Even Seminaries Like STS? Liberia Response
Pastors’ confessed, "We realize that we have been missing many of the lessons in Scripture because we have not been paying enough attention to the treasures God put there for us!"
Mike Holman, a TGSP STS partner from Mission Aviation Fellowship, introduced God's Story and Simply the Story in Liberia.
A 2-day vision casting training took place at the International Gospel Outreach Bible College in Buchannan Liberia. Forty-five pastors and church leaders enthusiastically received the STS training, quickly picking up the STS method.
They asked for the full training of 6 days to take place ASAP! At a public showing, God’s Story captivated both children and adults, and a team has already started translating GS into the Bassa language.
Also the president of the Liberia Baptist Seminary in Monrovia immediately saw the value of STS training. "Please come teach this to all of our seminary students."
How STS First Came to West Africa
Second Generation STS Trainer on
54-Day,
3-Country 10-Workshop West Africa Journey
Our first East Africa Director learned STS and apprenticed for 6 weeks in USA.
Then God led him, January-April 2007, to train in three East African countries. Denominational leaders there embraced STS as "the way to reach our country."
Incredible West Africa Journey:
The First Planting of STS in West Africa.
Dear Friends and TGSP Family,
Greetings in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is my prayer that this letter will find you well by His grace as you continue playing your significant roles in the kingdom.
Having just returned from a very successful mission trip to West Africa just a few days ago, I wish to thank you all for your prayers and support to The God's Story Project through which this work is being realized. In my trip I was blessed with many great opportunities to train on Simply The Story (STS), introduce God's Story, and preach in churches and other functions.
I also encountered several challenges, but saw God’s guidance and protection throughout the trip. I return all the glory to God. You remained a major part of my trip because of your prayers and support.
Let me give you an idea of some of the things that happened:
Departure: On May 9th 2007, only four days after the tragic crash of a Kenya Airways flight 507 in Doula CameroonWest Africa), I boarded Kenya Airways flight 508 for West Africa. Tension on board the flight was clear as passengers boldly raised their voices in prayer asking God for protection throughout the flight.
He did! So at 12:40 local time, God and the crew were thanked by a big applause from the passengers as we landed in Accra, Ghana. This was the beginning of my 54-day mission in 4 West African countries.
Accra, Ghana: "No Better Way of Teaching Bible..."
I had met with Rev. Theo Asare during the 2006 conference of the Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) where both of us had been asked to help in facilitating an African initiative on Orality. His ministry (Theovision International) hosted me in Accra. After acquainting myself with work of Theovision, we realized that Bible storytelling was a much-needed tool in the country.
My first session in Accra was with school teachers who conduct Bible studies in their respective schools. Since our time with them was limited, we concentrated introducing them to God's Story as a tool for their school programs and the loved it. As I demonstrated GS on MegaVoice, one of the 25 teachers present stood with joy and connected it to an amplified speaker to show what he intended to do with "his" MegaVoice once he got it.
Many of them are now anxiously waiting for the tools and the discussion guide so they can start teaching through each of the 18 stories in God's Story. I was also able to share with them about STS and after demonstrating a story for them, one of the teachers said, “There can be no better way of teaching Bible to our students than this method of telling a story and asking questions... we need to learn how to do it and do it good..."
My session was a full STS training with technicians and staff of Theovision Int. Our goal was to develop trainers who would in turn train others as needs arise across the country. They would also play the important role of recording the 66 needed stories in different languages for the STS recording. Out of the 13 participants attending, 6 of them qualified to be trainers. These are now available to give STS seminars in Ghana as needed.
At the end of the training, one of the top managers attending said, “I have been told about Bible Storytelling before and even attended a training but I never came out knowing how to do it myself, but now with STS, I can now tell a story, and ask the questions to help others find the treasures from the story... I wish everybody in Ghana would learn this method..."
While in Ghana, I was privileged to preach at the Christian Life Mission Church in Accra, which was a major demonstration of how one can teach with a story even in an urban church. There was great embrace for the day’s message - the story of the woman with the issue of blood.
Winneba, Ghana: "...Bring Us The Full Course!"
About two hours drive from the city of Accra , Joseph (Theovision driver) said, “welcome to Winneba!" Here I met with Jesse Walters a friend of God's Story [who so far has recorded 9 languages of God’s Story for Ghana] and he introduced to me his local partners with the ministry of Coasts For Christ led by Pastor Eddy of Sankor Baptist Church. I met with 8 of their pastors from different churches and explained about God's Story and introduced them to STS.
After demonstrating how STS works to them, the conclusion was simple. "You have just allowed us to taste a good meal, please plan and bring us the full course." They're now waiting to be trained more as practitioners and trainers in STS to help them as they reach the coasts for Christ.
Lome, Togo: "...So Effective to Us as Tool..."
We drove about four hours to the boarder between Ghana and Togo and crossed to the boarder city of Lomein Togo.
I was here to join with other leaders to plan a way forward on the formation of an African initiative on orality. The meeting, which took place alongside the CRAF consultation for Francophone West Africa, was a great success. Out of the discussions held in Togo, plans are now underway to have orality consultations in Johannesburg, South Africa), Nairobi, Kenya and Accra (Ghana) next year.
While at the CRAF meeting I was part of the Orality workshop where I was privileged to share the approaches developed by The God's Story Project through God's Story and STS. Many leaders expressed interest in these approaches and we're now in discussions on how STS training can be made to several Francophone West African countries.
One of the people I met is a leader in TransWorld Radio who spoke well of God's Story saying that they had been using it as part of the primary tools in their One Story program. A missionary from Mali said, "God's Story has been so effective to us as a tool for discipling new believers...
Buchanan, Liberia:
"...a Lot of Theology We Pulled Out of Simple Stories."
After our return to Accra from Togo, we held talks on how the leadership structure would be developed for the success of STS in the country. Then I flew out to Liberia. Mike Holman (MAF-Learning Technology) had already visited and made contacts in the country earlier in the year and vision cast STS. So upon arrival in Monrovia, Pastor David Zeogar (my local host) drove me 3 hours through rough roads, heavy rains and thunder and finally we arrived in Buchanan at the home on Igo Baptist Mission.
I lead a four-day STS seminar with 35 participants. The people loved the experience as one later would comment, "That's a lot of theology we pulled out of simple stories..." Out of this group, 12 of them qualified as trainers and are now meeting regularly to sharpen each other's skills before they can launch out to train others.
While in Buchanan, I preached on a Sunday service at the Grace Gospel Baptist Church Again, a great story, a great Sunday. We witnessed that day 15 people re-dedicate their lives to the Lord as the story of the prodigal son ministered to them.
Monrovia, Liberia: Seminarians,
"STS Taught Me How to Deliver Its Message to My People.”
We came back to Monrovia for a full four-day STS seminar at the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary, which had been organized by Dr. Lincoln Brownell Jr. the institution's president. Thirty-five students attended together with 2 leaders from Samaritan's Purse operating the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) programs in the country.
Many students have since then called and emailed expressing their thanks for the STS training. One student recently sent in a report saying, “I learned Bible in seminary, but STS has taught me how to deliver its message to my people.”
While in Monrovia, I was also privileged to preach at a city church. It was a blessing to see people say, “Now I know that God loves me regardless of my condition…” as they followed the day’s teaching on Mephibosheth.
Unscheduled Stop: This is Africa-This is God
When on the plane flying toward our appointment to do STS training in Nigeria (Maidiguri), the plane made an unscheduled stop in the country of Ghana to pick up passengers. (This is Africa!) A man boarded and sat beside me. He introduced himself as Dayo and then asked my name and inquired about what I was doing.
When I responded that I was East Africa Director of God’s Story he interrupted. "Not THE God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity? When I told him "Yes" he became so excited. He went on, "I met Dorothy at Amsterdam in 2000 and got a copy of God’s Story there. We use it all of the time!
I emailed her, but she never answered. I down loaded the new training they are doing, Simply The Story, but I need to learn how to do it." Of course then I shared why I was on this plane, that I was on my way to Nigeria to train STS in Maidiguri.
Dayo begged me to come to two additional locations to train his staff as he has leaders working in 8 West African counties.
When we landed I phoned Dorothy at TGSP headquarters and told her what happened and asked if we could extend the trip. Not only did she enthusiastically say "Yes," she said, "This is a huge answer to prayer. I personally met 794 pastors and leaders at Amsterdam 2000 who wanted to partner with us on new language versions of God’s Story.
"You know our limited staff here and how slowly, country by county, we are developing relationships and leaders? I have prayed that the pastors who signed up would not feel disrespected that I cannot answer them all, and that somehow in God’s time we can connect with the county leaders He wants us to partner with."
Another divine appointment had taken place with an unscheduled stop and a man who just randomly chosen to sit by me! You will see below the outcome.
Maidiguri, Borno State, Nigeria:
"...Better Approach to Use With our Muslim Neighbors…”
I flew into Lagos and traveled 24 hours (plus a night stop) by road to Maidiguri. One of the hottest and most dusty places I’ve ever been. But my visit was very rewarding as I went through STS with 15 participants, most of whom, said, “Now we have a better approach to use with our Muslim neighbors…”
Three of the participants emerged as trainers and are now meeting regularly with other practitioners to sharpen their skills in order to go out and train others. This is a highly Islamic area.
One of the experiences I remember was a man who stepped into the bus I was riding on and when he found that the only seat left was next to a woman, he chose to stand for the three-hour ride. His belief doesn’t allow him to seat next to a woman. Women there felt oppressed and looked down upon. So while doing STS you can see why one woman said, “This is interesting that Jesus would go out of His way to visit the home of a woman…” (This was the story of Martha and Mary).
Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria:
"I thanked God for that old van."
I was on the road for another 20 hours and some point I began to get really tired of these rides. The van I was riding in was one of the most uncomfortable vehicles you’d ever ride in. But when I saw a man carrying a dead girl behind his motorcycle, then I thanked God for that old van. As the African saying goes, “If you complain that you don’t have shoes, think of the person who doesn’t have legs.”
Anyway, I finally arrived in Awka and was privileged to walk another team through GS and STS. No trainers were left behind here, but plans are underway to send trainers from other places in Nigeria through the ministry of Rev. Martins Atanda of Zion World Mission.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
About 4 hours on the road and we were there. No formal training was given here but I was privileged to demonstrate STS and share the vision of STS and GS. That was a fire we started; now they’re calling back.
Benin City, Nigeria
In Benin City we had 2 days of meeting with leaders, speaking at a church and demonstrating STS and GS. Our plan was to send trainers from another part of Nigeria to train the leaders here. Leaders expressed great interest and I was able to take two leaders with me to attend a full 4-day STS seminar in Ondo State. They qualified as trainers and have been sent back home to train others.
Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria: Better Than Lunch!
Organized by Mr. Dayo who serves as West Africa Coordinator for Lifewind International, the STS training here was a great success. Thirty-five people attended and 12 qualified as trainers. They continue to meet regularly to sharpen each other’s skills so that they can go out to train others.
My best experience there was this: Lunch was ready and the groups had just started to discuss their stories. So Dayo said, “Let me have your attention please, lets eat first then you can go back to your stories…” The people protested, “No! We can’t leave our stories. Let the food wait…”
Stories are just a way of life in Africa, and when we get into them, there’s no stopping! What a method to teach the Word!
(This report is an overview of 54 days on the road. Let me insert here just one of the response reports that I was able to email to TGSP headquarters while on the road. I hope you can feel from it what happened everywhere STS was taught.)
Broken People and Flags!
We have rural evangelists and high profile city pastors. They've all been amazed at the simplicity of looking at the story and finding deep teachings without hovering around the whole Bible to justify one point. Many pastors and Reverends (even some with PhDs) melted down at this new STS revelation and by the end of the first day (yesterday), we had to have some serious prayer time.
I did the first Moses story (Exodus 17:16) to them as an introduction to STS and we had to stop and pray (repentance time). One pastor said, "if God was putting a Massah and Meribah flag behind me every time I doubted God like it happened for the children of Israel, Nigerians would have to find another country to go to because my flags would fill up the country..." Another one said, "I think I would have more than yours..." People started praying.
God has really broken people here am just amazed. One man with a PhD (his title is Rev. Dr...), he's embraced it so well that he's looking like a possible trainer. He said "Now I know. The secret is to lay aside what the methods I've been holding on to and just look at the story as it is written."
Another senior pastor overseeing several churches said, "You have brought a challenge to Nigeria, I'm going to gather all my pastors from all the branches and tell them, 'Am sorry we have been wrong in our approach that’s why we don’t see significant maturity amongst our members..."
Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria;
The STS workshop here was a very special event. Twenty-five leaders, evangelists, pastors and church planters attended it from both Nigeria and Niger Republic. The literacy level of most of them was quite minimal, but they learned STS better and faster than the educated ones who attended. Though we did not develop trainers here, every participant went home definitely a practitioner.
Conclusion:
And the end of all these seminars, my body was quite tired. But we have to move on with the work. So I arrived back home in Kenya with enough to do. So I will ask that your prayers and support of TGSP continue as ever. We’re now in the process of recording the 66 stories in Swahili and need a lot of prayer on that. We also have a lot of requests to bring STS to so many places in Africa so we’re trusting God for multiplication of trainers.
Blessings,
In HIM,
East Africa Director – TGSP.
We Are So Sad
NIGERIA “Our players don’t work any more!” In the last year, ten evangelists in Northern East Nigeria working among Mu.sli.ms were each gifted with a solar player carrying the audio of God’s Story. [These players will broadcast for 6 hours before they need a recharge and the batteries will last for 500 recharges.] So, this means each player had been used to broadcast God’s Story for 3,000 hours!!!
This is incredible, when you discover that the target listeners in this language are hard core Mu.sli.ms! A request from this very area just arrived a few minutes ago. “Two Christians who accepted the salvation of Christ through the last batch of players to Nigeria were whisked away by their relatives. No one knows if they are dead or alive. Please pray for them.” [We did get new batteries shipped to them.]
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