How to Teach a Nation to Read: Illiteracy: Overcoming Barriers to Evangelism and Discipleship in a Church Community

By Dr. Jean Marc Désiré

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669852490

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Copyright © 2022 by Dr. Jean Marc Désiré.

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Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version.

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Rev. date: 10/21/2022

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Introduction

The Problem, Description, Evidence, and Importance of Illiteracy

Old Testament Perspective

New Testament Perspective

The Problem in Contemporary Thought

Description and Goal of the Literacy Project

The Rationale for the Literacy Project

The Strategies of the Literacy Project

Hypotheses of the Literacy Project

Assumptions of the Literacy Project

Chapter 2 The Problem of Illiteracy

Demographics of the Project

Religious Practices in Haiti

The Community for the Literacy Ministry

Survey and Ministry Context of the Literacy Project

Directors of the Literacy Project and the Schools

The Participants

Historical Causes of Illiteracy in Haiti

Government Program for Education

Description of the Illiterate

Illiteracy and Poverty

Literacy and Culture Change

Literacy Program and Languages

Chapter 3 The Plan to Address the Problem of Illiteracy

Literacy and Traditional School

Leadership Style of the Literacy Ministry

Core Values and Mission of the Literacy Ministry

Passion and Compassion

Literacy and Church Growth Plan

Literacy and Evangelism

The Evaluation of the Literacy Plan

Chapter 4 Implementation of the Literacy Plan

Preparation to Launch the Literacy Ministry

Enlisting Students and Recruiting Volunteer Tutors

Logistics of Space and Funding

Upgrading the Literacy Program through Formal School

Leader Training for School and Literacy Ministry

Teaching on the Purpose of the Literacy Ministry

Lesson One

Lesson Two

Lesson Three

Lesson Four

Lesson Five

Timing and Duration of Instruction

Instructional Materials for the Literacy Ministry

Teachers and Class Format

Accountability and Supervision

Completion of the Literacy Program

Chapter 5 Results of the Literacy Ministry Project

Adult Literacy Results

Adult Literacy Ministry (2018-2019)

The Social and Spiritual Impact of the Literacy Program

The Educational Impact of the Literacy Program

Formal School Literacy Results

Vodoo and Illiteracy

Results of the Literacy Ministry for the Poor

Literacy and Professional Orientation

Literacy for Widows and Orphans

Literacy and Church Growth Results

Internal Growth Results

External Growth Results

Literacy Ministry and Community Results

Chapter 6 Conclusion

Weaknesses of the Project

Strengths of the Project

Things That Could Have Been Done Differently

Things that Remain To Be Done

Appendices

A. Pre-Literacy Survey

B. Literacy Ministry Assessment

C. Code of Ethics

D. Focus Group Assessment

E. Literacy Volunteer Information Form

F. Volunteer Quarterly Self-Evaluation Form

G. Haiti Educational System

Bibliography

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Haiti Educational System (1895, 1904, 1912-1913)

Table 2. Haiti Education Percentages in 1914

Table 3. Private School Percentage (1958-1996)

Table 4. 2017 Literacy Rate in Haiti

Table 5. Literacy Work Plan

Table 6. Retention of Literacy Skills by Year of Instruction

Table 7. Literacy Time Chart for Classes

Table 8. Adult Literacy Ministry

Table 10. Pre-School Ministry

Table 11. Formal School Student Ministry

Table 12. Formal Evening School Students

Table 13. Total Impact of Education

Table 15. Literacy Ministries and Removals of Barriers

THANKS

I dedicate this book to my late father Pastor Loulou Désiré who helped me answer God’s call, to my mother Anne Marie Soiyeuse Désiré, who faithfully supported me during my ministry, to my brothers and sisters Emmanuel, Edith, Voegeli, Joël, Louis Jr and Rebecca who all supported me in one way or another in my pastoral career. I dedicate this book to Junie and our two adult children who are all precious to me and useful to the work of the Lord.

Dr. Jean Marc Désiré

THANK YOU LUTHER RICE

COLLEGE AND SEMINARY

I would like to thank my friend Dr Gary Colboch who has coached me for many years and has traveled with me from Hartsville South Carolina for the first time in 2007 to a conference I was invited to as a guest lecturer at Luther Rice College and Seminary in Lithonia Georgia . I am grateful to Dr James Flanagan who served as President of the school from 1994 to 2021 , faithfully guided Luther Rice from difficult times to its present strong and viable position, and paved the way for me with the help of the late Dr Ron Long to study for eight long years at Luther Rice. I would like to thank every faculty member at Luther Rice who has been my professor or assisted me in one way or another during all those years. To all my heroes in the faith listed or unlisted I thank you and praise the Lord for you.

Dr. Brad Arnett

Professor of New Testament and Greek

Dr. David Casas

Associate Professor of Old Testament Literature;

Bachelor of Arts in Religion Program Coordinator

Dr. Ron Cobb

Professor of Psychology;

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Program Coordinator

Dr. William Coleman

Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry

Dr. William E. Gordon, Jr.

Assistant Professor of Theology

Dr. Scott Henderson

Associate Professor of Philosophy

Dr. Casey Hough

Assistant Professor of Biblical Interpretation

Dr. William Jaggar

Assistant Professor of Church History

Dr. Ann Kerlin, LPC, CPCS

Associate Professor of Biblical Counseling;

Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling Program Coordinator

Dr. David Mapes

Professor of Theology;

Certificate Program Coordinator

Dr. Thomas Mapes

Dean of College and Seminary;

Associate Professor of English;

General Education Coordinator

Dr. J. Marcus Merritt

Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry;

Doctor of Ministry Program Coordinator;

Director of Church Relations

Dr. Scott Moody

Associate Professor of Preaching

Dr. Alan Posey

Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry;

Theology and Apologetics;

Master of Arts in Ministry Program Coordinator

Dr. Evan Posey

Executive Vice President and Provost;

Assistant Professor of Theology and Apologetics

Dr. Rusty Ricketson

Professor of Leadership;

Master of Arts in Leadership Program Coordinator;

Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership Program Coordinator

Dr. Tim Skinner

Associate Professor of Bible, Theology, and Apologetics

Dr. Matthew Solomon

Assistant Professor of New Testament

Dr. Joshua Stewart

Associate Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew;

Master of Divinity Program Coordinator

Dr. Doug Taylor

Assistant Professor of Theology and Apologetics;

Master of Arts in Apologetics Program Coordinator

Dr. William Wilson

Professor of New Testament and Greek;

Master of Arts in Christian Studies Program Coordinator

I am specially thankful to the current president of Luther Rice Dr Steven Steinhilber and to my Major Professor Dr Ron Cobb and my advisors Dr William Wilson and Dr Brad Arnett who reviewed and approved some years ago my doctoral research thesis that I am releasing finally in a book format to the public for the greater good of our communities. To God be the Glory !

Dr. Jean Marc Désiré

PREFACE

This book was first of all a doctoral research project submitted by this author to the Faculty of Luther Rice Seminary (Lithonia, Georgia USA) in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry.The purpose of this project was to address the lack of literacy skills causing barriers to evangelism and discipleship in a Haitian church by developing and implementing a permanent literacy ministry program in that church. Learning from that experience, this project can serve as a model to bring literacy skills to a community, to a city and to a country. HOW TO TEACH A NATION TO READ is a contribution and a guide for the fight against illiteracy all over the world and particularly in Haiti where this author was born and raised.

This book is released to address the needs of illiterate children, young and adults with a program adapted to the modernity in education and to the needs of the hour. When everyone is talking about globalisation in all areas, no nation can afford to orient its educational system in a desert without a sure destination. The school must respond to the needs of societies and it all starts with literacy skills.This literacy research project follows the rules and pedagogical principles that govern learning. Teaching is a science that can be learned, and true pedagogues only take the students by the hand to lead them to receive knowledge and to make their own discovery.

The style of the project was guided by the motive of getting out of a certain empiricism in teaching, to obey the laws governing the subject. This author believes that if you don’t know what you want and what to expect, if you don’t set goals, you risk getting lost ; which is why this project is measured to meet desired goals.

This book research project was written for a christian institution ; in every chapter is a reminder first of all that it is God alone who can help us achieve the intended goals in the most successful way. This author is convinced that academic education outside of Christianity may not find a solid enough platform to inculcate in students ethics in learning. If on the academic level all students are called to discover God’s creation, the universe, on the spiritual level, it is our duty to help them discover God the creator of this universe. May this book teach a nation and save a country.

Dr Jean Marc Désiré

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

The Problem, Description, Evidence, and Importance of Illiteracy

The word illiteracy describes the state of someone who cannot read and write, or who does not have enough skills to do so correctly, in which case the subject is functionally illiterate. Despite the number of programs that have been established to make illiteracy a priority, a significant percentage of the world’s population is illiterate and cannot meet their learning needs.¹The problem of illiteracy is rampant in third-world countries as in developed countries, and has affected many sectors of society.² In the country of Haiti, the percentage of the population who are illiterate has affected the project director’s place of ministry and caused profound tension. Illiteracy stands as a barrier to effective evangelism and discipleship at Evangelistic Haitian Baptist Church, and seems to affect the church growth. Haiti has experienced social and political problems throughout the centuries that have affected various sectors of activities. Such an unsettled state has left the country in disarray with a sinking economy that fuels the chronic poverty of the Haitian society on a daily basis. One trip to Haiti will reveal that various infrastructures, such as roads and bridges, hospitals and schools, sanitation and food, and wells and electricity, are needed. The misery resulting from continued deterioration of this island country has caused numerous diseases and even reduced Haitian life expectancy. Throughout history, Haiti has been a country in crisis maintained by corrupt leadership and poor government that have kept the country in a chronic state of underdevelopment.³ There is no sector that has been affected by this situation more than those in abject poverty. One of several ramifications of such poverty has been illiteracy, which can be traced to French colonialism, and has become a nationwide crisis projecting within homes and churches. The plague of illiteracy has affected the church and caused hindrances to the church’s ministries. Many church programs have not been effective or efficient because of its illiterate congregants.

James Thompson commented, The Christian mission is not primarily an endeavor to win men and women to a form of religion called by the general name of Christianity, but an obedient response to the purpose of God the Father, which is to win His children to Himself.⁴ Thompson believed that such a divine mission is sustained and directed by the power and presence of God the Holy Spirit and should … become a vehicle for the operation of that same Spirit.⁵ Elmer Towns advocated, Since the church is a living organism, it is natural for it to grow if it is healthy. The church is a body not a business. It is an organism, not an organization. If a church is not growing, it is dying. ⁶ The apostle Paul stated in Romans 10:14, "How