U.S. Cross-Cultural Outreach

The people of Immanuel Bible Church are committed to sharing Jesus Christ boldly to Internationals in our local area. We pursue effective cross-cultural outreach and ministry through the following:

Missionaries
Special Classes
International Bible Fellowship
Immanuel's Hope
Korean Fellowship
English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
International Outreach Ministries
People of Prayer
Auto Ministry

These efforts reach our ever-changing community for Christ and mobilize our growing congregation of World Christians for cross-cultural outreach. For a fuller description of our goals, please see our policies and definitions regarding our Vision, Mission and Process, and Our Specific Mission Goals.

Missionaries
Immanuel Bible Church gives monthly financial assistance to approximately 47 short-term (one to four years of service) and career missionaries. These missionaries serve in one of three capacities: overseas cross-cultural outreach, U.S. cross cultural outreach, or stateside outreach. Twenty-four Immanuel missionaries serve in the U.S. and are primarily involved in cross-cultural outreach. They reach and minister to many different ethnic groups residing in the U.S. This type of cross-cultural outreach requires both the ability to relate to the International's cultural background, values, and unique needs as well as aiding them to adjust to American culture.

The Internationals within U.S. communities can be transient or permanent, but their realm of influence includes friends and family here as well as back in their home countries. As our Immanuel missionaries share God boldly through full time outreach to local Internationals, they also have an eternal influence on untold International networks here and abroad.

Beyond financial support, all of our missionaries receive prayer and encouragement from the Immanuel family. We encourage you, at a minimum, to consistently pray for our missionaries' effective cross-cultural outreach. You can be personally involved in our missionaries' ministries through: prayer, correspondence, financial support, hosting, or partnering on overseas projects.

Many of our overseas missionaries (see Overseas Cross-Cultural Outreach) serve in sensitive areas where the spread of the gospel is hindered by significant political and cultural barriers. Due to privacy and security issues, specific information regarding these missionaries is not posted on this website. However, the Missions office will gladly help you individually pursue involvement in ministry with any of our overseas or stateside missionaries.

Special Classes
At various times during the year, special classes and trainings are held for those volunteers involved in any outreach ministries. These workshops are open to the whole IBC family but are especially pertinent to those involved in: short term missions, ESL, Immanuel's Hope, International Outreach Fellowship, and visitation volunteers.

International Bible Fellowship
Immanuel provides Internationals in the area with Sunday morning bible studies and small group interaction through the International Bible Fellowship. This fellowship is comprised of believers and seekers from different ethnic backgrounds as well as "world Christians" interested in cross-cultural ministry. By attending, one can: participate in Bible studies; befriend and aid International newcomers; fellowship with believers from different cultures; receive updates and pray for various nations and unreached people groups; pray for and receive updates from missionaries overseas; support & encourage one another; and enjoy a time of fellowship. Small group evening bible studies also meet and special events are held quarterly.
Schedule:
Sundays, 9:20am, Room 402 (the school library)

Contact:
Dick Williams 703.941.3625

Immanuel's Hope

The mission field comes to Immanuel! Every Wednesday, as many as 65 International families from our community come to Immanuel's Hope Ministry to receive charitable assistance including used clothing, household items, and furniture. All goods are donated (tax receipt available) and all goods are distributed as free gifts. Visitors receive a loving welcome and hear the Gospel, and they are encouraged to pursue their spiritual walk. Ministry roles include workers who receive and sort donations, computer operators, drivers to handle furniture donations, and volunteers with a heart for cross-cultural assistance, encouragement, and evangelism. This rewarding ministry applies the Great Commission every week in our own neighborhood!

Donations:
Sundays 9am—11pm
Wednesdays 12—4pm

Charitable Assistance:
Wednesdays
Registration 6—7pm
Assistance 7—9pm
(Please bring photo ID)

To request a furniture pick up or receive more information, please call:
703.916-8654 (a volunteer will return your call)

Click here for more information.

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
The goal of the Immanuel Bible Church ESL Program is to provide loving service and a gospel witness to internationals in our community through a high quality English as a Second Language program. Speaking English can be a matter of survival as well as an important step in improving one's quality of life in America. The people of Immanuel Bible Church serve the community of immigrants (first and second generation) by offering free English classes and loving friendship.

We are aware of our desire and responsibility found in Leviticus 19:34: "The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself…". As we serve our community in love, we share the gospel of God's love through His gift of Jesus Christ. Through personal friendships, Bible studies, the ESL Café, and special events, our students are afforded the opportunity to hear of who Jesus Christ is and experience His love in tangible service. For more information regarding our ESL program, please click on ESL Program Details, ESL Volunteer Staff or contact our ESL Director listed below.

Schedule: click here

Place:
Evening classes are held in Immanuel Christian School classrooms.
Morning classes are held in the Terrace Rooms of the church.

Registration and Cost:
Each student must be registered to take ESL classes. Registration is held the week before classes begin, during the class times. The cost for the semester is $40.00.

>Further Information

Contact:
Paul Buschman, ESL Program Director
703.981.6508
esl@immanuelbible.net

International Outreach Fellowship
Over the years, certain local ministries have formed to reach out to a specific people or language group. Hispanos en Cristo was once a small outreach ministry to local Spanish speaking internationals. Today, it is a large outreach with international outreach projects of its' own. Each International Outreach Ministry operates a bit differently, but each group strives to pray, prepare for, and participate in local cross-cultural gospel interaction.

The International Outreach Fellowship is an established outreach group praying for our International neighbors in hopes that they may hear the gospel message and accept God's free gift of eternal life. Currently, this fellowship offers monthly outreach training for all participants and outreach modeling which is structured within small teams. These teams interact within the community, building loving friendships.

Schedule:
First Friday of every month
7—9pm, dessert provided
Immanuel Bible Church, Room 313

Objectives:
Receive evangelistic training
Build teams for cross-cultural outreach
Pray for salvation of local contacts
Support & encourage one another
Enjoy a time of fellowship
Befriend and love internationals through
repeated contact with them
Distribute free Jesus Videos and literature
See others receive Jesus Christ

People of Prayer
This mid-week prayer fellowship aims to seek Him constantly in praise and intercession for the weekly documented requests from our congregation, our missionaries and our community. The People of Prayer participate in a 15-minute prayer Bible study, join in singing choruses of worship, and pray with a heart of confidence and compassion for God's intervention in the lives of others.
Schedule:
Each Wednesday, 7:30—8:45pm at Guest Reception (Church Parlor)

Objectives:
Build a personal prayer discipline.
Discover the joy of strategic intercession for those that entrust their needs, hopes and joys through the weekly Immanuel Communication Card.
Join others in small prayer teams.
Faithfully support our church families, leaders, missionaries and ministries in prayer.