Our Mission: Literacy & Evangelism International

Who We Are

Literacy & Evangelism International was founded in 1967 by Dr. Robert F. Rice, a former missionary to South Korea. Dr. Rice was in South Korea for 15 years, where he saw firsthand the need for adult literacy. He traveled around the U.S. and in Latin America at first, helping to create Bible-content adult literacy materials and helping to begin community literacy evangelism ministries. Slowly the ministry grew as he trained and mentored others in primer construction and tutor training.

We are a missionary fellowship, Christians from various nations and denominations, drawn together by a passion for God and compassion for people who cannot yet read the Word of God. We have a 30+ year history of ministry to the non-readers of the world.

We desire to see the Church in every nation effectively reaching the illiterate, bringing them the Living Word, Jesus Christ, through enabling them to read the written Word of God.

Literacy & Evangelism International is an interdenominational, inter-mission fellowship. We cooperate with all Christian groups: churches, mission agencies, and para-church organizations through offering them training and assistance in creation of materials.

We are a faith ministry, supported by donations from interested churches and individuals. We maintain a foundation of prayer.

Who We Serve

The Lord. We serve the Lord through sharing a tangible witness of His love using literacy ministry as a tool to reach the most oppressed and downtrodden: those who walk in the darkness of not being able to read His Word.

The illiterates of the world, 50% of the adult world -- those who cannot read adequately in their mother tongue or in the trade or national language of their country. This includes those who cannot speak (or read) English in countries where it is the official or trade language or medium of education.

The Church of Jesus Christ. We serve to strengthen the Church through literacy and English language ministries.

Literacy ministries:

strengthen churches through teaching their leaders to read
disciple Christians by giving them a ministry to the illiterates
reach non-Christians through the use of Bible-content materials and caring volunteer tutors

We give churches a way to minister to their communities. Literacy evangelism ministry is also an excellent way to plant new churches.