Frank Laubach

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Frank Charles Laubach (born September 2, 1884 in Benton , Pennsylvania , † June 11, 1970 in Syracuse ) was a Christian evangelical missionary and mystic known as "the apostle of the illiterate ".

In 1935, when he on the Philippines was working, he developed the literacy program Each Taught Every ( Each One Teach One ), reading was taught in their own language with about 60 million people. He was very concerned about poverty, injustice and illiteracy, which he saw as an obstacle to peace in the world. In 1955 he founded the association "Laubach Literacy" (learning to read and write according to Laubach), which in 2002 merged with the association "Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc." to form "ProLiteracy Worldwide". During the last years of his life, he traveled the world discussing literacy and world peace topics . He has written numerous religious and literacy writings.

One of his most influential works was the brochure Playing with the minutes ( The Game with Minutes ). In this work, Laubach urges Christians to think of God for at least one second every minute of the day. In this way, Christians could try to approach the habit of constant prayer described in the Colossians booklet extolled the virtues of a life with constant focus on God. The insight came from his prayer Laubachs experiments which are presented in a collection of his letters under the title Letters of a modern mystics ( Letters by a Modern Mystic ) were published.

Laubachs was interested in the Philippines. He wrote a biography of the Filipino national hero, Jose Rizal : Man and Martyr , which was published in Manila in 1936. He also translated the hero's farewell poem, Mi Ultimo Adios (“My last farewell”).

He is considered a promoter of Maranao literature.

Laubach wrote:

“The Moros of Lake Lanao have an amazingly rich literature, all the more amazing since it only exists in the memory of the people and has only just begun to be written down. It consists of lyric and poetry, with the epic dominating by far. "

Honors

Laubach is the only US missionary featured on a US postage stamp. In 1984 a 30 cent stamp with his portrait appeared.

Publications

  • The people of the Philippines: their religious progress and preparation for spiritual leadership in the Far East. George H. Doran, New York 1925, OCLC 989411703 .
  • Toward a literate world. Columbia University Press, New York 1938, OCLC 68825996 .
  • India shall be literate. FE Livengood, Jullelpore (India) 1940, OCLC 613632909 . National Christian Council, Nagpur 1940, OCLC 869786166 .
  • The silent billion speak. Friendship press, New York 1945, OCLC 609526506 . New edition: Martino Fine Books, 2013, ISBN 978-1-61427-395-0 .
  • The inspired letters, in clearest English. Portions of the New Testament . Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York 1956. New edition: Nelson, Nashville, 1977, OCLC 778068553 .
  • Letters by a modern mystic. Revell, Westwood (New Jersey) 1958, OCLC 2485479 .
    • German: You are there every minute: playfully discover God's presence (= classic of Christian spirituality; 4). Neufeld Verlag, Schwarzenfeld 2013, ISBN 978-3-86256-031-8 .
  • How to teach one and win one for Christ: Christ's plan for winning the world: each one teach and win one. Zondervan, Grand Rapids 1964. Reprint: Oliphants, 1965, OCLC 30281095 .
  • Forty years with the silent billion: adventuring in literacy. FH Revell, Old Tappan (New Jersey) 1970, OCLC 92028 .

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Good-bye to Frank Laubach, Apostle of Literacy. In: chi.gospelcom.net. Christian History Institute, June 11, 1970, archived from the original on October 24, 2005 ; accessed on August 19, 2020 (English).
personal data
SURNAME Laubach, Frank
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Laubach, Frank Charles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American missionary and fighter against illiteracy
DATE OF BIRTH September 2, 1884
PLACE OF BIRTH Benton , Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH June 11, 1970
Place of death Syracuse