Sharing Our Faith…Easy?

During our trainings, we teach how easy it is to have a discussion over the Word of God with strangers. We discuss the impact Bible stories can have on the people we meet. However, not until we take our trainees out on the street do they discover for themselves that sharing their faith and witnessing to God’s goodness is easier than they thought. 

Recently an instructor shared that when showing a friend around her city, she took the opportunity to share Bible stories with people they met along the way. At the end of their time together, her friend said, “You have shown me how easy it is to do 5 minute stories with people.“

This same instructor also uses her storytelling skills when she gets those pesky spam sales calls. One afternoon a salesman called. Our friend asked if she could share a Bible story with him. He said yes. At the end of the Bible story, the salesman said, “wow that’s impressive. I like that!”

Thankfully, our instructor did not end there. She told the caller, “I have lots of stories. If you want more, just give me a call.”  How about that as the end of a spam call!

Martha, Mary & Life Impact 

The impact of the Martha & Mary story from Luke 10:38-42 continues to reverberate through the hearts of many! Recently one of our leaders in India shared this Bible story with other ministry leaders at a workshop. When discussing the application of the story in their lives, many of these ministry leaders were crying and asking the Lord for forgiveness. They shared that, like Martha, while they love the Lord, they also had been complaining to the same Lord they love! 

God's Story Languages Update

We recently finished a specialized workshop to raise other God's Story language leaders. Many requests to record languages remain. As a result, we are focused on developing the African team that oversees the process of God's Story from inception to final checks.

We praise the Lord for the Moba Mual language premier. Many people received copies of God's Story: From Creation to Eternity on solar audio players, DVDs, microSD cards and more. Pray for the Word of God to move swiftly among the people.  

One of our leaders recently traveled to Central Asia where he completed the translation of a Central Asian “gypsy” language. This people group does not have the Bible or any other Christian materials in their heart language; God’s Story will be the first. Our leader hopes to return to Central Asia in the spring, to record this language. Please pray for the completion of this and a second Central Asian language that has run into some challenges.

STS Training Updates

 We had many trainings happening globally over the past couple of months. One training in Lancaster, PA, greatly impacted the instructors. One instructor shared, “People started using STS from the get-go. I’ve never had people complain that they needed more than 2 hours on the streets telling Bible stories!” Many of the attendees in this highly oral society testified of their difficulties coming out of the Amish and Anabaptist backgrounds and learning to trust God's Word. They were greatly encouraged to have God’s Word in their hearts. 

There is revival among the Amish! Praise the Lord. The STS training equipped them well to reach their community and for their ministry among refugees. Listen to Heart Pocket Podcasts 219 thru 221 in December (www.HeartPocket.org) to hear about their ministry and what God is doing among the Amish and how they plan to use STS among Muslim refugees during an upcoming festival. 

God’s goodness was evident during out Comprehensive Leadership Training in Kenya. Representatives from Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Zambia, and Ghana continued developing their STS skills. One pastor told our instructor, "Never have we interacted with Scripture that deeply and now we are able to multiply.”

STS Training, Oral Bible Schools, and God's Story showings continue in earnest throughout the refugee camps in Uganda and Kenya. One leader recently wrote, "After presenting Bible story of Abram and Sarai going to Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20), we distributed food to this area that was … contributed by local churches in Kalobeyei under our fellowship … for the Turkana. There is Hunger all over the county. More prayers and aid is needed."

Prisoner Praises God

Recently a prisoner that attended a STS training shared, "Thanks, the story of Paul in prison touched me so much. That he still didn’t lose his purpose of preaching in prison. I had lost hope but Paul’s story ignited my hope again."

What's Next?

Please pray for upcoming trainings in Kentucky (January) and Israel (February), and for our story-centered specialized tour of Israel following the training there. 

Our leader in India travels this month to record God's Story, raise leaders, and continue STS workshops. 

The work in Singapore grows!  We thank the Lord for those hearts open to see God's Hand at work in their country. We are working on both advanced and regular STS training dates in 2023 for this region.  

Over the past few years we have been working among the Chineze. Please pray for Chin_a as our leaders continue to hand off the skills to rightly divide the Word of God and for those who have grown in their walk with the Lord Jesus.

Christmas Encouragement

One storyteller said, "Merry Christmas" to a man putting his groceries in his car and asked if he knew much about the real Christmas.

"No" he answered, "except that it’s Dec 25."

The man did not have time for a Bible story but agreed to read Luke Chapter 1 and Matthew 1 and 2. The storyteller encouraged him to see what he would learn about God and Jesus and the real Christmas.  The man said, "I will read them tonight."

There are many gifts given during the Christmas holiday. What if we left people with the greatest gift of all? No matter what we know or don't know, we can always help guide people to the birth of Jesus in Scripture like this storyteller.

The Power of a Clock - The Real Tik Tok

During a meeting in Asia, our leader gave people clocks for Christmas. I asked why a clock? He shared, “Time is running and goes without your permission, like our breath and our heart. The clock tells us we're closer to heaven. What are we doing with our time?" 

Thank you all for your prayers and support. Merry Christmas and have a blessed New Year. 

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

Burkina Faso - Another Country in Distress! 

On Friday September 30, I received a text from our leader in Burkina Faso that said, "…this morning Ouagadougou is not safe. It seems another coup d'état...Need your prayers for God's protection on us."

The situation has calmed since that text, but the solution is hopeless without Christ. From what has been shared, Burkina's choices currently are to turn to communism, accept the terrorists, or send the ill-equipped young men to fight for the country.

Pray for Burkina Faso. May the country find a solution that glorifies the Lord Jesus. May the people find the peace of Christ in the midst of these times. We also pray for our leader and her family to be light and salt during these dark times. Remember also in your prayers Myanmar, Ukraine, and the different countries struggling.

From Prison with Praise

In late August one of our leaders in Africa taught on Paul & Silas in prison and challenged everyone in Sunday school on how to prepare for handcuffs and persecution. The members discussed how prison might affect people physically, psychologically, and spiritually. Within a few days, this leader was arrested. 

Sunday school members said, “This is application” when this leader was arrested.  He shared that he had no control and was not prepared for this.  Others made decisions for him and all was out of his hands. However, he knew God is with him in every thing and as a result has been growing closer to the Lord.

Psychologically, satan attempted to condemn this leader.  The man stood on Scripture that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).

God used this man spiritually to impact the other prisoners.  Thankfully, he had a bank of Bible stories in his heart pocket from which to choose. After going through appropriate organizational channels in the jail cell, he was allowed to do a Bible story. Soon, even the guards were saying, “There’s a Bible man in the cell.”

One muzlm man in prison heard the Bible stories. He admitted it was the truth but did not trust the Lord Jesus as Saviour. The believers who heard the Bible stories were not able to answer the questions as well as the muzlm man, who said he was not ready to face persecution.

After spending 10 days in prison, our leader was released. He has been sharing more of what the Lord has taught him. We would all like to believe we would do well through persecution, jail and other issues we might face, but we don’t really know until we are in those situations. Our leader said, “I’m not afraid now,” meaning that now he has no fear of the unknown of being in jail. Although it was a serious time, God gave him a good experience. He would often say to himself that with faith he could do anything. This experience shook and broke him from self-confidence. He has learned to trust the Lord and lean on HIM only.

How will we respond when circumstances out of our control land us into situations we never dreamed, like prison or persecution?  Are we prepared to share Christ and to be encouraged through our Lord’s Word?

Free Indeed

Imagine, raising people in STS, discipling them in the ways of the Lord, and watching those young people you have grown to love choose to minister to difficult anti-government people. Then some are martyred for their faith in Christ.  One amazing STS leader recently experienced this.

To add to the difficulty, this leader was then arrested and put on trial for the acts of those he discipled who were martyred, simply because they ministered to anti-government people. These are trials not many of us have experienced. We thank the Lord for this person being acquitted and exonerated. Please pray for this leader's health during this time of recovery.

Fire? Fire!

How do I describe recent events? They have been difficult, and yet they are opportunities to see the Lord work!

In early September, our office staff evacuated due to the Fairview Fire. Fire fighters fought valiantly as we watched this untamable beast jump fire lines. The fire came within less than 1 mile on three sides of our STS office and our home, but God denied the fire to come closer. Then God brought the rain 5 days after the fire started. God heard many prayers. More than 28,300 acres burned.

Several believers used the fire situation to reach out to their neighbors and the firemen.

We rejoice at God’s hand, His protection of our homes and office, and we pray for the neighbors. Also, pray for those who lost their homes and one family that suffered the loss of 2 people.

September Challenge Leads to October Possibilities

One woman who has grown in her STS skills wanted to challenge herself by telling a Bible story every day in the month of September. She recently wrote with a report on her “September story challenge, "I told a story every day but one. I told a total of 19 stories to people other than Mark [her husband]. This wasn’t as high as I’d hoped for, but I felt myself overcoming the internal reluctance I had to asking if I could tell a story. I learned to pray not ‘Who do you want me to tell a story to?’ but ‘Is there anyone you don’t want me to tell a story to?’  This freed me to spend less time in my head wondering about whom to approach.  Closer to home, I told stories to extended family that I hadn’t previously told stories to.  I learned more about telling stories on the fly and have more stories ready at a moment’s notice. I’m reflecting on a new challenge for October because this isn’t over yet.” 

This woman shared that on one occasion while visiting her former workplace, God challenged her to tell a story to a person who had hurt her in the past. Still feeling a reluctance to even knock on his door. She knocked, told a Bible story, and he was very receptive and engaged. The program assistant at her former workplace saw her new “Ask Me for a Story” t-shirt and asked if this Bible storyteller could help some scholars there to craft their personal stories. She responded, "I only tell Bible stories….” The program assistant was still interested!  Now this Bible storyteller is writing a proposal for a one-hour presentation that includes a typical STS story and discussion.

Let us pray with this amazing woman that the Lord would allow her to impact her former workplace with the Bible and show her the next challenge. May this encourage all of us to extend ourselves.

God's Story, God's Story, and God's Story.

We thank the Lord for more languages of God's Story: From Creation to Eternity being translated, recorded and produced.

One leader from a recent God's Story translation workshop said that translators are going home amazed at the Bible. They change from translating literally, or word by word, to making sure that the script is clearly understood and communicating the meaning. The translators tell us that STS helps them to translate with accuracy and with understandability.

• Several new recordings of God’s Story in Congo Brazzaville and Cameroon are currently going through the final evaluation and check process before they can be finalized and released.
• One team has delayed their trip to Malaysia due to visa issues.
• Another recording specialist heads to Central Asia in early November to work with a few languages in the region.

Please pray for all those working on God's Story, including translators, recording specialists, workshop coordinators and all the language teams.  

Heart Pocket Podcast

October and November podcasts include first hand accounts of the ministry in East Africa and starting an Oral Bible Schools from beginning to end.  We have many more podcasts to share at www.HeartPocket.org.

Thank you for your time and prayers,

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

Going Back to Summer Camp

Summer camp brings back emotional memories for most people, For some, it might be warm thoughts of good times with old and new friends, water sports, and cool camp counselors. For others those memories might be full of fear from being away for the first time, or even a longing to go to camp.

Our STS staff started to work on training the camp counselors with the STS process prior to covid. Knowing that these leaders typically come from college, have a limited amount of time to train and have other priorities with their camps, we landed on a partial set of videos and a part of STS that needed to be in person for training. Then covid hit and we rapidly shifted to a fully online training.

I recently ventured to girls camp as their missionary and enjoyed teaching the girls how to learn Bible stories. The girls as young as 9, 10 and 11 learned a couple of Bible stories and were greatly impacted by the Lord through His Word. Some of these girls had lost brothers, mothers, and loved ones and were open to share during our discussion time.

The older girls and even the camp counselors accepted the call for a contest to learn the longest Bible story they could in just a couple of days. The winner…? Judges chapter 6 & 7. The most accurate, the whole book of Jonah. The biggest winners were all the girls as they shared how the Bible spoke to them throughout the week.

They say I blessed them and taught them, but the opposite holds true as I’m now a richer woman for having spent time with these young ladies! For anyone interested in sending your children or grandchildren to this camp in Maine, contact the office. We are also available to help train staff in STS.

God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity – Amazing Progress

Since our last prayer and praise report, several languages have been mastered completed and are now in the field. As well, more than a half dozen are also waiting for approval. We thank the Lord for every person involved in seeing God’s Story reach the nations. Here are some pictures from our recent recording session going on in SE Asia and Africa.

Please pray for the several teams traveling to record, wisdom for translation, and for no technical challenges.

From Prisons to the Children!

Recently one team finished training prisoners in Africa. Opportunities for teaching STS throughout multiple prisons exist in Africa, Asia, and the USA. Pray for our teams that go behind bars to help set the captives free and that more prisons would open their doors to the Gospel.

Another instructor recently reported using God’s Story with a Bible study group she’s been leading. The students are learning English and come from Asia. A young boy of about 11 or 12 years old also listened in and said, "At school they have been telling me that I come from a monkey and now I know that is not true." He was touched by seeing in God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity that God created Adam and Eve. This boy now sings in the choir.

Unique Israel Tour in February 2023

We have been invited to conduct another Simply The Story training in Israel. With this opportunity we decided to include a special tour following the training. Some key aspects along with the standard tour are the STS style storytelling and discussion in several locations that will be conducted by different people on the tour, and a community contribution component. Please feel free to browse our online brochure here:  https://www.simplythestory.org/israel

We would love to have you join this truly international group! Space is limited so register early. 

Moving Forward!

A recent conversation with a friend sparked me to share the following for prayer.

For several years our ministry has been developing the applications for using STS in different situations. For example, a few years ago we finished a video series that helps people apply Simply The Story in evangelism. You can find that series at http://www.simplythestory.org/evangelism. We call it “Moment for Eternity” because we, as believers, can impact a person’s eternity by taking a moment out of our day to listen and care for a person.

The development of our children’s ministry application using STS stalled during the covid years.  About a year ago, the Lord started bringing the right people into the picture to help move the project forward. The children and youth curriculum integrates STS in ways that we know have worked in multiple countries throughout the world. The development of this “curriculum” required a unique understanding of orality, Simply The Story, and experience with children.

Wow! God has brought an amazing team that has used STS in Sunday school, with youth, with believing and unbelieving children, globally, and with VBS.  One woman on the team has more than 52 years experience working with children!

We are not done, but people keep asking for this information. Please pray for this special team as they finish development and testing of the children and youth curriculum.

Other teams are developing projects that use Simply The Story methods in other settings, which include Biblical meditation, church celebrations, and many more. As well, a strong instructor team of professors has successfully developed and used a syllabus for Bible schools and Seminaries with Simply The Story as the practical part of the class. (Hear these podcasts for the amazing reports: https://heartpocket.libsyn.com and search for episodes 148, 153, 166, and 168. At the end of this month, hear 2 more students share their experience with the recent class at Dallas Theological Seminary.)

All these projects require prayer, time, and the right teams. We are grateful to all who have stepped forward with the vision! 

Needless to say, there is much happening behind the scenes and we look forward to how God will use His Word to reach the nations!

Martyrdom

With a heavy heart I write this. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) Recently a brave young man, who took the STS training, was empowered by God to reach a very difficult people group. He was recently martyred for the Gospel of Christ. He leaves behind a wife and three children.  Please pray for the family, friends, and those who committed this atrocity. 

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)

Thank you for your prayers,

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

Continued Prayers for Myanmar!

Recent government upheaval in this nation has resulted in instability and difficulty, both for STS partners and their families.

Many children have not been able to attend school. Some ministry partners report that armed military presence at school entrances, combined with high cost of private education, has made it difficult for children to continue their educations. 

Instability in the power grid affects both trainings and daily life. Travel within the country to border regions for ministry has become increasingly dangerous.

PRAISE God!

Local leaders report a decidedly successful and effective seven days of STS workshops in three locations—despite the current situation in their country and fear on the part of STS partners to gather in number. Said one member:

We were afraid to gather many together at the same time, but by God’s grace and through His presence, we did amazingly in training.

Local leaders hope to continue using the STS method with co-workers and youth, both for discipleship and evangelism, and that this would spread from building a foundation in the Word to training in other areas, including business.

 Praise and Prayers for the Ukraine.

As tragic as this war has been, the Gospel has been spreading far and wide amongst all the refugees, and many are trusting Jesus as their Savior. 

In early April, the Ukrainian team loved the solar audio players preloaded with God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity in Ukrainian, and they asked for more.

Pray for the safe delivery of 40 more Ukrainian audio players, 5 Hungarian players, and over 20 sd cards currently in transit to the region.

 What Inspires Country Leaders?

At the recent Comprehensive Leadership Training (CLT) in Kenya, people from 10 African nations attended. These CLT leaders attended an STS Oral Bible School graduation with 16 graduates representing 5 different denominations. The president of the host church was impressed by the way the school enhanced unity among the 5 denominations.  Most of the graduates were pastors and church elders.  As a result of meeting these graduates, the leaders returning home now want to start STS Oral Bible Schools.

 What Does Jesus Say About the Children?

STS Partner, Raafat, reports that a current Advanced Workshop at the Kenya Center feels like a living out Paul’s mission trips in the book of Acts. Daily training occurs followed by outreach using STS until 10 or 11PM.

Approximately 70 children come every day to the Kenya Center, along with some women. They both understand the Gospel and have put their faith in Jesus as a result of daily teaching for the children lasting 20-30 minutes.

In a recent visit to five villages, Raafat was told not to ask questions because the Turkana people group would not reply to him. However, as he and trained STS practitioners asked questions, 200 people attended and discussed stories, while 70 to 80 people repented and prayed for salvation.

Several new students registered for an STS Oral Bible School and will begin in a couple of weeks.

The location is very dry, last having seen drizzle a year ago. Despite the drought, students continue to learn Bible passages—some walking for hours to attend school. Pray for diligence and continued commitment in the face of local challenges.

 The Bible Spreads in East Asia

STS practitioners are increasingly using STS Bible stories for study and sharing with friends and loved ones. One person reported that people at a house Bible study have enjoyed diving deeply into scripture using the oral method. Another lady shared the story of Elisha, King, and the Lady  in 2 Kings 8:1-6 with three teenage girls who were considering suicide due to societal pressure to succeed, and this story gave them hope.

For friends and family members who are participating in stories, that their hearts would be receptive. Also pray for our online class for citizens of this nation, as they seek to study more about the life of Jesus. 

 God’s Story Premiers Leads to More!

In one area of Cameroon, there is a large temple. The STS team went to the village to show God’s Story in front of a spiritual leader’s house, which happened to be a mosque. Local Christians asked to lower the volume, but people from mosque insisted it be turned up again. One boy who was watching returned to Christianity and promised not to go back to false religion.

A Bible school asked for STS training in July before students graduated. Those who came to a God’s Story showing were church goers. However, when the person showing the movie stopped to explain some things, 350 souls from these church attendees received Christ!!

During Passover, a CRU evangelist played God’s Story rather than the Jesus Film. This resulted in salvations and brought revival, as people tasted the true Word.

A Catholic priest received Christ at an STS workshop last year after participating in the One Leper story (Mark 1:40-45). He was subsequently disciplined by the leadership and sent to anotherparish. Despite this discipline, because of his changed life, he is leading people to Christ. He uses STS methods learned the previous year.

God’s Story launched six new languages this spring in Cameroon: Perée, Moudang, MBoum. Gbaya, Massa, Tupuri. In April, we received this follow-up report:

The chief of the community listened to the Péerè solar player with all the dignitaries. Afterward, the Chief promised after the RAMADAN that he would show the video and invite whole community to watch it. He wants to help the youth of the community learn their language, Péerè.

     In the Péerè community, as in many places in Africa, a hierarchy of kingships defines the political, spiritual, and civil structure. Some lower-ranking kings reported to their Governor that the chief king became a believer and accused this chief of forcing people to be Christian.  As a result, the leading traditional priest in the hierarchy called the chief to try to understand what was happening.

The chief king asked for prayer but is unafraid to speak to the leaders or to the Governor.  The chief asks for wisdom as he listens to the other leaders, and that God would provide a pastor to teach him and help him grow in the faith. He plays God’s Storydaily using a Solar Player in French and distributes God’s Story DVDs and SD cards to lower ranking kings in the villages, again stating that he is not afraid.

Pray for three pending launches of several other languages, including Fulfulde Adamuou, which was just recorded. Fulfulde is the trade language for most tribes in Cameroon. In using it, some are now forgetting their own languages. Because they were not preserving their own languages, leaders were recently embarrassed that a Togolese man had come to say that their language is precious. Now there is a greater interest and effort made in learning their own languages. Pray that as God’s Story is used to spread languages, that many will also be impacted by the Gospel! 

Northern Nigeria – Prayers Needed.

It is dangerous to be a Christian in Northern Nigeria. Jihadists continue to attack and murder, but many still accept Christ. Pray for the teams traveling in early June in those treacherous areas, bringing God's Story and Simply The Story to people who hunger and thirst for truth and true peace. May the Prince of Peace protect his people and continue to save!

We have started the process of uploading God’s Story languages to YouTube. You can find the languages at http://www.youtube.com/DoesGodSpeak. It takes awhile to upload and add descriptions to over 400 languages.

We covet and appreciate your prayers,

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