Brendy Lindsay noticed her English language learner students at Auburn Adventist Academy were asking more questions this school year about the Bible. The students, many with atheist or Buddhist backgrounds, wanted to know where to find specific answers in the Bible.
The students, though, did not personally own Bibles. “If these students are going to attend a Christian school, we should offer them a Bible,” Lindsay remembers thinking at the beginning of the school year.
She contacted Adventist churches in western Washington with a funding request to purchase bilingual Bibles. Two churches responded: Transformation Life Center in Olympia and Green Lake Church in Seattle. Both held a special offering and jointly raised nearly $2,500.
So far, Lindsay has distributed 18 Bibles in Japanese, French, traditional Chinese and standard Chinese. “We don’t force students to take a Bible; we give them a choice,” Lindsay says.
She still has funding for more bilingual Bibles as they are requested. The Bibles are a gift students can take home and share with their families if they choose.
Green Lake Church also donated boxes of Desire of Ages, Steps to Christ and The Great Controversy, all written by Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White. “I leave them in my classroom for students to take if they are interested,” Lindsay explains.
The English as a second language department provides training in reading, writing and grammar. A religion class for international students is also offered to provide an overview of Christianity.
“My students are excited to learn about Jesus,” Lindsay says. “They are so open, and they are even asking where to find Christian churches in their hometowns. We are changing the world from where we are in Auburn, Wash.”
Brendy Lindsay, Auburn Adventist Academy teacher, presents a Bible to any International student who requests a bilingual Bible. These Bibles were funded by two local Adventist churches.
Nahomie Konzi from the Congo holds her bilingual Bible.
