For me…

It’s sharing stories and inside jokes with my Vietnamese friend, who went on to become my roommate and a groomsman in my wedding.
It’s dispelling misconceptions and finding common ground over coffee and baklava with my Saudi Arabian friend; me being his first Christian friend; and him being my first Muslim friend.
It’s looking across the table, delighting to see my children sharing Thanksgiving dinner with international students from India and China.
It’s proudly wearing a soccer jersey, that’s two sizes too small, because it was a gift from my Congolese friend who got a job after improving his English through our weekly sessions together.

You never forget…

How it felt to spend an evening in the home of a Syrian family of refugees, who graciously shared with you, not only food and music from their culture, but stories and values from their lives.
How it felt to see Jesus through the fresh eyes of someone who just heard about him for the first time, as they grapple with the outrageousness of grace and an empty tomb.
How it felt to witness the unforgettable moment when your international friend baptized another student, after he himself was baptized by you just months earlier.

Talk about a life redefined!

I can’t imagine who I’d be today had it not been for these special friends and the many unexpected adventures and breakthroughs we experienced together!

It’s an amazing feeling to wake up in the morning with the confidence of…

Knowing that you are being faithful with the opportunities God has entrusted to you, and you’re doing so with the same level of commitment you would want someone to make if the tables were turned and you were the one who had never heard of Jesus.
Knowing that your commitment to love and serve one person from another country is a partnership with the Holy Spirit in an effort to fulfill the heart of God to someday gather people from every nation, tribe and tongue, to stand before the throne and before the Lamb, to live with Him in the New Heavens and New Earth, where all things will be made new.

I want that feeling for you!

I want you to experience a cross-cultural friendship.

I want to help you redefine your life in light of eternity.

Because our faith is worth dying for, and it's worth sharing with those who might die without it.

That’s why I visit universities, write books, give keynotes, and create courses.

That’s why I work hard to train Christians to become Conversation Partners with English Learners who are in our midst and online.

God believes in you, and so do I.

If you’re ready to believe in yourself, let’s work together!

- Tyler

(To read my official bio, keep scrolling)

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OFFICIAL BIO

Tyler Ellis has served in ministry since 1998, with experience spanning global missions, college ministry, and cross-cultural engagement. His background includes five years with Adventures In Missions and fourteen years in college ministry, working closely with international students.

Tyler has traveled to nearly ten countries, participating in mission work in South Korea, Australia, Samoa, and Honduras. These experiences led him to found English With Friends in 2020; an organization dedicated to building meaningful relationships through conversational English, hospitality, and cross-cultural friendship.

Tyler is also the author of the award-winning book Question Everything and is widely known for his TEDx talk on Jesus and the afterlife, which has been viewed globally with captions translated into nearly twenty languages.

Tyler lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife, Jennifer, and their three daughters.

Watch My TEDx Talk

Hear My Testimony

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