European day of languages

European day of languages is on 26th September – relevant to your church, it could be as a way of ‘reaching the nations in your Jerusalem’

Open Door Church Sunbury has been running ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes for over ten years and seen their local church now boast over 20 nationalities present and a second Burmese language congregation. Acts 1:8 says that we must go into the “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost ends of the Earth”; but God has given the UK churches a unique opportunity in history to outreach to people from all the nations who live on their doorstep through offering English Language tuition. We are continuing to do this online.

Every church, no matter what size, can offer a conversation class; which is a place to just offer free coffee and cake delivered by people who speak English; allowing ethnic minority students to practice their English and through that introduce them to the church community and the Lord Jesus! This does not have to be another thing for overloaded church leaders to try and do – we all have students, stay-at-home parents retired members who could be approached to consider running such a group. They may feel confident to offer full English lessons – you don’t have to be trained to offer free classes (no-one demands a refund for zero payment!) and you will soon gather people from diverse backgrounds that live in your locality. You can help them integrate into their community, help them with doctors’ appointments, parent/teacher days, gain work, fill out forms and then encourage them to join activities in your local church.

Often people have lost home, lost family and lost a sense of identity that the church can offer; unconditional love. Film nights are great fun with English language questions at the end – leading to questions of values and belief! Cultural food events are amazing and very delicious. How can we do this during the Covid pandemic? Online of course! Why not offer Zoom ESOL classes in your community and be the only ones thinking of those isolated by language and culture in your community! The gospel goes forward – the light shines – the salt is spread – the gospel bears fruit – among the nations in your Jerusalem!