LITHIA SPRINGS, Ga. — A little blue sign on the corner of Lucille Ave and Veterans Memorial Parkway reads “Free English Classes.” The sign, in front of First Baptist Church Lithia Springs, shows that the 77-year-old church is serious about reaching its community for Jesus Christ.
“He has brought the world to us and we are responsible for what we do,” said Kathy Rainwater, the director of the English as a Second Language ministry of FBCLS since 2017.
In its 22-year history, the program has helped the church evolve into a multicultural, mission-minded church and reach the community.
“I see our people are welcoming our students. They are greeting on Sunday mornings now. It’s just changed,” said Rainwater.
Transitional pastor Barry Dollar agrees. “ESL is important to help people learn English, but at the same time, we are finding ways to minister to them and to make them a part of the body. We’re really starting to feel that they are a part of us.”
This community focus has led to two ESL classes, one on Wednesday and another on Sunday morning.
The ministry, which has its own floor on campus, has four levels of classes and includes citizenship classes when students request it. They also offer tutoring for elementary ESL kids and a class for students who cannot read and write.
“We have all ages. 20-somethings to senior adults. And everywhere in between,” said Rainwater.
On Wednesdays, there are 125 students enrolled from 15 countries. They speak six languages. In late 2024, Rainwater applied for the Lillian Isaacs Endowment for Literacy Missions Ministry Grant Award through the Woman’s Missionary Union to buy bilingual Bibles to give to students.
“We give Bibles to all the students, but we really wanted to give, especially the Sunday morning group, bilingual Bibles, but they just aren’t inexpensive. Somebody said we need to apply for this because you can use it to expand the literacy ministry. We applied, and we got it.” The church received $725.
An average of 55 students attend each Wednesday evening. The one-and-half-hour classes feature straight English classes and a 15-minute devotion time with scripture and prayer. Childcare is provided.
The church also offers translation services on Sunday mornings. In 2024, after briefly using translation booths, they moved to Wordly.ai, a meetings and in-person translation platform. The services are uploaded to Wordly.ai and are translated and returned to the listening device.
“That seems to be a huge hit,” said Dollar.
When Rainwater became director, there were about 20 to 25 students.
“We said come, and we will teach you English. And they started coming in,” she said.
As students started coming, the church started reaching out more. “We noticed they were inviting their friends and family members to church. A lot of that is they learned to trust us,” she said.
Eighteen people volunteer to serve each week. “One of our helpers who helps on a regular basis was one of our very first students. She would come to class pushing a stroller with a baby in it. And, now he’s grown, and she occasionally comes in and helps us. She found her way and persevered,” said Rainwater.
Rainwater said 15 to 20 students attend Sunday classes with the majority staying for services.
Initially starting in 1994, the current class format began in January 2004 with beginner and elementary level students. The director at that time, Terry Cohea, said four people came that first Wednesday, two of which were a couple. One of them walked a mile to the classes before both began attending.
“And it grew by word of mouth. Each week, it doubled and then tripled. We finally got a better sign saying free English classes.” At that time, students paid for their workbooks, but the classes were free. “They loved it, and they really absorbed it,” said Cohea.
Cohea said it wasn’t about how the students got there and what was going on in their life, “We just teach them God’s word and teach them English classes.”
Cohea said the church is very supportive of the ministry after not understanding at first. “It’s just getting better and better. It’s just a good part of our church services. I’m loving to see the international church it looks like we have become with this. It looks like our church is all in for that. I thank God for it.”
Dollar said their church is looking a lot more like heaven every day. “We have a church that is becoming a more international body of believers. Our members have gained such an appreciation for people of other nationalities and other languages as a part of who we are.” He said the members are seeing the change in the community and are getting involved in a really big way and are seeing the church has to go in this direction in the future. “Every community is becoming our community.”
Dollar said that if there is any churches who are interested in ESL ministry, they can contact First Baptist Church Lithia Springs, and they would be happy to help them get started.
This article originally appeared at The Christian Index.
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