Our Mission: Literacy & Evangelism International

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.

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.

Statement of Faith

Concerning the following, we believe in:

Authority

The Bible as God’s inspired, infallible and completed Word for all people everywhere, to show them the Way the Truth and the Life and to be their final authority.

God

One God, sovereign and unchangeable Creator and Sustainer of all, eternally existent in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, being infinite yet personal, just yet merciful, and perfect in holiness, truth & love.

People

The essential dignity and value of all people everywhere, created as God’s image bearers, yet estranged from God because of Adam’s fall and personal sin, being totally incapable of a right relationship to God apart from grace.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, who by virtue of His deity, virgin birth, sinless humanity, substitutionary death, atoning blood, bodily resurrection and ascension to heaven as King and Priest, is the only one capable of redeeming people.

Salvation

Salvation by God’s grace alone whereby the Holy Spirit regenerates, the Son justifies, and the Father adopts those who personally repent and trust in Jesus Christ alone as Savior and Lord.

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit’s deity and work of convicting, regenerating, illuminating indwelling and manifesting His fruit and gifts in believers for the unity, edification and mission of the Church in the world, to the glory of God.

The Church

The priesthood of all believers who together form the universal Church, Christ’s Bride or Body of which He is Head and has commissioned to advance the light of the Gospel in this dark world.

The Future

The extension of the Gospel to all people groups, Christ’s personal, visible and bodily return, and the resurrection and judgment of all mankind: the lost to eternal damnation and the saved to life with God forever.

Core Values

We cherish two pre-eminent values: Passion for God and Compassion for People.
Our other values hinge on these (Matt. 22:37-40).

In our love (passion) for God we aspire to:

the faithful reading of and obedience to God's Word that we might be healthy, growing and productive Christians.
Faith in Him for daily vision and provision in every aspect of our lives, ministry, and relationships.
Prayer as our main channel of communication with God (praise, petition, intercession, listening).
Integrity of character to be Christlike in all our dealings, so as to please God and not to bring reproach on His name.
Excellence in the quality and standards of our work, for God's glory.
Unity among ourselves and with other believers, because of Christ's prayer that we be one, and the reputation of His name.
Stewardship of our time, talents and treasures, recognizing that these are not ours but God's, for His glory.

In our love (compassion) for people we commit ourselves to:

Family nurture family being the primary unit in society to which one belongs and bears responsibility.
Church participation because it is God's ordained instrument for nurturing believers and carrying out His ministry.
Witness to Jesus Christ to the lost, the least and the lonely, that they might be saved through the Gospel.
Discipleship of fellow believers, by example and teaching.
Teamwork transcends individual effort and limitations, allowing the Holy Spirit to use gifts and talents of all.
Partnership with churches/groups who share a common vision & purpose, sharing information, personnel and resources to make the most of our combined resources.
Servanthood whereby we esteem others as higher than ourselves, subordinating our rights and expectations to theirs.