CEE Story From The Mission Field
Studying English, Learning Jesus
November 29, 2004
CEE is filled with people who want to learn English. In fact in this part of the world one of the requirements of many new businesses is English fluency. Missionaries in CEE have utilized this need to expand their ministry through teaching English as a second language. The students are varied in background, age, and motive, but the one thing most of them have in common is that they do not know Jesus. This effort to meet a real need in their lives has given us great opportunities to share the Gospel so that an even greater need can be met. Here, an ESL student in Belarus shares her story of meeting Christ through ESL:
"Many years ago, when my life was in turmoil, I had an unforgettable dream. In this dream I heard music and felt an unexplainable sense of peace. I began to search for the source of this peace by searching in many books and by attending many seminars. But, I could never find peace. And then, years later, a choir was singing on television. The song they were singing reminded me of the music of my dream. Once again, I felt a great sense of peace. I wanted to know what they were singing about, but they were singing in German. Once again, I began the search for this wonderful peace. I knew this song held a clue.
A couple years ago, I once again heard this song coming from what sounded like a music box. Actually, it was coming from a toy Father Frost. It was a very expensive toy, but I knew I must have it because it held the key that would help me find what I had been searching for.
I finally found the answer at the English as a Second Language Christmas Party. I loved the classes that taught me more than English they also taught me things about the Bible and God. During that celebration, we sang songs in both English and Russian. A few of us were invited to lead the singing and I was handed a Russian songbook. When the music began to play, I recognized the tune at once, and there before my very eyes were the words to that peaceful song, ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’. Finally I found the source of that perfect peace. It is in God’s greatest gift to us!”
This testimony comes from someone who was silently seeking God, even though she couldn’t express that as her need. How many more are silently seeking for Jesus? How many more will come to learn English and learn of a Savior instead?
To find out more about how you can be a part of teaching ESL as a volunteer in CEE, please contact us. Please join us in praying that every student in CEE will find the source of perfect peace!