November 20, 2003
In 1998, Bob and Jan Towell inaugurated the WEI Internet ministry. Since then, they have linked up with Bob Patterson, and the WEI web site has been used to recruit Internet students from approximately 130 nations.
Now, Bob and Jan have developed a new web site that provides students with audio as well as visual text. But let’s have Bob tell his own story:
“On July 4, 2003, a new web site, [now, on this website], was opened that allows Internet correspondence students to hear each lesson while it is being displayed. The audio web site greatly increases the attractiveness of WEI’s correspondence courses via the Internet because students can learn how to speak as well as read and write English.
“Only WEI’s Basic Bible course is recorded at this time. The Advanced Bible Course should be ready late in 2004, the Lord willing. Thanks to Charles Ellis, member of the Central congregation in Bryan, Texas, for reading WEI’s Bible lessons.
“More important than teaching students to hear and speak English, this new tool plants God’s Word deeply in their minds as they listen to the lesson again and again trying to master pronunciation.
“In the last few weeks, thanks to the efforts of WEI Webmaster, Bob Patterson, member of the Southwest congregation in Tigard, Oregon, the contents of [now, on this website] have been put on a CD to be used where Internet service does not exist or is too expensive for students to use for language lessons.
“My vision for the future of the audio web site and audio CDs is to combine the students’ desire to study English with their desire to learn to use computers. Many WEI students cannot afford to buy computer time at an Internet Cafe. Free computer centers would attract many more students than we now have. These computer centers would, of course, be limited to studying English and the Bible. Local people could operate such centers with monitoring done electronically from the USA.
“I propose that a pilot ‘free-computer-center’ be set up to test this idea. The cost of setting up the center and operating it for one year is estimated to be $8,000 — which is much less than it costs to put a missionary in the field for a year.
“If you have ideas about how the audio web site and the audio CD can be used in your ministry, please write. I would like to hear from you.
“If you could help by adding a ‘Sing-along bouncing ball’ and computer-corrected pronunciation, please donate your skill to spreading the gospel.”
Bob and Jan are members of the Westside Church of Christ in Round Rock, TX and can be contacted by E-mail at BobTowell@aol.com.
