How Does God’s Story Impact Children?

A missionary in Bolivia returned from the USA with the Spanish version of God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity. She has been daily sharing this resource to the girls in her ministry to explain God and God's love for them. The missionary reported, "It is a chronological presentation of the Bible for sharing the Gospel cross-culturally.  They often see their own lives reflected in the stories of God’s people, their pain and their need for freedom from bondage. This month they have started the chapter on 'The Promise Fulfilled.' Pray that they may each come to know 'God made flesh' personally in their own lives." 

This missionary is using the God’s Story flip chart every morning with the girls. "They really like it. We’re taking good time each day for discussion. Now, we just finished the Moses story. Last week one of the girls prayed and received Christ in her heart. What a joy for me!"

A woman called our office and ordered two solar powered audio players loaded with God’s Story. Her family adopted two children from Ethiopia. On the way to their home from the airport, she played the Amharic God's Story for the children. She reported that the audio helped them transition easier and helped them understand about Jesus.  This mother shared, "You have a wonderful ministry!"

The photo to the right shows a six year old sharing a Bible story with a group of adults, and her 10-year old sister as the coach. 

How Does STS Impact Young People in South America?

Amazing reports from our STS instructor team in South America include one example of a 15-year old who was broken by a Bible story as she told it.  This young woman wept for several minutes in her leader’s arms.  She then continued with some good discussion questions. After her story, she said she would never do a story again, and yet she did! She had a great experience with her 2nd story, and now clearly understands and loves the STS process. 

Even two 13 year-olds told stories that amazed everyone. At the end of the workshop, they told our leader that they really understand the STS process. Praise the Lord!

One non-literate man, who also had a learning disability, impacted a group when he told his Bible story accurately and led the people in discussion.  Another man asked how he could join our STS team!  Our leader wrote, “Please understand that most would consider both these men as ‘write offs’!” 

At this same training, the best national instructor in this South American country told one amazing STS presentations of the James 1 epistle using STS that the lead instructor has ever heard!

One shy man in a group came alive, like he had found his purpose and destiny. The instructor saw him hugging and reaching out to people, including a weeping group leader who was greatly impacted by the Word of God.

One young 23-year old man said during the first break, and with moist eyes, “This workshop is incredible!”  The main host, also super touched, impressed and moved by the power of the workshop wants to see our STS Oral Bible Schools in this Latin American country. 

Could a Seven Year Old be a Witness for the Lord?

In southern California, seven-year-old Elsie quickly finished her hamburger and fries. "Come on Mom, we have to share." she exclaimed. Elsie, her mom and an instructor were in the community to practice telling Bible stories with people. Mom felt a little nervous, but Elsie seemed ready to go.

Elsie told her mom that they needed to talk with a man in the booth next to theirs. The man looked a little rough, missing most of his teeth, and wearing oversized clothes and a hat. Mom and daughter introduced themselves and asked if they could tell him a story. 

Elsie accurately told this man the “Good Samaritan” Bible story. When she finished, the man said, "Wow, you told that story so well. I really liked it." For a few minutes, mom shared with the man. After they finished, Elsie said "Come on Mom, let's share with someone else over at the grocery

story", and off she skipped to the store with mom in tow, excited to tell another Bible story to anyone who would listen.

Watch the 2 minute video here: https://goo.gl/5BMo4j

What Might be the Results of STS and Mercy Ships Working Together?

Mercy Ships Founder and the Africa Mercy Managing Director has called for STS to be implemented in all their patient-related departments due to the impact it has made in the countries where the Africa Mercy and STS have worked together.  Mercy Ships is now moving towards oral methods of sharing God's Word. 

One leader on the ship shared an STS Bible story at an African youth conference. During a break, pastors, who attended this conference, told the STS storyteller they loved the way the Bible story was shared and they wanted training. This same leader did another Bible story in a church on Sunday, now the pastor and the elders are ready to learn the process.

A team from Mercy Ships shared Psalm 1 at the Hope Center with 250 people, crew, day crew and patients together. One week later, a Muslim grandfather of one patient shared with the storyteller that he was deeply touched by the Psalm. 

At the end of 2017, twenty people on the ship were meeting every Wednesday to have Coffee with Koffi (an STS instructor) while discussing a Bible passage together. We appreciate prayers as a team from the USA travels to Cameroon later this month to work with leaders on the ship. 

Muslims Seeking the True God?

We thank God for the 80,000 plus copies of God's Story that have gone out in the last six months of 2017 to a Muslim people group in a closed Middle Eastern country!

Sharing Stories on the Streets with Muslims? Wait, This Was Just Practice!

Our Kenyan team recently conducted two STS workshops in Tanzania in an area that is 90% Muslim, as well as a workshop in the capital, Dar Es Salam. Each evening, the attendees went to the community to practice using Bible stories. Twenty-eight out of 220 Muslims received Christ as Lord. 

Why Would A Pastor Tell Stories?

One Ugandan pastor who recently attended a training in Nairobi, shared with the instructor, “I don't feel like preaching anymore but telling stories... I was fearing at first to use it in the main services as at first people where like, ‘wait a minute what … is going on?’ But wow!!” Now this pastor and the church love Bible stories and discussion during the main service. 

Prisoners and Soldiers Learning Bible Together?

In one Southeast Asian country a prison sits in an army camp. One pastor tells Bible's stories to both soldiers and prisoners together! Soldiers train soldiers as young as 6 years old. The plan is to train the prisoners and soldiers to be able to tell Bible's stories and to plant a church among the people there. One believer commands 90 soldiers! Our leader wrote, "Wouldn't it be great to see both prisoners and soldiers attend the same church?"  

Siblings Talking about the Word of God?

After an STS training in Europe our Director received this letter from a 17-year old girl. "I follow your advice and try a story with my sister in the evening when I arrived at home. I choose the story about the poor widow (It has only 4 verses :D). My sister is 13 years old and she went close to God just this holidays and we don't usually talk about God.  We spoke for 1 hour about the story, and most of the time spoke her. :D She found so many treasures and she did application naturally. My role was only to listen. I'm so happy I didn't hear my sister speak as deep as [she did with] the story. She said…something fall down from her mind and heart. It was amazing! God is the most powerful!"

STS and God’s Story Leadership Grows.

We are excited to share that our leader in Taiwan has been raising another lead instructor. This experienced leader has been working with a tribal group in another Asian country without stopping the growth of STS and spiritual impact in Taiwan.  The new young Taiwanese leader reluctantly agreed to lead, but she clearly shows the strength and ownership of STS.

The Christmas Season in a closed S.E. Asian country always provides an open door for our leader there. He conducts STS trainings, evangelistic programs, Christmas programs for children and adults, prison ministry, and gives God's Story DVDs to many people. 

In one church, our leader did the "Blind man" Story from Mark 10:46-52. He shared, “Today many people blind spiritually. So People need, like Bartimaeus, and wanted to see physically and spiritually.”

A Blind Pastor Sees!

One of the results of STS and God’s Story working in combination comes from Mozambique. A young orphan became a pastor.  A few years ago this pastor stopped reading his Bible because he was going blind. When the missionary discovered that he was struggling to read she gave him a solar audio player loaded with God’s Story and several other Bible stories. This 39-year old pastor cried and said, "Now I can read my Bible."

Serving the Lord together,

Andrea
Executive Director
& the whole staff of The God's Story Project (TGSP)