COPPERAS COVE—Pam Moore never expected statewide recognition for her work as a literacy ministry volunteer. Until a few years ago, she never gave literacy much thought.
Moore, a member of First Baptist Church in Copperas Cove, has volunteered more than five years with Literacy Connexus, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission. Literacy Connexus offers training and resources for English-as-a-Second-Language and literacy ministries.
Moore—who edits Literacy Connexus newsletters, writes content for its website, submits grant applications on its behalf and provides technical support for its conferences—will receive the Volunteer of the Year Award from Literacy Texas at the statewide organization’s annual conference, Aug. 2 in San Marcos.
“Pam has endeared herself to volunteers by sharing timely information and encouraging stories to undergird our mission of helping churches help persons with literacy needs,” said Lester Meriwether, executive director of Literacy Connexus. “She is an invaluable team member and is very deserving of the recognition of Literacy Texas’ award.”
Morning of missions in McAllen
Moore became acquainted with Literacy Connexus during the Baptist General Convention of Texas 2010 annual meeting in McAllen, when convention organizers encouraged Texas Baptists at the meeting to participate in service projects as part of a “morning of missions.”
Pam and Chuck Moore led the fifth- and six-grade boys at First Baptist Church in Copperas Cove to build bookcases for a family reading fair.“I wasn’t sure where to go or what to be involved with, but I prayed that whatever I did would be more meaningful than just a morning activity,” she said.
She selected a Literacy Connexus-sponsored Books for the Border family reading fair. At the event, low-income families received a bookcase and several children’s books, as well as a children’s Bible.
“It’s a blessing to read, and I love books,” Moore said. “I’ve always been surrounded by them, but I realize not everybody is so privileged.”
Gaining a new perspective
Her experience at the family reading fair gave her a new perspective on literacy ministry.
“Seeing what I saw that morning—the joy of those families as they received books and bookcases—was such an eye-opener,” she said. “I had never connected literacy with ministry.”
Chuck Moore helps a boy at First Baptist Church in Copperas Cove make a bookcase for a family reading fair.Recognizing the potential, she went back to her home church with a ministry project in mind. She involved the fifth- and sixth-grade boys she and her husband, Chuck, teach in Sunday school in building bookcases for a reading fair.
“The kids in our class get it,” she said. “They understand. If you don’t have books and you don’t learn to read, how will you ever learn to read the Bible?”
Soon, her interest in literacy ministries expanded beyond the Books for the Border project to include other facets, such as English-as-a-Second-Language classes. Her affinity for that ministry grew out of personal experience when she and her husband were stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army.
“I saw the other side of ESL in Germany when I went to German class for foreigners,” she said. “I came away understanding a little better about what people experience when they are learning English as a second language.”
Committed to serve
Moore offered her services to Meriwether, to help Literacy Connexus in any way possible. As editor of the organization’s newsletter and content provider for its website, she puts to use the journalism degree she earned years ago at California State University.
One of the benefits of her volunteer role as the communications director for Literacy Connexus has been learning more about the varied ministries Texas Baptists offer around the state.
“My focus had been on my church and my community,” she said. “I had been involved in ministries locally, but now I see the bigger picture—of the needs in our state and of the ministries taking place.
“It’s exciting and inspiring. Once I knew, I couldn’t go back to how things were before. I’m committed to serve however I’m needed.”
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