From Language to Life Change in a City of Nine Million
At the English center, language learning is only the beginning. Through language lessons and job training, Andrew and Grace Reed are creating places of belonging where spiritual conversations happen naturally, and people begin to explore who Jesus is through genuine relationships.
Read MoreFrom Language to Life Change in a City of Nine Million
Reliant Mission | Aug 7, 2026, 17:50 PM
At the English center, language learning is only the beginning. Through language lessons and job training, Andrew and Grace Reed are creating places of belonging where spiritual conversations happen naturally, and people begin to explore who Jesus is through genuine relationships.
Interview with Andrew and Grace Reed - the English center
Names have been changed for privacy and security. Andrew and Grace Reed are pseudonyms.
Hosted by Julie Thompson
Julie: Andrew and Grace, thank you so much for taking the time to share with us today. We’re so grateful for your partnership and the way you’re faithfully serving where God has called you. It’s been encouraging to hear glimpses of what God is doing through your ministry in Asia, and I’d love for you to share more of that story.
To start, can you tell us a little about the English center and the community you’re serving?
Andrew: We serve in a large urban area of about nine million people, and our primary ministry is through an English-practice nonprofit that’s been part of the community for over 20 years. The vision is big. We want to see lives reached with the gospel across our entire city, and we do that through intentional relationships built in everyday interactions.
Grace: The English center provides a space for people to practice English, a highly valued skill here. Students come from universities across the city, and many are hoping to study abroad or find better job opportunities. Some weeks, especially in the summer, we’ll have up to 100 people attend events.
But while people come for English, there’s a culture of kindness, hospitality, and genuine care that keeps people coming back. Over time, those relationships open the door to deeper conversations, including conversations about faith.
Julie: Hearing how something as simple as practicing English can turn into such a meaningful space for connection and belonging is incredible.
How do you see the gospel shaping the way you approach ministry and the people you’re investing in?
Andrew: For us, it looks like prioritizing relationships over quick results. We’re not just trying to reach as many people as possible. We want to invest deeply in individuals, trusting that God works through those connections over time.
Grace: Because faith is closely tied to identity here, spiritual conversations come up naturally. People are often curious and open to discussing beliefs. That gives us the opportunity to share the gospel in a way that feels authentic and relational without having to force it.
Julie: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Have there been any specific moments or stories from this past year that have really encouraged you?
Andrew: One moment that stood out happened during a small group discussion about life transitions. A young man who has been coming to the English center for a year shared that he originally came to improve his English, but what he found was a place where he truly belongs.
He’s not a believer, but he’s one of the most welcoming people in our community. When he shared that, others in the group agreed, saying they had never experienced this kind of community before. It was a powerful reminder that God is at work, even before someone fully understands it.
Grace: Another story is about a young woman we’ll call Naomi. She first came with a Christian friend and was very reserved. Over time, she kept showing up, even after her friend moved away. She became deeply connected to the community and started asking more questions about faith.
She joined Bible studies, began reading Scripture on her own, and even started asking about Jesus. At one point, she shared that reading the Bible brought her joy and asked if that could be the Holy Spirit at work.
Earlier this year, Naomi publicly declared her faith and was baptized. Now she’s boldly sharing with others. Seeing her journey from curiosity to faith has been incredibly encouraging.
Julie: Wow, what a beautiful journey, from her first quiet steps into the community to now boldly sharing her faith. And I love that moment where she connected the joy she felt in Scripture to the Holy Spirit at work. That’s so powerful.
Shifting gears a bit, how has partnering with Reliant helped strengthen or expand what you’re doing there?
Andrew: Honestly, we wouldn’t still be here without that partnership. Reliant has been a consistent source of support and stability for us.
They’ve also helped us launch a new initiative, a coffee training program that equips people with job skills for the hospitality industry. It’s a practical way to serve the community while also creating opportunities for deeper relationships. This program would have been extremely difficult to organize and fund without that support.
Grace: We’ve also seen how well Reliant partners with our sending church. That alignment has allowed us to focus more on ministry and less on logistics, which has been a huge gift.
Julie: That’s so good to hear. Looking back on this past year, where have you seen God at work most clearly?
Andrew: At the beginning of the year, we felt uncertain about our direction. Over time, God brought clarity and renewed purpose. By the end of the year, we felt much more confident in how we fit into the work here.
Grace: We’ve also seen God provide in very tangible ways, especially through financial support and new partnerships. Spending time back in the U.S. reminded us that people are invested in what God is doing here, and that was deeply encouraging.
Julie: God has been providing so clearly, both in direction and through people coming alongside you. And I love that sense of renewed purpose you’re stepping into. As you look ahead, what’s giving you hope for the future of your ministry?
Grace: We’re excited to launch the coffee training program and to host our first short-term team from our sending church. It feels like an opportunity to help others see and experience what God is doing here.
Short-term trips played a big role in shaping our own calling, so being able to cast that kind of vision for others is really meaningful.
Julie: That sounds like a full-circle moment. As we wrap up, what would you want to say to those who faithfully support your ministry and partner with you in this work around the world?
Grace: We are incredibly grateful. We truly could not do this without you.
Your generosity is not just supporting us. It’s part of stories like Naomi’s and so many others. You are helping create spaces where people can encounter the gospel, often for the first time.
We see God moving, and your partnership is a real part of that. Thank you for being faithful in sending.
Julie: Andrew and Grace, it was great to hear from you both. It’s valuable to hear how God is using an English center to build real community, open doors for the gospel, and transform lives like Naomi’s. Your faithfulness and the way you continue to invest in the people around you are a gift. Thank you for your time and for letting us be part of what God is doing through your ministry.
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