Educational Opportunities Affect Overseas Missions
Two prominent mission groups recently reported that educational opportunity is a factor that can either inhibit or facilitate overseas missions.
Wycliffe Bible Translator, a 70-year old mission group that has been involved in over 600 Bible translations, recently reported that a shortage of qualified teachers to instruct children of missionaries can prevent missionaries from moving overseas.
“Many Bible translators rely on having international schools overseas for their own children to obtain a good education,” said Bruce Smith, president and CEO of Wycliffe Associates, in an article published by the group. “When there is a teacher shortage, however, this can prevent missionaries from moving to the field and slows down the Bible translation process.”
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The Bible translating group reported that a shortage of teachers in places such as Manila, Philippines and Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea have forced schools to cancel some classes. Moreover, although Wycliffe Associates are in the process of construction of schools in Cameroon, Africa and in the Philippines, without teachers it will be difficult for students to fulfill graduation requirements.
According to the Children’s Education Recruitment office of Wycliffe Bible Translator, over 250 teachers are needed immediately to take positions at schools for missionary children overseas.
Through its network, Wycliffe has informed some 7,600 potential volunteers of the urgent need for teachers and 75 teachers have responded to fill the positions.
Meanwhile, Open Doors, the world’s oldest ministry “operating discreetly behind closed borders,” reported how opening educational centers in Iraq provided opportunities to introduce the young people in Iraq to Christianity.
The mission and persecution watchdog group reported that despite the political, social, and religious strife in the country, young Iraqis “have the desire to work on their future and the future of their nation.”
The two Open Doors centers in Iraq offer educational opportunities by providing several courses that include computer, music and English classes. The “cultural” centers, called that because they cannot operate openly as churches, distribute literature including Bibles to Iraqi students and include an internet cafe.
“We give thanks to our Lord for allowing Open Doors to facilitate skill-building classes, distribute Christian literature and offer classes on religion at centers inside Iraq,” said Open Doors USA President Dr. Carl Moeller in a statement release on Oct. 26.
“It is dangerous work. But that is why Open Doors is there – to support and strengthen suffering Christians who remain.”
Open Doors “cultural” centers also organize Christian activities that include conferences and seminars to discuss Christian cultural topics. Lectures by pastors on popular issues such as dialogue between the main religions in Iraq and the understanding of religions attract between 35-50 people, according to Open Doors. Other activities include the showing of movies such as Jesus Film.
