Work Progressing on English Curriculum

by Sarah Farnand

As many of you know, amazing things are happening with the India ministry! The Lord is working in the hearts of the people in India, and it is exciting to think about what the Lord is going to do through the ministry in the upcoming year.

Over the past few months, the Lord has brought together a team of educators (Kerstin Bagley, Susan Pazda, and Susan Stafford) to help develop an English curriculum for the students at the KSOM Bible College in Pune, India. It is such a blessing to be able to work with those who share a common goal of wanting the Gospel message spread throughout the world. As a team our vision is to create a comprehensive English language curriculum that will help the students further the Gospel message in India and throughout the world.

To realize this vision, during our regular meetings we came up with the following goals for the students and professors:

1. To help the students understand the English language in their other classes at KSOM.
2. To help the students effectively communicate with English speakers on the mission field (i.e. doctors, pastors, missionaries, etc.)
3. To establish training tools that will enable KSOM professors to implement their curriculum successfully.

This KSOM English Curriculum Committee has been meeting twice a month discussing many things, including how to establish an effective curriculum that will prepare the students for the mission field. We have also discussed appropriate themes for the students to study to aid them in further understanding the English language. We want the students to apply what they learn to their everyday life. It has truly been a wonderful experience working together as everyone is thrilled about the progress of our plans for the upcoming school year.

One of the essential goals of the curriculum is to prepare the students as much as possible. During the past few meetings we have been able to establish a Curriculum Calendar for the entire school year from June to March! Each month we have designated a specific theme for the students. We have many exciting activities and resources that we can‘t wait for the professors to use, and they are eager to try them!

Some of the needs for this area are:

• Monolingual Oxford Picture Dictionaries (a class set),
• Composition note-books, pens, pencils, chalk, dry erase markers, high-lighters, loose leaf paper, printer paper,
• A printer (with scanning and copying functions),
• Learning games (Scattegories, Pictionary, Scrabble, etc.).
• Christian biographies on missionaries or Christian leaders to add to the KSOM Library.

If you are willing to donate any of these books or games, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or contact the Koinonia church office.

Also, the students need school supplies to help them to be better equipped for the upcoming school year. Please pray that the Lord will provide the resources needed to start the new school year (in June) out strong! If you wish to contribute monetarily toward this, please designate your donation for “India KSOM supplies”.

Our main goal is to glorify God, and we desire that the students will be able to glorify Christ in their studies. One of my favorite verses that the Lord has given to me while working with the committee is Ephesians 3:20: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”.

Thank you all for your prayers and support over these past few months! I hope that you have an abundantly blessed 2011!