Storytelling in Church
Planting Movements
Recently a workshop in NAME trained national partners to develop oral Bible stories in their heart languages. Though the Bible is available in the trade language, it is not in their heart languages. The storytellers from these two people groups learned stories from Mark 4 and 5 over the course of ten days together. The workshop required they test these stories among native tongue speakers, so they went out in teams each evening to share the stories and solicit feedback.
After hearing the parable of the Sower and Seed, a gathering of their fellow tribesman, working as migrant workers in a large metropolitan area, asked themselves, “Which soil are we? We want to be the good soil!”
After hearing the parable of the Sower and Seed, a gathering of their fellow tribesman, working as migrant workers in a large metropolitan area, asked themselves, “Which soil are we? We want to be the good soil!”
The next evening, the migrant workers were waiting for the storytellers to come back. This time the migrant workers were ready with questions. As they listened, the storytellers shared the next story, Jesus Calms the Storm.
They said, “We are just like these followers of Jesus in the boat! We have left our homes, our families, and our faith. We came to this city for work. Jesus asked, ‘Where is your faith?’ in this story. We need to ask ourselves, “Where is our faith?””
That night, while many looked on, 20 new Followers of Jesus proclaimed their faith in Him and were baptized!
They said, “We are just like these followers of Jesus in the boat! We have left our homes, our families, and our faith. We came to this city for work. Jesus asked, ‘Where is your faith?’ in this story. We need to ask ourselves, “Where is our faith?””
That night, while many looked on, 20 new Followers of Jesus proclaimed their faith in Him and were baptized!
STORIES AND DISCIPLE MAKING MOVEMENTS /CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENTS
DMM training encourages church planting teams to communicate God’s Word to unreached peoples using the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) method. The DBS method has been adapted for oral communicators. God’s Word can indeed be shared in an oral presentation, true to how many people communicate. Stories can be learned, told to the group in one’s own words, and discussed using the same Discovery Questions.
CPM training has been developed for oral communicators. The Four Fields of Kingdom Growth training has been adapted for oral communicators (by request).
Storying T4T combines the best practices of storytelling with Training For Trainers More Storying T4T info can be found at st4t.com.
NOTE: PIONEERS does not endorse one methodology over another.
CPM training has been developed for oral communicators. The Four Fields of Kingdom Growth training has been adapted for oral communicators (by request).
Storying T4T combines the best practices of storytelling with Training For Trainers More Storying T4T info can be found at st4t.com.
NOTE: PIONEERS does not endorse one methodology over another.
Check out the following example:
WHAT DO WE DO IF OUR PEOPLE DON’T HAVE ADEQUATE SCRIPTURE RESOURCES?
In nearly 3000 languages, no written scripture is available. Many other languages have only portions of the Bible, the Bible in an outdated dialect, or the people are highly oral communicators so that they simply cannot read scripture. In these cases, Church Planting Teams should consider their role in developing the right Scripture resources, in the right language, and in the right format. Consider developing oral Bible Story sets for your people.
One model for developing oral Bible Story sets is called OneStory. PI is a partner member of this partnership of organizations. Other PI teams are involved in the StoryTogether approach, which seeks to develop oral Bible stories in heart languages and also raise up Storytellers among the target peoples. PI has trainers for both approaches. See “Contact Us” for more information.
One model for developing oral Bible Story sets is called OneStory. PI is a partner member of this partnership of organizations. Other PI teams are involved in the StoryTogether approach, which seeks to develop oral Bible stories in heart languages and also raise up Storytellers among the target peoples. PI has trainers for both approaches. See “Contact Us” for more information.
CALL TO ACTION:
In 50 words or less, what is your team’s present plan to use oral Scripture stories?
What stories or other resources do you need?