December 18, 2002
The church in Rancho Cordova, California has started an exciting ESL program for Russian immigrants. Approximately 100,000 Russians have settled in the Sacramento area, and the Rancho Cordova church is trying to reach them with the Gospel, using WEI as an evangelistic tool.
Providentially, Semeon and Maria Tsurkanenko started attending the Rancho Cordova church even though they spoke almost no English.
Every Sunday, following the services, Leo and Lenette Bryant spoke to the couple and tried to make them feel welcome. Leo says, “We would stop, smile at each other, hug, try to talk to one another without sign language, and wave goodbye until next Sunday. There was a complete communication void. This bothered me.”
Leo talked to Bill Mara, the chairman of the Missions Committee and said, “What can we do about this? Semeon and Maria don’t speak our language, and we don’t speak theirs. Can we either go out and find more Russians and teach them English, or can we find an interpreter for Semeon and Maria?”
Bill said, “Let me think about this. I’ll get back to you.”
About a week later, Bill approached Leo and said, “I’ve talked to the elders. They think your idea is a good one. Let’s find some more Russians and teach them English. We want you to head the program.”
That wasn’t what Leo had in mind. So he said, “Bill, you’ll have to let me think about this. I’ll get back to you.”
Feeling called by God, Leo called the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, got in touch with Oleg Butin, head of The Russian Community Forum, met with the forum one Thursday night, and invited the Russians to study English at the Cordova church. Soon, the Russians were coming.
In the beginning, Leo had to “twist some arms” in order to line up teachers. Now, a dozen teachers are involved, and prospective teachers are asking to have a part of the Russian Ministry.
On October 9, nineteen Russians attended classes at the Cordova building during the morning Bible School hour. Then, at 6 o’clock that evening, another group of Russians (who were not able to attend the Sunday morning classes) came to study English grammar and the Bible.
Leo says, “I am in awe when I sit in any of the Sunday morning and Sunday evening classes. The teachers who began only nine months ago have bonded with their students. The students love them. The patience and finesse of the teachers are paying off in a solid, steady learning rate, both in English and Bible knowledge.”
Leo asks, “Where do we go from here? It is up to God. The field is white. We praise God for the opportunities He has given us. It is my sense that the Lord Jesus, who commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel wasn’t quite satisfied with the way we went, or didn’t go. As a result, he has sent the world to us—in droves.”
Leo concludes, “This experience has been the greatest time of my Christian life.”
We encourage churches throughout the United States to follow Rancho Cordova’s example. If you have an ethnic group in your community that is eager to learn English, please use WEI to draw them into the kingdom of God.
