Church-based literacy ministry by Rev. Robert N. Biederman

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Church-based literacy ministry
by Rev. Robert N. Biederman

• Literacy Evangelism International
• 1800 S. Jackson Ave.
• Tulsa, OK 74107
• 918-585-3826

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Church-based Literacy Ministry

• How can LEI help you set up a literacy program at
  your church?
• The following shows 10 simple steps for
  developing a growing ministry.

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1. Identify needs resources

• What are the literacy needs in your church or
  community?
• What programs or services are trying to meet
  those needs?
• What people are available to be trained as tutors
  in the church?
• 1 week

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2. Identify recruit students

• Identify places which may be a source of
  non-readers.
• Publicize your literacy program to recruit
  students.
• Seek out and interview potential students.
• Ongoing process.

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3. Select prepare curriculum

• How many Firm Foundation primers will be needed?
• What other resources (easy-to-read Bibles) will
  be needed?
• 1 week

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4. Screen orient students

• Interview and assess potential students.
• Complete a student information form for each
  person.
• Ascertain the reading and writing level.
• Ongoing process prior to and after the Tutor
  Training Workshop

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5. Recruit train tutors

• Publicize a Tutor-Training Workshop (TTW).
• Enlist volunteers from the church to serve as
  literacy tutors.
• Conduct a 10-hour TTWto train tutors.
• Ongoing as needed

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6. Match students tutors

• Match assessed students with trained tutors.
• Immediately after the TTW.
• Match men with men and women with women.

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7. Develop a reading library

• Begin with the most urgently needed items
• Ex. extra sets of primers, simplified Bibles,
  common supplementary materials.
• Later develop additional resources.

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8. Develop a structure

• Decide what leadership is necessary to develop
  the ministry.
• Possible positions might include
• Director
• Coordinator
• Record-keeper

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9. Refer students to programs

• Plug students into church and other programs to
  help them grow spiritually and educationally.
• For example Bible study, Sunday School,
  discipleship evangelism classes.
• Ongoing process.

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10. Evaluate and adjust the project

• Meet with tutors for input on training, tutoring
  etc.
• Meet with students for input on recruiting,
  tutoring etc.
• Evaluate publicity, training, materials, etc. for
  modifications.

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Its time to begin

• Plan 6 weeks for recruitment publicity.
• Plan 2 weeks for interviews, training and
  matching.
• Plan for evaluation after the first week and
  first month of the program.