Case Studies
- Prestoncrest Church of Christ – Dallas, Texas
FriendSpeak has brought Prestoncrest many new friends and opportunities. We are working with 100+ international “readers,” many of whom are in Master's and PhD programs. They understand English and can write, but need more confidence as they venture out to speak.
We are blessed to have readers who work in Dallas or attend the University of Texas at Dallas, SMU, or Southwestern Medical School. Our readers are from Afghanistan, China, Columbia, Peru, France, Mexico, India, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Honduras, and Uruguay.
FriendSpeak is also great for our members, most of whom participate once or twice a week on Sunday and Wednesday. Many of our members would not feel comfortable standing and teaching a class, but they are comfortable and confident in the one-on-one setting.
Prestoncrest has also started several other programs that have grown out of FriendSpeak, including FriendSpeak for Kids, International Bible Class and Discussion Group, and coming soon, an international worship service.
George Miller
Elder, FriendSpeak Coordinator
Prestoncrest Church of Christ - Dallas Baptist Association - Dallas, Texas
Working with faith-based literacy ministries, we always need good Bible material for use with our ESL students. I first heard about FriendSpeak over a year ago from an ESL ministry in Arlington, TX. The director had nothing but good things to say about the material, which can be used with high beginner to advanced students.
Having read through the workbooks, I am convinced that FriendSpeak is an excellent way to engage the ESL student in one-on-one conversation. The gospel is discussed and presented in a non-threatening manner. Students are responding to God’s Word.
Ruby A. Drye
Literacy Missions Consultant
Dallas Baptist Association
North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention - Concord Christian Church - Charlotte, North Carolina
My husband and I recently moved to Charlotte, North Carolina from Dallas, Texas where we were involved in a vibrant FriendSpeak ministry of 150+ “readers” and church members. We knew first hand how helpful this ministry is to immigrants, and that it’s a tremendous seed planting ministry with significant growth opportunities for churches. Once we found out we were moving, we committed to finding a church that would support us in starting a FriendSpeak Ministry. That church was Concord Christian Church.
Concord Christian Church is now impacting our community through FriendSpeak. After participating in the extremely beneficial training seminars, we launched FriendSpeak at the beginning of the school year with eight initial members and three international readers, and by the holidays we were up to thirteen members and nine readers.
We’ve been praying for God to send us "fertile soil,” and "fertile soil" He is sending! At least half our Readers attend church fairly regularly, including some of their children, husbands, and friends. We’ve also had attendance at Ladies Bible Class and special events like Fall Festival, Thanksgiving Dinner, and our Christmas program. One Reader even signed up to sing in the Easter program!
I can tell you with confidence that our members are experiencing many great blessings and growth opportunities in their own lives by participating in FriendSpeak, just as we did in Dallas. This is truly an outreach that will quickly and eternally bless the lives of your church members and your community!
Kim Campbell
FriendSpeak Coordinator
Concord Christian Church