Teaching English and sharing Christ’s love
Mission co-worker Sharon Bryant with students in Thailandar.
Around the world, people see learning English as their ticket to advanced educational opportunities and career success.
By sending English teachers to Asia, Presbyterian World Mission has an opportunity to help expand opportunities for young people abroad and to grow the witness of the Christian faith. Our partners in Asia often tell World Mission that English teachers are among their top needs. While we have been involved in English instruction for several years, we seek to expand our efforts in Thailand and China and to begin sending teachers to North Korea:
- Thailand: Our English teachers work with our historical partner, the Church of Christ in Thailand, in a nation whose population is 1 percent Christian. They coach Thai English teachers and encourage them as they seek to improve their English schools.
- China: Presbyterian World Mission works through the Amity Teachers Program. Teachers typically work in rural communities where English is rarely heard. Because China does not allow missionaries per se, the Amity program provides a legitimate way for non-Chinese Christians to witness to their faith in this country. Teachers must be careful not to be overtly evangelistic in the classroom, but outside of the classroom they are able to participate in local congregations and be Christian witnesses to their students and others.
- North Korea: In 2010 North Korea opened a new university, Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, and English is the school’s language of instruction. The university has a beautiful campus of 17 newly constructed buildings that were funded with contributions from the United States, China, South Korea and North Korea. Mission-sending organizations will supply most of the professors, including a number of English teachers. The North Korean elite initiated the school in anticipation of the day when the present regime would fall and current students would have to make their way in a world in which English is the predominant language. Though life at the school will be highly regulated and guarded, and Christian witness will be limited, providing volunteer English teachers and teachers of other subjects will give our church an opportunity to resume work we were forced to set aside in 1954. Sending people to serve now will doubtless pay dividends in the future as life in North Korea begins to open up.
How you can help
Support mission co-workers:
The programs in each of the three countries need a mission co-worker to help orient and equip volunteers, regularly visit the volunteers and the schools, and ensure the smooth functioning of each program.
Amount needed: $83,000 annually per
co-worker or $250,000 for one term
Total: $750,000
To support mission co-workers with your financial gift:
- go to www.pcusa.org/give
- call (800) 728-7228, x5611
- send a check to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
To contribute to the general sending and support needs of Mission Personnel:
(Your gift to this program gives World Mission the ability to use your gift where it can make the greatest impact.)
- In the memo of the check, write E132192 – Second Mile Missionary Support.
- To support specific mission co-workers, write their names in the memo line of the check.
Contact
Michael Parker, Coordinator
International Evangelism
michael.parker@pcusa.org
(800) 728-7228, x 5262
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