ORALITY STRATEGIES

Orality Today 49% of college grads in the US never read another book after graduation 90% of the UPGs in the world are non-literate Post-Moderns in the US are oral preference or post-literate Most of the groups where you are working are either oral learners or have a strong oral preference

How did Jesus Teach? Around 2% of the world was literate Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. Matthew 13:34

A Few Signs of an Oral Culture No books/libraries/newspapers Heritage shared through stories People saying, “I don’t have my glasses” Memory vs Understanding How do they get their information?

Orality and Ministry Do you train to the masses or to the highest educated? Is your Gospel presentation aimed at the masses or to the highest educated? Is your discipleship aimed at the masses or to the highest educated?

Around your tables Discuss the people you work with What oral characteristics are present? How has this impacted your strategy? Are there changes you need to make?

Think about your work What oral characteristics are present? How has this impacted your strategy? Are there changes you need to make?

Questions or Comments?

Three Communication Keys 1.Use of local rather than regional language 2.At least one team member fluent in the local language 3.Appropriate communications strategy (oral or literate) that matches the communications preference of the people group

Fruitful Practices Research Source: From Seed to Fruit, ed. J. Dudley Woodberry Three Communication Keys Identified

“The impact of incorporating the learning preferences of the people group (oral vs. literate) into team strategy results in an increase in the expected number of churches by a factor of 4.4 (340%).” Is it worth the effort to plan an appropriate oral strategy?

NON-EXISTENT WHEN SCRIPTURE IS WHAT DO WE DO?

Virtually all Bible-less people groups have an unwritten language (hence, are highly oral in their mother tongue)

Using local language fluently with appropriate (oral vs. literate) communication strategies is associated with far more churches planted. Source: Woodbery, ed. From Seed to Fruit

What were the 3 Communication Keys? 1.Use of local rather than regional language 2.At least one team member fluent in the local language 3.Appropriate communications strategy (oral or literate) that matches the communications preference of the people group

44% of IMB teams work with people who do not have a complete Bible in their language. 44% of IMB teams work with people who do not have a complete Bible in their language.

MAYBE THE SITUATION IS NOT AS BAD AS IT SEEMS

➡ Bilingualism ➡ Unacknowledged Bible translation projects ➡ One language/multiple PGs ➡ Oral-story-first translation approaches

OR MAYBE IT IS WORSE

High rates of functional illiteracy. Visual media eroding literacy. Declining educational systems. High rates of functional illiteracy. Visual media eroding literacy. Declining educational systems.

PGs listed as having written Scripture may have only small portions completed (e.g., Book of Ruth)

Translations that are years old. Reality for 130 IMB-engaged PGs. Translations that are years old. Reality for 130 IMB-engaged PGs.

HOPE BUT THERE’S

crafting stories & changing lives– together

Oral, audio- and video-recorded Scripture resources are essential for non-print learners’ self-feeding on the word of God.

Outcomes new believers and churches Bible stories per language 3 experienced MT storycrafting teams many active MT Bible storytellers strengthened believers and churches strengthened rapport with church leaders use of oral strategies by pastors

We need a strategy that gives immediate impact and meets long-term needs for Scripture engagement.

StoryTogeth er Essential Elements of the Process

Meet the players.

Lead Facilitator L1 L1 L2 L2 L3 L3

Meet the players. Lead Facilitator L1 L2 L3 Co-Facilitator Project Manager

tell, repeat, dialog, and...

... dramatize.

Everyone tells the story in mother-tongue group.

Best storyteller from each group tells the Bible story.

Teams discuss their approaches, recraft their story, and make 1st draft recordings.

Teams test their stories in the mother-tongue community.

Teams recraft the Bible story, as needed, and record new versions

LWC

This process repeats itself as people from within the People Group develop Stories in their own language.

Why are our efforts not seeing growth? We continue to make others dependent upon us Our models are often not reproducible Our Leadership training models do not empower local leaders Religiosity is not reaching the core of the people

Wondering how this will work? Do you train to the masses or to the highest educated? Is your Gospel presentation aimed at the masses or to the highest educated? Is your discipleship aimed at the masses or to the highest educated?