“Hello everyone, I am very glad to have this opportunity to share with you! I am Fiona. I have learned English in ESL class for two years. The ESL material is a good source that helps me to check my learning progress. There are many interesting bible stories that I’ve never heard before. The teachers are all very nice and easy-going. I would like to thank the church for providing us with this great learning opportunity, and I will keep working hard on learning English from now on.”

Converge Canada is so excited to read this testimony from Fiona, a second year English as a Second Language Student from Coquitlam, BC. Westwood Alliance Church is in it’s fourth year offering ESL Programs to their community.

Through our partnership and relationship with Bible League International, Westwood Alliance is using Firm Foundations ESL Program Material.  This is curriculum specifically designed and approved as ESL and also incorporates Gospel learnings. The students learn more about the gospel each week and introductions to the Holy Bible as they progress annually in their studies.

Converge Canada and Westwood Alliance began our Partnership four years ago with the desire to use ESL as a Program to engage the community in Gospel knowledge and Biblical Literacy. Since that time, we have seen over sixty students participate with a graduating class of twenty in Spring 2022.

“They selflessly gave me a lot of knowledge”

The impact of this program is evident as students have demonstrated their growth in learning English, and their understanding in the Bible and Gospel stories. We celebrate with Westwood as they have welcomed six new followers of Jesus and rejoiced when Fan chose to be baptized this past spring.

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NIV) “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

“My name is Jiangang Fan. I have learned English for two years. I have progressed my English. Therefore, I appreciate Cora teacher, Amy teacher and Anna teacher. They selflessly gave me a lot of knowledge. In the process of learning, I also learned more about God and became baptized. I studied the Holy Bible and learned Bible stories. For example, when God told Moses the 10 commandments. Another part of the Bible that deeply affected me is how sin came to be and how Jesus died for our sins. During these two years in ESL. I am grateful for learning so much; it was an unforgettable experience. Thank you.”

Developing ESL as a Ministry in Canada

We are very thankful for the teachers like Amy, Anna and the leaders at Westwood Alliance for their perseverance and dedication to make this program possible, and their passion and love of introducing Jesus to students.

Does your church want to start an ESL Program? Do you know someone running an ESL Program and they would like new material? Converge Canada can help.

Encourage them to fill out this form:

https://convergecanada.ca/contact