ESL (English as a Second Language) classes helped one woman from China unearth “buried treasure” at Merrylands Anglican parish.

She had been in Australia only three months when she signed up for lessons. She came to learn English, but soon had many questions about life and death. She went to every class offered that week and by Sunday, she was at church having serious gospel conversations with members of the congregation.

“After that week she told me that she had found ‘buried treasure’ within our church,” says senior minister Nathan Killick.

According to Nathan the ESL program is one of the best kept secrets in the Diocese.

“We teach easy English using the Bible, but the real strength of the program is that it gives people the opportunity to build relationships. It’s more than teaching English, it’s about making friends,” Nathan explains.

“I think all of our teachers have been invited to people’s homes for lunch or dinner. We even have one man in our parish who organises bus trips twice a year for our students. The people from our congregation involved in this ministry love it. It was THE obvious way of making disciples within our congregation and including them in our gospel ministry.”

Parishes connect through ESL

This sentiment has been echoed by many other parishes that provide ESL classes, says Anglicare’s western suburbs ESL coordinator Megan Presbury (pictured).

“I’ve heard from a lot of churches that the mission focus of our ESL programs has often reinvigorated the church community in their attitude towards mission,” says Megan.

“Many who served in ESL ministry have also told me that actively putting their faith into action in this way strengthens their own walk and crystallises their faith.”

For Mandy Allen, who co-ordinates the ESL program at Merrylands Anglican Church, being involved in this ministry has been incredibly rewarding.

“We have the world at our doorstep in Sydney and through ESL classes we have a great opportunity to build relationships with people who we normally wouldn’t come into contact with,”

“And there have been many opportunities to teach people about Christ who might not have looked at a Bible before.”

According to Mandy, during the past eight years the church has taught students from more than 40 countries. And for some who came to their classes, it would have been the first time they heard about Jesus.

“In my own walk with God it has challenged me to learn how to speak about the gospel in a way that doesn’t assume common knowledge. It’s helped me to teach people about God through the Bible in ways that are also culturally sensitive.”

While ESL classes may not work in every church, Megan says it is one of the many ways Anglicare is helping parishes connect with their local community.

“Especially in racially diverse suburbs where English may not be the first language for many,” says Megan.

“If used well, ESL classes can really facilitate mission in our own backyard.”

Using ESL classes well however is not only about having an effective teaching program emphasises Nathan. “It’s about having as much to do with the students outside the class room as it does inside it.”

For more information on ESL classes contact Catherine Thew at Anglicare on (02) 9895 8000 for the contact for your area.