Wednesday, September 3, 2003
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Wednesday, September 3, 2003 |
Local church leads the way with English outreach to immigrantsNew immigrants to America often have a place to live and a job lined up before they step foot on U.S. soil. But they can't pack knowledge of the English language in a suitcase, at least not the Americanized kind of English that's necessary to get by in their new home. That's why English as a Second Language programs for adults are popular first destinations for new immigrants as they try and get acclimated in their new home. Many areas of metro Atlanta, including nearby Clayton County, have seen big leaps in the number of immigrants relocating to Georgia in recent years, but Fayette County's immigrant influx is less dramatic. Still, there are plenty of adults in Fayette and nearby communities who desire to know the language better; until recently, they had to go out of the county to find ESL programs. That changed when Fayetteville First Baptist Church began offering ESL classes for adults, the first program of its kind in Fayette County, say church members. A need for the classes was realized as First Baptist's outreach to the South Metro Korean community began to take off. Working through the Southern Baptist Convention, First Baptist established the first full-time ministry to Koreans on the southside four years ago. Each Sunday, Koreans worship in their native tongue in the Overton Chapel while the larger church body celebrates in English in the worship center next door. While the separation isn't ideal, it's necessary because many American Koreans don't speak any English, often despite having lived in this country for years. So what started out as an effort to teach English to a handful of Korean members has turned into a full-fledged ESL academy for First Baptist, which offers a new semester of courses starting next week, said school director Grace Fincher. At the end of the last semester in the spring, 80 students representing 18 countries were registered in the program, attending one of eight weekly classes: Four basic, and four intermediate. This year, a third advanced level will be added. First Baptist members fill most of the teaching ranks, Fincher said, but some instructors are members of other churches. Bo Mullins teaches the basic class, in which the students often have just arrived in this country and don't know a lick of English. "We're providing an environment where you must speak English," he said. "You're not allowed to speak your native tongue in class. This is like bringing children up from Day 1." Many students can read English, but they can't speak it. Mullins related the tale of a Vietnamese man who has been in the U.S. for 26 years and never learned English because he lived entirely within the Korean community, where he owned his own business and paid to send two sons through college. "Mr. Hyung had been reading from a Bible written in his own language, but had problems grasping the meaning behind many of Jesus' miracles and parables," Mullins told. "Often, something is lost in the translation. But explained in English, when they can understand it well enough, it opens up the gospel in a whole new way." The church uses curriculum from the Southern Baptist Convention. And though learning the language is why students come to the classes, Mullins and Fincher say they hope the new neighbors leave with much more. Clayton College and State University offers an ESL program, at their main campus and at the new Peachtree City satellite campus, but for a fee. Fayetteville First Baptist's program is free of charge. "We minister to physical needs," said Fincher. "Like when a family rst comes and needs furniture, etc. They also ask us to help them get jobs. Sometimes they get in trouble with the law and they ask for help and prayer." "Our number-one priority is to be witnesses for Christ and share the gospel by offering this service and helping these folks learn the language," Mullins said. "We want them to make better lives for themselves."
More on ESLThe next semester of ESL classes will be offered starting Sept. 1 at Fayetteville First Baptist Church, 205 E. Stonewall Ave. one block past the courthouse square (Ga. Highway 54 East). Class Times: Monday and Tuesday evenings 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday mornings 9 -11 a.m. For more information, call the church at 770-461-6378. Anyone wishing to help with this Ministry, contact Grace Fincher, Director, at 770-461-7983.
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