Listening
Prayer & Praise Report # 6, October & November 2025
The Word of God Touches Those Who Listen
What happens in Papua New Guinea (PNG) when a well-trained STS storyteller gets a wonderful opportunity to lead Bible discussion with a group of people? This leads to a powerful testimony of God’s presence.
After a time of worship, an experienced STS storyteller, with the help of a local translator, began to tell the “Jars of Oil” story from 2 Kings 4. The local families and mission workers were captivated. Children participated as well. One six-year-old girl gave a profound answer from a question about the story that amazed the adults in the crowd. After hearing how STS is used as a witnessing tool in prisons, one of the key evangelism leaders was visibly impacted by the power of God’s Word shared in this way.
As they say in infomercials, “But wait, there’s more!” People in PNG were so excited, they invited us to come and train them in Simply The Story. A team of skilled instructors traveled half way around the world last month. They just returned with incredible reports!
One instructor wrote that the students quickly mastered the STS process. A pastor from a nearby Island asked the instructors to say hello and give a word during the Sunday service just prior to the training.
This instructor shared a brief testimony of how she had given her Bible to a security guard after sharing with him the story of Zacchaeus using our 5-minute conversational model of STS. She then told the congregation the short part of the Zacchaeus story that she told the security guard.
The Pastor continued with his own message that Sunday. The instructor heard him mention in Tok Pisin the name of Zacchaeus at least 4 times during the sermon. After hearing how powerful even a short part of a Bible story can be, the pastor changed his plans for the week and attended the workshop.
During the workshop, the pastor shared that he and his village talked about that Zacchaeus story all Sunday afternoon. He said he also told the Zacchaeus story to a group of children and youth ages 7 to 15 years old. The pastor continued to be amazed that just a small part of Scripture, along with discussion, could be so impactful on a person’s heart.
The pastor continued sharing how much he loved STS and that he could easily see how this method would bless his community even more than “him bringing all the treasures he had found!”
In our workshops, we teach how to present epistles using the STS method. When a “story” from James 1 was presented, a young man was deeply impacted. He confessed before the whole group his own lack of hearing the Word, then not doing the right thing.
Near the end of our workshops, we also have the students act out stories as dramas. The Holy Spirit spoke to many people who watched God’s Word acted out. The instructor said, "The power is in God’s Word. We can trust just the Word to do the work in people’s hearts."
Praise God for those who received the training in PNG; pray that the Lord would strengthen them and that much fruit would be borne from their time in the Bible and the uses of Scripture with others.
The Real Gospel Dispels the Fake
What happens when some pastors in Africa are teaching wrong doctrine? There are a few transactional Gospels permeating some teachings in African churches. Well-meaning pastors who are not rooted in the Bible and who often learn what they teach from YouTube, Podcasts, TV or radio, are teaching that something must be done (a transaction must take place) in order for a person to be right with God.
Church members follow these leaders!
This leads to personality cults and feeds the ME’isms, or as a friend says, "It's all about me, Lord." After a conversation with our East Africa Director about this, I was greatly encouraged that the Word of God is fixing the problem! (Hear the 3 part series on www.HeartPocket.org or here https://heartpocket.libsyn.com/hpp0372-false-gospels).
As a result of pastors learning the STS process and applying it to Scripture, many have commented that they knew that what was happening was wrong, but they did not know how to correct the issues. Now in one region there are four STS Oral Bible Schools started that include mostly pastors and other church leaders. They respond by saying, "This is what we have been missing."
Praise the Lord for the humility of these pastors and leaders who are willing to listen to the Lord and His Word. Pray for their growth and their leadership of the people.
New God's Story Languages Recorded and Premiered
We praise the Lord for 12 new languages of God's Story recorded in Nigeria and the premiere of the Aja language. Pray for these new God’s Story videos to have impacts in Nigeria and Togo. What a blessing to see the translators dancing with joy as they celebrated the completed recording of their language! Pray for these people groups to have hearts open to the God’s Word and also for the production and final checks of these languages.
Youth With A Mission in Brazil Impacted!
After our team finished training at three YWAM (Youth With A Mission) bases throughout Brazil, the instructors reported that our partnership with YWAM continues to grow. Many of the YWAM students are using what they have learned to reach the lost and have also mentioned that their quiet times have been impacted for the better. Here are a few reports from our instructor.
A pastor’s son loved the training so much that he videoed himself telling a Bible story to share with his family. A few weeks later he shared this video via text with his church and wrote the following, “Today I had a break from YWAM. I came to my church to tell a story about STS... it was great…. I want to thank you for teaching. Thank you
A pastor’s daughter said she believes every Christian
should learn Simply The Story. ”It transforms how you read God’s Word. It takes you from just going through the motions routinely of reading the Bible to falling in love with God’s Word.“
One instructor wrote, “Thursday during the training we taught on how to tell Bible stories in a
conversational way, but we didn’t take the time to go out and practice on the street like we typically do during a training. That evening, three groups of girls got Ubers to go watch the guys play soccer. All three Uber drivers heard Bible stories…” What a testimony to the empowering effect and training STS has on people to share the Living Truth.
As our instructors raise leaders and more trainers in Brazil, our instructor shared this report. “In Sao Paulo it was a huge blessing to see many Brazilians willing and prepared to help teach and take on more responsibilities. Several came to help teach the following week in Curitiba at their own expense. God is continuing to raise up more Brazilians who have a desire and calling to help teach STS.”
Praise the Lord that people have gone beyond owning the Bible stories for themselves and see the multiplication value of raising others.
One YWAM base has a baking school for YWAM students and people from the community. The leader of the baking school decided to start a Bible story time during the class. This created an opportunity for those who took the STS training to share a Bible story and for the people in the community to hear God's Word. Praise God for wonderful and creative ideas. Pray for the community attending these classes to find Jesus.
Puzzles are Here!
We are thrilled at how amazing our new God's Story puzzle looks! Gorgeous pictures from God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity woven together show the progress from creation to eternity in this 100 piece puzzle. The completed puzzle becomes the game board for our Bible story telling game.
The God’s Story Christmas Special, including a puzzle, the God’s Story Illustrated Children's Book, and your choice of the audio or video of God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity makes an ideal gift for children and adults, and is a great way to have Bible discussion. https://oralbibleresources.com/shopcart/
Self-Sufficient in Africa?!
For the past several years we have been raising leaders from various countries in Africa at our Comprehensive Leadership Training. Part of the training includes casting the vision for breaking financial dependence on western donors. We praise the Lord as our leaders in Zambia have moved in this direction. Please pray for these leaders as they pursue the right projects to provide for their families and ministries. They have a vision to train people in STS throughout the whole country of Zambia and beyond and are dependent on us to help fund their travels.
Brave Soldiers Defy Persecution
The number of new believers in the persecuted parts of Africa has dramatically risen to more than 2000. Please pray for these young Christians as they face persecution and death every time they share the Gospel. A number of these believers are currently on the move to more countries and on a quest to reach all of their region in the North.
We are a partner supported ministry. Thank you to all our praying, ministry, and donor partners. May the Lord bless your Christmas and New Years with friends and family.
Andrea & The whole staff of The God's Story Project (TGSP)
Executive Director
