FriendSpeak mixes Jesus, conversation

Chinese-speaking members arrive for worship with the Culver Palms Church of Christ in Los Angeles. (Photo by Bobby Ross Jr.)

New on The Christian Chronicle’s website:

LOS ANGELES — Just down the street from a Hare Krishna temple and a few blocks from a large mosque, Christians worship each Sunday in English, Chinese, Spanish and Korean.
The Culver Palms Church of Christ, one of the nation’s most diverse congregations, sits at the intersection of motion picture studios and apartment buildings housing immigrants from all over the world.
“Free English Conversation,” says a sign outside the church, facing a busy street shared by motorists and homeless people pushing carts.
The sign advertises “FriendSpeak,” a ministry used by roughly 300 Churches of Christ to help internationally born neighbors improve their English skills using the Bible.
At Culver Palms, Angela Manassee coordinates the outreach effort, which she said helps church members interact with immigrants and expose them to Jesus.
“A lot of people are just newly on the scene and struggling with the language, trying to improve (their English skills) so that they can improve their work situation,” said Manassee, wife of Culver Palms senior minister Mark Manassee.

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