First Baptist Dallas

Chatter from 13 Conversational English groups fills the halls each Thursday from 10–11:30am.

The ministry is experiencing exciting growth as its reputation spreads in Asian-language communities, mainly Korean, Chinese, and Japanese, across Dallas.

“Since it started in September, it has been growing like mad,” Sandie Cohen, a small-group leader, said.

On September 10, the first day, 15 of 30 students were new. As of October 8, 68 students have attended.

Each Thursday, the large group begins together. They welcome new participants, learn a verse of Scripture, and sing a new stanza of an English song. Then, students break into 13 small groups, each led by one teacher.

Conversational English reaches out to both believers and non-believers.

Betty Erickson, a teacher for about seven years, works mostly with believers. Many of her students are pastors’ wives who will go back to South Korea when their husbands finish training.

“I tell them I learn more from them than they learn from me,” Erickson said.

In contrast, Ethelene Klepfer, a retired eighth-grade teacher, remembers a very different student.

“I said to one student, ‘surely you thought at some point—when you looked at the birds and the trees and the stars—there must be a God.’ She said, ‘No. Never.’”

Smiling, Klepfer explains that the student, with whom she still corresponds, became a Christian when she returned to China. “I believe we planted the seed.”

As the ministry grows, it needs new leaders so groups can remain small and effective.

Anyone can get involved. Most students read and write English proficiently, so leaders do not teach grammar or punctuation—they just lead conversation.

To get connected, contact Director Jean Dorough, or 214.327.2682.

“We want them to see what an authentic Christian is. We are the Christians they will know,” Dorough said. “What they believe about Americans and Christians is so distorted. We want them to make an American friend.”