Last year, a woman walked across our church car park with her son. She didn’t know much English. But she saw one word on our church sign, written in her own language: “Welcome.”

She came into church that day and saw another family being baptised because they had put their trust in Jesus. She became part of our 11:30 Easy English church gathering, and eleven months later, she was baptised too. Praise God!

She had also joined English for Life classes, but English was still a struggle. However, it wasn’t the English lessons that made the biggest difference. It was the love she saw and felt from God’s people. A church family who loved like Jesus, because they had first been loved by Him.

God’s Word goes beyond every language

Language is a beautiful gift. It helps us share truth, connect with others, laugh, ask for help, and speak about what matters most. We use it to talk about God and to talk to God.

Helping people with English helps them belong and feel part of a new community.

But there is a message greater than any human language:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

This Word is God Himself. The God who made the world and owns everything didn’t stay far away. He came near.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Jesus became a real person, tempted and fragile like us, so we could hear Him, and understand Him. The greatest Word in the universe walked among us, full of grace and truth.

But we rejected Him.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

John 1:9-11

Without God’s grace, our natural reaction is to push God away.

Still, Jesus offers something amazing:

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12

This is our hope to share with others: Whoever you are, whatever language you speak, if you trust Jesus, you are welcomed into His family.

Why do I teach English?

“Having lived in another country where English was not the main language outside the capital city, I can understand the frustration and embarrassment at sounding like a two year old or not even being able to say or ask for anything. Having a student say, “Thank you, you made us feel like home in this foreign land.” Another student once said to me, “Give me words, I just want words.” Not only do we have the great privilege of giving our students English words, but more importantly, the words of eternal life.”

Sue Radkovic from our 11.30 gathering on why she teaches English

Each class has a Bible spot. One time a Muslim student loudly told a new student that they were about to hear about Jesus and not to listen. But they still stayed and listened!

Students have been amazed that the English for Life (EFL) teachers do this ministry for free and ask “Why?” It’s a great opportunity to explain the Gospel, and God’s generosity to us.

Please keep praying

God is bringing people from every nation into His eternal family.

As we teach English, we help people feel at home. But more than that, we show Christ’s love. We point people to how their true home doesn’t have to be a country, but life forever with Jesus.

Please keep praying.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, the Word who became flesh so we could see and understand Him. Thank you that His grace and truth crosses every language. Please use our English for Life ministry to keep inviting people from all nations to belong in your family.
Amen.

Hosea Luy 
Assistant Minister (9:45am & 11:30am)