learning resources such as chalkboards,
notebooks, and primers in different languages.
Bridge to Reading has worked
in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, and the Central African Republic
and is also working with OMS partners
in Colombia to provide similar programs
there. Since the inception of the program
in Africa, we estimate that we have taught
more than 4,000 adults to read in their local
languages. Recently, we engaged communities
in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Togo
in setting up initial work toward launching
programs in villages within Africa’s tension
belt in West Africa. Our programs in these
communities where Christians and Muslims
live in close proximity will provide a forum
for churches to share the love of Jesus
through the gift of reading to members of
the communities. To date, our tutors and
trainers report they’ve received nearly
1,500 decisions for Christ and baptized
close to 900 students.
Teaching reading in local languages is
not without challenges. Many languages
spoken in the market places have Bibles,
but there is generally a lack of supplementary
reading materials. Indigenous
language primers developed by Literacy
and Evangelism International also provide
a bridge toward a local language Bible,
thus mitigating the lack of reading materials,
sometimes referred to as the “book
drought,” which can limit expansion of
literacy classes. Our literacy tutors also
taught how to teach reading using stories
that are generated by learners by way
of the language experience approach to
teaching reading.
Learning to read in one’s first language,
the heart language, continues to be the
most effective way to introduce an adult
to reading. These materials, together
with a Bridge to Reading tutor and trainer
guides, are the primary tools for teaching
and learning in our program. In addressing
this shortage of books, our tutors learn
to assist students in generating their own
stories, which tutors rewrite using the language
experience approach to teaching
reading. Currently, Pastor Herman Mutuzi,
who is based in Bukavu in Eastern Congo,
and Pastor Fred Tenguedet in the Central
African Republic are providing crucial
support by training tutors and trainers in
East and Central Africa.
Pray that Bridge to Reading will be able
to support growth of the church in Africa,
which the Village Church Planting efforts
are giving rise to. Our vision is to have a literacy
class in every church that is planted,
and we pray that, eventually, all believers
in Africa will be able to read the Bible and
use their ability to read as a way to share
the gift of reading with others in their communities.
May the church in Africa be like
the believers in Berea: noble in character
and daily searching the Scriptures to see
if what they are being taught is true (Acts
17:17).
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