: "Do you see it as a failure or as an opportunity for missions?"
___Bowen, literacy consultant for Caprock-Plains Baptist Area, asked the question during a small-group session at Woman's Missionary Union's annual Texas Leadership Conference. National WMU has selected literacy as its Project HELP social issue for 2000-2002.
___Twenty percent of Americans cannot read English at a "functioning level," Bowen said. Sixty percent of the prison population, and 85 percent of juvenile criminals, are functionally illiterate. She also noted that one in 10 Americans is foreign born, and there are 600,000 legal immigrants to the United States each year.
___Bowen called the situation overwhelming, but she said WMU is seeking to confront literacy problems through three types of ministry--adult reading and writing (for native English speakers), conversational English (for non-native English speakers) and tutoring children and youth (for children and youth still in school). She suggested, however, that a church do only one at a time.
___"If you read, you can teach someone else to read," Bowen said. "God can use you even when you're not sure of yourself."
___She noted specifically that a person does not have to be able to speak Spanish or any other language in order to teach English as a second language to non-native English speakers. Bowen has taught ESL classes with people speaking eight languages as students in the same class.
___While encouraging participants to become involved in literacy missions, Bowen warned them of the commitment needed.
___She gave a seven-step path to start a literacy ministry--enlist prayer support, determine what literacy ministry is needed, obtain church or association approval, select a director or committee, secure funding, train teachers and enlist students.
___Information on literacy ministry and training may be obtained from Texas WMU at (888) 968-6389.
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