Myrna Ovando and Izabela Youngberg, Poulsbo Church members, were jointly inspired to reach the local City of Poulsbo Hispanic community by going door-to-door handing out free Spanish language books on cooking, end-time events, Bible prophecy, children's stories and more.
That was in late 2021 when the pandemic was still greatly impacting our society. Yet, Ovando and Youngberg were not dissuaded.
Many answers to prayer and conversations with the community led to understanding a great desire and need for English as a Second Language classes, which are now held regularly at Poulsbo Church.
Interest in the free, biweekly evening classes has become rather popular among a subset of the local Hispanic community. Many attendees originate from the same Mexico community, and others originate from Guatemala.
Since May 2022, Poulsbo Church has held two terms of classes that have included 11 registered students for a May to June term and 25 for a September to November term. Bible study interests have also developed and are expected to increase over time.
As each term concludes, the church hosts a graduation dinner party. These parties create more community and establish great bonds of friendship for eternity.
Poulsbo Church is solidly behind this program after voting at a January 2022 business meeting. Volunteers were recruited among the church family and include Rosanne Carlson, Kevin Erich, Suzy Liebert, Blanca and Paul McCarty, and Bruce Youngberg (coordinator). Myrna Ovando and Izabela Youngberg remain deeply involved as well.
After classes each evening, the ESL staff gather to discuss successes and challenges while concluding in united prayer for each ESL student's economic and spiritual needs.
Greg Bullion, pastor, provided further momentum by successfully applying for awarded funds from North Pacific Union's Shark Tank evangelism funds. Poulsbo Church and the ESL staff look forward to how God will work in further reaching the Poulsbo community in 2023.
