Christian Literacy Associates

Bible-content Solutions to Illiteracy, Since 1975

 

Our Mission

Christian Literacy Associates: providing the key to eliminate illiteracy, build relationships, and share the Good News using The Christian Literacy Series.

Aside from the direct services provided by our Model Program, the majority of our work is achieved by forming outreach partnerships with churches, community groups, and national and international mission agencies. 

Financial partnerships are the reason for our survival as a Christian Ministry.  Churches and individuals who feel a calling to provide for the funding needs of this ministry’s work have helped reach tens of thousands with the Gospel while teaching them to read.  Below are ways to partner with us, as well as a list of many of the other groups we have partnered with around the globe.

 

Ways to Partner With Us:

• Add a Christian Literacy Associates reading component to your church’s community outreach programs. 
• By inviting us to your church to train a committed group of volunteers and purchasing the textbooks necessary for your outreach, you can be a part of our mission and support our operational needs.  See our Churches Page for available programs and curriculum.  

 

• Sponsor sets of textbooks for those who cannot afford them.
• We provide, as a ministry, services and products to those who need our help regardless of their ability to purchase our textbooks.  By sponsoring materials for them, you make it possible for Christian Literacy Associates to impact the less fortunate.

 

• Add Christian Literacy Associates to your church’s missions giving budget. 
• Our work and the help we provide is only made possible by the generosity of concerned churches and individuals.

Allegheny County Literacy Council, Inc./Christian Literacy Associates is a qualified charity under IRS code 501(C)(3); all contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

 

• Start a Christian Literacy Book Club.
• A Christian Literacy Book Club is a book club that encourages its members to fellowship over the reading and discussion of books that propose or emphasize a Christian world-view.  A Christian Literacy Book Club also encourages members to be daily in God’s Word, to grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ, and have its members support Christian Literacy Associates in one or more of the following ways:
• Financially
• As a ministry that actively proclaims Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, we cannot receive any government funding and most Foundations are closed to us for the same reason.  We continue to exist only through contributions from caring Christian individuals and churches.
• Prayer support
• We have known for decades the power of praying Christians to open doors and tear down walls so that Christ’s name might be proclaimed and people’s physical needs met.
• Spread the Word
• Let others know about this ministry.  Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising in the world.  We are always excited to see where the next phone call comes from, whether our hometown or somewhere on the other side of the world.  Within the year, we will be communicating with Christian Literacy Book Club members through Facebook and Twitter.

Who We Have Partnered With:

Below is a list of some of the denominational bodies, missionary-sending organizations, foreign governments, and other groups that Christian Literacy Associates has worked with:

International Literacy Efforts

Overseas Denominational Bodies

1. Episcopal Bishop of the Sudan- developed native language primer for their congregations
2. Lutheran Bishop of Liberia- developed 7 basic Liberian language primers in cooperation with The Institute of Liberian Languages (T.I.L.L.)
3. Lutheran Bishop of Madagascar- provided training for U.S. short-term missionaries to use The Christian Literacy Series Complete Set to teach English
4. The Church of South India- developed the Telugu and Malayalam basic reading primers for use within their congregations
5. The Presbyterian Church of Central Africa, Synod of Blantyre (Malawi)- developed the Chichewa Christian Literacy Primer; 10,000 adult students (mostly women) taught to read during the program's first year of operation within Malawi
6. Apostolic Congregations of Canada- provided training for short-term missionaries to operate Summer Reading Camp programs in the Turks & Caicos Islands
7. Anglican Churches of Uganda- developed a Ruchiga Christian Literacy Primer

Missionary-Sending Organizations

1. Joni & Friends International Ministry to the Disabled - trained and certified an in-house tutor-trainer; providing training and materials for work in Honduras, Ghana, Mexico, the Ukraine, India, and Kenya to teach English using The Christian Literacy Series Complete Set
2. Christian Literacy Associates of Haiti Project (sponsored by World Vision)- five-year project trained 25,000 tutors to use the newly developed Creole primer; 50,000 students were taught to read at literacy sites across the island nation
3. Salvation Army - trained and certified an in-house tutor-trainer at the Salvation Army THQ who provides training in English for foreign cadets entering the Seminary and also certifies, as tutors, officers and staff who take The Christian Literacy Series Complete Set to their next stations around the world

Foreign Governments

1. Turks & Caicos Islands - trained their Education Officer in the use of The Christian Literacy Series Complete Set in summer programs for illiterate, single, teenage mothers
2. Tanzania - worked with their education department officials to develop a Swahili basic reading primer for use with illiterate adults
3. Portugal - collaborated with the Portuguese Department of Education to develop a Portuguese primer for use in Angola and Brazil

Organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania

Schools and Colleges/Universities

1. Allegheny Intermediate Unit- in-service workshops for teachers
2. University of Pittsburgh- seminars for reading specialists
3. Duquesne University- seminars for reading specialists
4. Carlow College- seminars for elementary education students
5. North Hills School District- workshops for teachers, parents, and peer tutors
6. Shaler School District- student referrals
7. Avonworth School District- student referrals
8. Penn Hills School District- workshop for teachers and peer tutors
9. Northgate School District- Summer Reading Camp programs
10. Pine-Richland School District- student referrals
11. North Allegheny School District- in-service workshops for reading specialists, student referrals
12. Hampton School District- training for peer tutors, student referrals
13. Fox Chapel School District- in-service workshops for reading specialists, student referrals
14. Seneca Valley School District- in-service training for teachers and parents

Community Organizations

1. YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh- After-school tutor training
2. Boys and Girls Clubs of Western PA- After-school tutor training
3. Rotary Clubs- Pittsburgh District- training workshops
4. Kiwanis Clubs- Key Clubs- training workshops
5. Boy Scouts of America- Greater Pittsburgh Council- student referrals, training of tutors
6. The Salvation Army- training and consultation for tutors and missionaries

Churches Within The Judicatory Bodies of

1. Pittsburgh Presbytery- training seminars, Summer Reading Camps
2. Washington Presbytery- training seminars, Summer Reading Camps
3. United Methodist Conference of Western PA- training seminars, Summer Reading Camps
4. ELCA Lutheran Synod of SW PA- training seminars, Summer Reading Camps
5. Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh- training seminars, Summer Reading Camps
6. Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh- training seminars, Literacy After-School Tutoring

TOOLS FOR: FAMILIES CHURCHES MINISTRIES SCHOOLS

VIEW OUR: MODEL PROGRAMS PARTNERSHIPS

Copyright 2012 Allegheny County Literacy Council, Inc./Christian Literacy Associates