Newspaper Page Text
November 16, 2016
PAGE 7C
t Reporter
Many languages heard in First Baptist classes
Carey Russell, right, begins class with students from Mexico and Venezuela
studying the words in a Bible verse.
BY DR. JIM BUFF
On any given Tuesday
night when regular
school is in session,
a visit to the Youth
Department at First
Baptist will find it
populated by adults. On
a recent Tuesday this
group included adults
from Mexico, Venezuela
and Nepal. These are
highly motivated indi
viduals seeking to
improve their English
language skills.
The program is the
brain-child of Mrs.
Nell Bowen.
“I became
interested in
literacy in
the 1980’s
as I studied
the lives of
Mr. and Mrs.
John Isaacs,
two mission
aries who
sought to pro
mote literacy.
I worked with
my first stu
dent in 1989.”
The current
program at
First Baptist
started in
2005. A small
group of dedicated vol
unteers put up posters
in town, and a workshop
directed by professional
teachers started the pro
gram.
“Some of us noticed the
number of people who
did not speak English in
some of our local stores.
After looking around us
we saw that the people
were here and that this
was an opportunity to
reach out and help,” said
Bowen. “Our focus is on
everyday English.”
What is a typical
Tuesday evening like?
Work begins promptly at
7 p.m. There are Bible
verses with words that
merit study. Time may
be spent in group study
or those who
need individ
ual help may
be able to get
that. Children
are present
and childcare
is provided.
The children
have a Bible
story or work
on crafts. At
7:45 p.m. the
children join
the adults
for singing
and sharing
a Bible verse.
This is
a very
relaxed,
enjoy
able
time of fellowship.
Refreshments are
served. Then it is
back to work until
8:30 p.m.
Since its small
beginning there
has been no short
age of students. In
the past 12 years
students from
China, Japan,
Vietnam, Korea,
Russia, India and
Hispanic coun
tries have passed
through the program.
Today, besides helping
with understanding and
speaking English, there
is help with American
customs and citizenship.
“We have had several
students take and pass
their citizenship test.
I believe the test they
take would be a chal
lenge for many of us
who already are citi
zens.”
What are the suc
cesses besides citizen
ship? Individuals who
have gone through the
program have acquired
skills that enabled
them to get jobs where
their English skills are
used on a daily basis.
Perhaps a note written
by a student regarding
Thanksgiving says it
best:
“Today I am like those
Pilgrims. In 2009 I came
to this country from a
bad situation in Bhutan.
Like those Pilgrims, I
found myself surrounded
with people who helped
me and my wife work on
our English. In my case
it was the people at the
First Baptist Church.
They encouraged me and
guided me as I prepared
to take the citizenship
examination. Because
of their help I was able
to pass that
exam and
now I am an
American
citizen. Like
those Pilgrims
at this
Thanksgiving
in 2015,
I want to
express my
appreciation.”
Like any vol
unteer orga
nization there
is always
the need for
more volun
teers. Help is
needed in all
areas. More
help teaching
would mean
more individual atten
tion. Children need help
with homework and
childcare. To volunteer,
call the church office at
994-5240.
Classes are always
open for more students
regardless of native
language. Prospective
students should call the
church office (994-5240)
for information about
when and where to show
up for classes. All ser
vices to students are at
no cost. There is also no
cost for childcare.
Mary Ann Leverett helps a student from Nepal.
(Photos/Jim Buff)
United Bank Call Center has 20th anniversary
United Bank announces
that November 2016 marks
the 20t,h anniversary of its
Customer Call Center, one of
the largest departments with
in the Bank. Fifty employees
strong, the United Bank Call
Center has helped thousands
of customers over the years
complete transactions for situ
ations that require “outside-
the-box” solutions.
United Bank customers rely
on the Call Center team seven
days a week to ensure their
banking needs are met and
their expectations exceeded.
“The members of the Call
Center team are truly some of
the customer service heroes
of the Bank,” said John
Edwards, Chairman of United
Bank. “They are always avail
able to help United Bank
customers and have the flex
ibility to meet the needs of
unique banking situations.
That level of customer service
is what United Bank is all
about, and we are proud to
celebrate this team on their
20th anniversary.”
Created in November
of 1996, the Call Center
was designed to support
the Bank’s customers in
Barnesville, Griffin and
Zebulon with extended hours,
from one central location.
During the past 20 years,
the Call Center has helped
to streamline processes while
creating greater efficiency and
a higher lever of customer
service as the Bank contin
ued to grow. Today, the Call
Center supports bank custom
ers from 13 different commu
nities, with seven-day service
from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.,
with live customer service
agents and video tellers.
Be sure to “Like” United
Bank on Facebook to read
some of the agents’ favorite
Call Center stories from the
past two decades.
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The Monroe County Reporter’s
Wellness Directory
Cardiology Pharmacies
Meyer Cardiology, PC
Dr. Thomas Meyer, Cardiologist
Monroe Regional Medical Complex
120 N. Lee Street • Forsyth, GA 31029
Comprehensive Cardiac Services
Call (478) 745-7456
Chiropractic
Walker Chiropractic Clinic
Dr. Steven Walker
255 Tift College Dr • Forsyth, GA
Mon - Wed, Fri: 9-6 • Thu, Sat by Apt
Physiologic Therapeutics
Chiropractic Sports Physician
Call (478) 994-1562
Counseling
Call
Carolyn Martel
to advertise your
area of expertise!
478-960-2259
Forsyth Intervention
Services & Training
Anger Management, Substance Abuse,
General Counseling, and More!
32 East Main St • Forsyth, GA 31029
forsythintervention@gmail.com
forsythintervention.com
Call (470) 236-3478
Dentistry
Deena Holliman Smith,
DMD
205 Medical Court • Forsyth, GA 31029
Mon - Thu: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
General Dentistry
Call (478) 994-1171
Tom Perry, OD PC
Walmart Vision Center
6020 Harrison Rd • Macon, GA
(across from Eisenhower Shoppes)
Mon, Wed, Fri: 11 am - 6 pm • Sat 10 am - 5 pm
For Your Eye Exams
Call (478) 785-2240
Dermatology
Georgia Dermatology
Russell Harris, MD
Deborah Moore, PA-C
101 Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Forsyth, GA31029
GaDerm.com
Call (478) 994-5281
Hospitals
Monroe County
Hospital
88 Martin Luther Kingjr Drive
Forsyth, GA 31029
monroehospital.org
Call (478) 994-2521
Optometry
Tom Perry, OD PC
Walmart Vision Center
6020 Harrison Rd • Macon, GA
(across from Eisenhower Shoppes)
Mon, Wed, Fri: 11 am - 6 pm • Sat: 10 am - 5 pm
For Your Eye Exams
Call (478) 785-2240
Orthopedics
Piedmont
Orthopaedic Complex
4660 Riverside Park Blvd
Macon, GA 31210
Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Call (478) 474-2114
L Toll Free (800) 338-5141
Castleberry Drug Company
Jep Castleberry, RPH
Laurie Parkerson, RPH
Medicaid, Medicare &
Most Insurance Accepted
67 North Lee St. • Forsyth, GA 31029
For All Your Pharmaceutical Needs
Call (478) 994-2051
Veterinary
Brandon S. Pinson, DVM
Animal Medical Clinic of Forsyth
60 South Jackson St • Forsyth, GA 31029
Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Sat: 8:00 am -12:30 pm
animalmedicalclinicforsyth.com
Call (478) 994-4986
Caldwell Veterniary
Hospital, LLC
Butler Caldwell, DVM
951 Flwy41 South • Forsyth, GA 31029
butiercaldwell@beilsouth.net
caldwellvet.com
Call (478) 994-8228
Dr. Jill Lancaster
Plantation Centre
Animal Hospital
"Big & small, we treat them all."
6411 Peake Road • Macon, GA 31210
For All Your Veterinary Needs
Call (478) 474-3616
Call today to get
your listing in
this space!
(478) 960-2259