The TELL Network leverages the internet to deliver Bible teaching to students all over the world
In 2018 WELS World Mission’s Multi-Language Publications had a vision to reach the world with the Gospel in a new way. Their vision was to equip people with the truth of God’s word using digital resources in English. Like the Latin America mission field’s Spanish Academia Cristo, TELL would use English to reach people through social media, self-led Bible lessons and live video classrooms.
Three years later, God has blessed that vision. The TELL Network has 1.2 million followers and likes on its main Facebook page. Across the globe there are 7,000 active users doing self-led Bible lessons on the TELL app and website. Currently there is one full-time TELL missionary who meets several times a week with students from Africa, India, and Philippines.
One student, Samuel, is from Guinea, Africa. He is a school teacher with a wife and children. “My greatest desire is to be well-equipped for mission work,” says Samuel, “I won’t miss this opportunity by God’s grace.”
Like thousands of others, Samuel found TELL on Facebook. TELL’s Facebook team posts daily Bible passages and short devotional videos by national pastors called #TELLtalks. The team answers questions online and invites people to start free Bible training on the TELL app or website.
Samuel Kalivogui and his family
Samuel downloaded the TELL app and within seconds began the first self-learning course. He completed three self-learning courses: Spiritual Healing, Truth Brings Peace, and Introduction to the Bible. Each course has nine lessons that include a Bible reading, teaching video, and quiz.
When Samuel completed the self-learning courses (“TELL Tier 1”) he received his first certificate. Then a TELL missionary contacted Samuel. He congratulated him and invited Samuel to join him in the live online classes (“TELL Tier 2”).
Today Samuel is meeting twice a week in a video classroom with a TELL instructor and other students. Students go in-depth learning about the work of Jesus, Old and New Testament history, and Law and Gospel. Each course takes about a month. There are eleven courses in TELL tier 2.
TELL tier 3 are live courses too. They focus on how to share the Gospel in your community: gathering, teaching and discipling. God-willing someday the TELL instructor along with a local missionary will visit Samuel to grow the relationship and support Samuel as he starts a small group.
Samuel recording a Gospel message for a radio broadcast in Guinea
When Samuel began TELL he had been praying for just that: an opportunity to share the Gospel. Since then God opened a door! A friend gave Samuel air-time on the local radio station. Every Sunday evening Samuel takes the Bible lesson he has learned with TELL and reuses them on-air to an audience of up to half-a-million. Many of whom haven’t heard the Gospel.
By God’s grace Samuel has found a place where he receives real Gospel training right from God’s word. “I used to believe in a Gospel that was preaching prosperity and miracles mostly,” Samuel says, “But I discovered this misleads believers. It focuses on earthly things and makes us forget heavenly things. Now I’m mission-minded.”
Daniel Laitinen is Multi-Language Production’s TELL Missionary and lives in Austin, TX
Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news and receive updates. Learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts at https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa
TONIGHT IS WELCOME NIGHT!!! PK-8 Families - Monday, August 20, 5:30-7:00 PM Parents and students should come to school to drop off supplies, verify tuition payment, set-up their lunch account, find their desks, and drop off any unfinished paperwork. See you at school! ALSO... Monday, August 27 - First day of school Here is a link to our calendar which includes all important dates for the year. Please check often as some dates may change. Salem Lutheran School Calendar
Preorders for yearbooks will be available through May 3 for $13. Order forms will be sent home this week and available in the school office. Cash, check (made out to Salem Lutheran School) or payment through your TADS account is available. Please fill out one envelope per family and include all the children and their grades that you are purchasing one for. If paying by check, one check for all ordered is fine. After May 3, yearbooks will be sold for $15 each.
Dear Salem Parents, We are again offering to order Summer Skills Books for those families that like to use them over the summer months. Sample books can be viewed in the school office. Please place your order by May 7th or feel free to view and order these directly on their website. www.summerskills.com Here is more information from the Summer Skills Team: Summer-slide is something every teacher is concerned about. Taking three months away from school sets students back when they return in the fall, and that’s in a typical year. According to a study from research firm McKinsey and Company , the pandemic has put students anywhere from 4-12 months behind, and we aren’t even finished with the challenges of the last year. Thankfully, the Summer Skills series of books is designed to strengthen skills and reinforce lessons learned. With a variety of subjects for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, there is a way for every student to bounce back from a ...
