Humans are storytellers, homo narrans according to Walter Fisher. In many places we go to—places that continue lacking knowledge of God—storytelling is the normal part of life. Mothers and grandfathers and the village elders pass on their local history, culture, values, and religion through stories, songs, and sayings. Stories are powerful enough to make us pause what we are doing and listen. It is the way Jesus taught his followers. And before you can trust something new, you have to listen.
“When a bushman dies, an entire library is lost.”
African proverb
“All these years of doing church the way I learned, but I have not talked to people the way they learn. If we want to see the Muslims become Christians, we must speak so they want to listen.”
Pastor in North Africa
“Your mission to Congo has been a blessing to Church of The Holy Spirit. We keep practicing the training we got from you and Kathy and it really works. Even a week ago we went to Mudaka on 18th afternoon and sent a couple of people from the church to God’s field telling Bible stories and 8 people come to Christ. Let me tell you that the same day, in the morning we baptized 8 new believers.”
Pastor in Congo
“I can’t read. Please teach me more stories so I can reach the Muslims!”
Village elder to younger believers in his church
“I am on fire after hearing this story! People will understand this!”
Believer in a remote north India village
“I don’t know your Jesus, but I am like that woman. I am happy for her. I want to be happy too.”
Muslim woman in West Africa hearing the John 8 story of the woman caught in adultery. The next night she came to a story group that started in her village.
“More has been done in this one day for the Kingdom than has happened in years!”
Uganda pastor after training group went to village to share stories. Most of the village heard the gospel that day; many accepted Christ. The church grew so quickly, nearby villages asked to know what they were talking about and asked believers to come start churches in their villages.
“If we had done this a long time ago, many people would be saved. But now we can go tell them!”
Uganda pastor
“We all are fine here and the Master of the harvest is giving us good opportunity to do a few things in His field. Last year, we had a mission to ……… to start new churches and by God’s grace at present there are many new outstations in ………. also at the border. There is a need to have more church planters to take care of the new comers in Christ. Many are coming to Lord and we have new mission fields also. We really like to have storytelling training programs. Suppose we have it in 4 different places?”
Indian pastor along border of a closed country
“Within past two months, 34 new converts gave their lives to the Lord and they went into water baptism. Praise the Lord! We are missing you and when you will back to us? Currently, we are running 67 house churches in 8 different regions in Myanmar. They need also training. As I shared on your visit, our goal is to plant 100 churches in 5 next years.”
Burmese mission leader
“Pastor Rueben is using storying in his crusades and tens if not hundreds have come to the Lord so far. Pastors who were trained are also training others and we are hearing stories of teams going around their villages to share the word of God…This is an explosion and it is really overwhelming.”
Ugandan missionary leader
“It is crazy. People walked for Jesus to the towns and villages. Then we had some who managed to give testimonies. 4 people gave their lives to Christ and 2 people healed. Others were joyous and amazed because of the story…Others were so open [after hearing the stories] that they spoke and shared with their neighbors.”
Ugandan bush missionary
“Brother, when you can, bring us more training in church planting. We cannot stop going to villages with no gospel even while we are helping with the feeding centers…”
Congolese missionary
“What is going on? Why aren’t you stopping at my house? Come here now and tell me what you are telling others!…”
Ugandan woman who followed tribal religion. Believers were randomly picking houses to share stories in. An hour later, she and five of her children accepted Christ.
“I just shared and told them the story of Jesus Christ. Most never hear Jesus name before. I observe this teaching style is one of the best teaching method to share the gospel.”
Asian student visiting his village
“Bible storis is amassing way fore thé Gospels ! peuples understend thé Woed of God very well whan we yus thé stores Bible’s. In Buholo church we djust baptised 94 peuples Who bileave in Krist. and begin Discipleship thèm . Iam yusing Bible storys and shearing Testymony in thhis two ways making peuples understand thé God’s Power and Salvations.”
email from Congolese pastor
“Who would have thought this was the way Jesus himself reached people?!”
