God is bringing the nations to our neighborhoods! We need to continue to go to other lands and seize this opportunity to impact the world at our doorsteps. Here are a few ways you might get involved.

English As A Second Language (ESL)

Alliance ESL exists to cast vision, equip, and coach local churches to launch academically sound, evangelistically focused, cost-effective, and self-sustaining ESL ministries to reach the nations in the U.S.

ESL is a powerful ministry any local church can use to share the love of Jesus with internationals through English instruction and exposure to cultural opportunities in a loving atmosphere that promotes deep relationships. This has proven to be an effective means of drawing students to a saving and growing faith in Christ.

Getting Started

Maps are available at no cost from the district office showing where populations of immigrants and refugees live in our district.

Weekend workshops are listed on the Alliance ESL website.  Curriculum recommendation is available to help you get started. 

The following websites offer additional helpful information about ESL:

• pcamna.org

• cdxtech.com

CONTACT
Bruce Lyman
lymanb@cmalliance.org
614-452-2085

Envision Cleveland

As one of more than 20 global Envision sites, Envision Cleveland seeks to collaborate with individuals, communities, ministries and government to transform neighborhoods across Cleveland. Envision staff have identified four main internal struggles in the city including a lack of hope, family (belonging), identity, and resources. From these internal issues, it seems there are a number of external symptoms that are produced. These include poverty, crime, gangs, drugs, trafficking, mental illness, segregation, and broken homes… to name a few. In response to these, God has called Envision Cleveland to: Restore, Reconcile, and Resource.

Central District churches and individuals are welcome to join Envision Cleveland on mission as they serve neighborhoods across the city. You can volunteer, serve at a one-day event, come on a weekend or week-long trip, intern for a summer (or longer), or come long-term as a resident.

CONTACT
Tom and Nicole Schmidt
Executive Directors
Tschmidt@envisioncleveland.org // Nschmidt@envisioncleveland.org
EnvisionCleveland.org

Envision Cleveland ALME

Envision Cleveland engages with refugees from 22 countries, including places like Bhutan, Burma, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

A unique ministry of Envision Cleveland is providing an opportunity for IW candidates to do their Alliance Licensed Ministry Experience (ALME) in a setting that may more closely resemble the ones they’ll find themselves in overseas. When IW candidates work to fulfill Alliance requirements before being sent overseas, they often serve in larger, suburban, white, middle-class churches. However, after arriving in a new country, the candidates find a much different environment than the one they just served in: usually urban, poor, cross-cultural, pioneer work or work in house churches. Envision Cleveland's ALME experience exists to give IW candidates a more applicable experience for international work. Envision Cleveland ALME’s purpose is to make Christ known to and through refugees, to give experience in Christian community development and sustainable development, as well as to experience hosting short term mission teams. The Envision Cleveland ALME Experience is one of broad ministry exposure that leaves candidates better prepared to go overseas.