He was 7 years old when his daddy died and left his mother with seven hen houses and seven children. Someone had to stay home and help run the farm, so Lamar Holland was chosen to help.

With a fourth grade education he decided as an adult to "get what I missed out on" and learn to read. But he had to go to prison first.

Holland is one of more than 100 inmates that Ernest and Virginia Shivers, members of Annistown Road Church in Snellville, have taught over the last 13 years at Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Facility.

"We were surprised to learn there were so many with literacy problems. We had no idea how much of a need there was," said Virginia Shivers, 76.

About 60 percent of adult prisoners - and 85 percent of juvenile offenders - are considered functionally illiterate.

"That means they cannot complete a job application, read a prescription or the directions on a medicine bottle. They cannot read to their children and they cannot read the newspaper well," said Paulette DeHart, Georgia Baptist literacy missions consultant.

About 8 percent of all adults in Georgia are functionally illiterate. "A typical illiterate person is male, less than 40 years of age and has graduated from high school," DeHart said.

 

More help needed

The Shivers are one of a handful of adult reading and writing (ARW) teachers in Georgia - and many more are needed. Although they began teaching with no training, months later the couple attended an ARW training workshop.

"It gave us the ABC's of teaching, you might say," Virginia Shivers said. "The training helped us recognize the needs and gave us so much confidence."

Teaching in a prison may have been daunting to some, but the Shivers have never been intimidated by the past lives of their students.

"We have never had an incident where anyone got out of order. We have never been afraid or concerned for our safety," said Ernest Shivers, 81. They have also invited released prisoners to their home for holiday meals.

Classes are voluntary at the prison, but attendance has grown so that the Shivers recruited two more teachers. They could use more.

"There are so many and some come to us and can't even make their letters. Others can read a little and just need help to improve," Virginia Shivers said.

The couple set aside every Monday to prepare for the evening classes. In one room of their home four cardboard boxes hold materials for each of the four reading levels they teach. File drawers are stuffed full of materials for each lesson of each of four books.

"God has placed this on our hearts. It's a joy. We look forward to being there every Monday. The boys are so kind and thankful. They actually pray for us. This is where God wants us to be," Virginia Shivers said.

 

A practical ministry

Adult reading and writing teachers are desperately needed in Georgia. "I get calls from people who want to learn to read, but so often I cannot find teachers," said DeHart.

While many have been trained, few are currently willing to teach. "The reasons vary. Some haven't used their training for years and don't feel comfortable teaching. Some are older now and can't get out."

Last year DeHart advertised an ARW workshop on the radio, in churches and in associations in the metro Atlanta area. Only one person registered.

"This is not just a do-good ministry," she said. "It's practical, yes. But teaching literacy builds bridges into the lives of people who don't know the Lord," DeHart said.

For more information about ARW, contact DeHart at (770) 979-0588, pbdehart@yahoo.com or pdehart@gabaptist.org.

Literacy missions provides training for ministry among non-readers (ARW), those new to the English language (ESL), children and youth who need help (TCY), and Spanish-speakers who want to learn to read and write in Spanish (ALFALIT). Training in each of these areas is made possible through your gifts to the Cooperative Program.

 

You and your church may send Cooperative Program gifts to:

Dr. J. Robert White
Executive Director
Georgia Baptist Convention
2930 Flowers Road, South
Atlanta, GA 30341-5562