North Carolina Baptists are invited to the annual North
Carolina Literacy Missions Conference October 14-16 at Caraway Conference
Center. This year’s theme is “Abiding in Christ.”
About 22 percent of North Carolina adults cannot hold a job
that requires reading skills, and many school-age children and youth are at
risk and need help.
Literacy Missions wants to help children, youth and adults
receive the training they need in order to succeed.
Literacy Missions is a three-fold ministry, reaching
internationals through teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), reaching
at-risk children and youth through tutoring children and youth, and reaching
adults who lack reading skills through adult reading and writing.
Two basic, 16-hour workshops designed for new volunteers
will train prospective tutors in ESL or tutoring children and youth. Twenty
advanced conference sessions will further equip experienced workers.
Conference participants will receive training from
outstanding, nationally known leaders such as Kendale Moore and Gayle
Leininger, retired North American Mission Board Literacy Missions missionaries.
Doris Edwards will lead a three hour mini-workshop for those
interested in teaching ESL overseas.
Ken Tan, multicultural ministries team leader for the
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC), will lead a session about how
to relate to and minister to the many cultures represented in literacy classes.
Other session topics include “Citizenship: What and How to
Teach It,” “Spiritual Gifts for Literacy Missions,” “Effective use of ads and
commercials,” “Bible Verse Chants,” “Getting Serious About Top-Down Bottom-Up
Pronunciation,” “Using Music to Teach ESL,” and “The Top Ten Reasons Students
Do Not Drop Out of Class.”
Marshall Edwards of Blowing Rock will bring messages focused
on the conference theme. Phil Stone, state Sunday School director, BSC, will
lead in worship and music.
Testimonies will also be shared, such as that of Somebody
Nogambu, member of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Nogambu, who is the
youngest of 19 children, was named ‘Nobody’ by his father. When Nogambu came to
faith in Jesus Christ, he had his name legally changed to ‘Somebody.’
Public school teachers are often able to receive Continuing
Education Credits for attending the conference. Those interested should contact
their county’s public school office for more information.
Cost for attending Friday through Sunday lunch (two nights
and six meals) is $150. To attend only through Saturday dinner is $85.
For commuter information and registration details contact
Donnie Wiltshire, [email protected], (919) 467-5100, ext. 5630, or Maria
Luoni, [email protected], (919) 467-5100, ext. 5629.
Registration is also available at
specialministries.ncbaptist.org.