Bible passage
"We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: ... the teacher, in teaching." - Romans 12:6-7
Description
Mission Network personnel are involved in teaching ministries in a wide variety of school settings and at many different levels. Mission workers teach English, literature and theology courses at both Christian and state universities. Seminary-level studies are taught through correspondence courses, weekend seminars, and degree programs. As a major international language of commerce and education, English is taught as a foreign language in many countries.
Philosophy
Mission Network involvement in education ministries - in public schools, Christian liberal arts colleges, and Bible schools and seminaries - has as its goal to transform all who go through the process, so that the leavening of Christian values and fruits of the Spirit can shape individuals and, ultimately, transform the society in which they live. Teaching is viewed by mission workers as a ministry that witnesses to Christ through Christian presence, integrity in teaching, building relationships, promoting mutual cultural understanding, and sharing one's faith in word and action with students as opportunities afford.
Process
English teachers are sent to China through Mennonite Partners in China, a Mennonite consortium in which the Mission Network is a member body. Mission workers in other countries may be hired directly by universities, private institutes and public schools. Others teach classes sponsored by local churches. For those whose financial support comes from outside resources, English teaching is often one source of income.
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BartschMark and Stephanie Bartsch minister in Kobe. Both are active in their international church, and Mark teaches at a Christian high school. BenderJulie and Philip Bender provide a Christian presence and teach English to undergraduates, graduate students, doctors and teachers at Sichuan University of Arts and Science. BloughJanie and Neal serve on the staff of the Paris Mennonite Center in Saint-Maurice, a suburb of Paris. Neal also teaches at the Vaux-sur-Seine Evangelical Seminary, the Mennonite theology school (Bienenberg) and the Catholic University of Paris. DintamanSteve and Betsy work at LCC International University in Klaipeda, a city on the Baltic Sea. Steve teaches theology; Betsy is a librarian. GaeddertDon and Marie teach university-level English classes in Nanchong. GingerichRobin serves as the director of the English Language Institute at LCC International University. She directs a year-round program in the community and hosts seminars for local public schoolteachers. | McCullySydney teaches small-group, customized English conversation, intensive and conversational English classes at Connexus. OyerLinda is a staff member of the Paris Mennonite Center. She teaches Anabaptist theology, speaks at women's groups throughout French-speaking Europe, and teaches courses at the Vaux-sur-Seine Evangelical Seminary. RaberMary Raber is based in Odessa and teaches at Odessa Theological Seminary (OTS), Donetsk Christian University, Tavriskiy Christian Institute (Kherson), and other theological schools in Ukraine and the Russian Federation as requested. RiegseckerLinda is the school nurse at Santiago Christian School in the Dominican Republic. In addition to her responsibilities at the school, she helps lead a Bible study and is active in church and music ministries, particularly in worship. SawatzkySheldon is general secretary for Fellowship of Mennonite Churches in Taiwan; Marietta teaches English. SherrillSince 2008, Mike has worked as chaplain and associate professor of Christian Studies at Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College. | SpicherKaren works with Connexus Language Institute, an education ministry affiliated with the Korea Anabaptist Center. VeithThe Veiths are part of a team of mission and local workers that leads the church in various types of ministry (children's tutoring, English classes, visitation, small groups, outreach, pastoral care, prayer counseling). WitmerPhil and Terry are working with the Mennonite church and Colegio Americano Menno in La Mesa, participating in a variety of local and regional ministries. WullimanTad assists Faith Academy in development of a master building plan. He works at Northern Translation Center with transition work, and Barbara homeschools three young children there. YamanakaTomoki and Angela (Wenger) Yamanaka are associate copastors of the Asahikawa Gospel Church, a Holiness (Wesleyan) church in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. |
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