History of God's Story

In 1992 Norm McGary, a former lead illustrator for Disney and Hanna-Barbera Studios, drew 12 pictures to help him share the Gospel with his mother. He showed his work to his pastor, Chris Johnson, Pastor Johnson liked what he saw and took Norm to a movie producer who lived near Tom and Dorothy Miller, in Hemet, California.

The producer, Pat Matrisciana, told Norm they would need more pictures, but he’d see what could be done. Knowing Dorothy Miller was a writer, the producer asked her what she thought they could do with the pictures. Miller possessed writing expertise and twenty-five years experience in chronological Bible teaching.  Pat commissioned Dorothy to be the script writer and head of the project. Dorothy joined a team from Jeremiah Films to produce a storytelling overview of the Bible full length film, God's Story: From Creation to Eternity.

This 80-minute film covers Genesis to Revelation. God’s Story was released in 1996. The Lord provided the perfect narrator for the English version in the person of Dean Jones, renowned Disney actor who acted in Herbie – The Love Bug and many other movies, and dedicated Christian. Jones' multiple voice-characterizations set a splendid standard for the many narrators who would be recording God's Story in other languages.

Dorothy was used to writing books, so she wrote the script for one person to narrate the entire story, without thought to the significance of that decision.

Led by the Lord, this single-narrator format made it easier for people to remember and to repeat the stories in God’s Story to others. Having only one narrator has also allowed for easier translation and recording into new languages. Dorothy’s experience leading small group Bible studies helped her understand the importance of teaching chronologically through the Scriptures. She took these major stories: creation, fall, Cain and Abel, Noah, Tower of Babel, Abram and Sarai, Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac, the Exodus, 10 commandments, the Prophets, Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and the time to come, and wove them together in this meta-narrative.

God continues to use this chronological layout of the Bible to powerfully impact Christians and non-Christians alike. As of 2021, God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity has been translated into more than 410 languages.

Simply The Story is Born

Over the years, reports from the field flooded the The God’s Story Project (TGSP) office: letters, emails, phone calls and visits. People asked for more of the Bible; they wanted the Word with deep teaching. In 2003, Dorothy attended the first conference of what would become the International Orality Network (ION). She went mainly to let people know about God’s Story.

During the conference, Avery Willis shared a Bible story. Before Avery began the story, he said, “I don’t want you to open your Bibles. I would like you just to listen as I tell the story.” Dorothy was surprised, but out of respect kept her Bible closed. She listened to Avery tell an Old Testament story she knew well. When she heard him make a “mistake” she opened her Bible, which was on her lap and partially hidden by the table, turned to the passage and discovered he was right!

In the many times of reading this story, she had missed several small, but meaningful, details. By just listening to a story told with expression, the told story had taught and touched her. She realized that the telling of Bible stories could be very important for “those people,” for those overseas who could not read.

After this experience Dorothy decided to put recorded Bible stories on the Megavoice players along with God's Story: From Creation to Eternity. After discovering that very few recorded Bible stories were available in the languages of God’s Story, TGSP decided they would have to do their own recordings.

Dorothy chose to have some TGSP leaders record the stories, but before having the leaders record, it seemed wise to make certain that pure stories would be recorded. The leaders were each assigned a short Bible story to learn. Dorothy then asked them to tell her the story on the phone. She reminded them, “just tell one story, don’t add anything and don’t leave anything out." All eight failed the test. They told only the high points of the story, they added information from other Bible stories, they embellished and they preached.

She said to one of those leaders, "I asked you to tell only the story." He responded, "I did, mum. I told the story." She said, “You preached, left out parts, and added other Scripture!” Dorothy then told him the pure story. Afterwards he exclaimed, "Oh! You mean simply the story!"

In September 2006 God led Dorothy to launch Simply The Story. Simply The process is best described as “inductive Bible study, oral style.” Built on the foundation of “storying,” STS teaches the skill of discovery and teaching through questions.

STS instructors now impart these skills to both literate and non-literate learners globally. On December 9, 2014, Dorothy Miller went to be with the Lord, but not before discipling many in God’s Word, raising leaders, and leading a movement that instilled a passion for the Bible in many countries.

After Dorothy’s passing, Andrea, Dorothy’s “right hand” from the early years of God’s Story, stepped in to lead the organization. Andrea is an example of how Dorothy poured her life into others, raising them up to serve the Lord and carry on. As of 2021 STS training has been conducted in more than 130 countries, raised 63 senior instructors (those who can raise instructors), and more than 9,000 people have received some form of instructor training.

The Power of Chronology

No one would begin watching a movie or reading a novel from the middle. The context of the story would be lost and storyline confusing. However, when it comes to the Bible, because the Old and the New Testaments focus on two different eras, and because Christians are focused on the life and transforming power of Jesus, most people begin with the New Testament. 

This non-chronological, or out of order, approach can leave a person with lack of understanding of the backstory - the foundation provided by what came first in the Old Testament. 

Ethnos 360 (formerly New Tribes Mission) learned about the power of chronological teaching as God used missionary Mark Zook to reveal Himself to the to the Mouk people of Papua New Guinea. Zook presented God's Word to the Mouk people in a clear and chronological way. The result, documented in the Ethnos 360 videos EE-Taow: The Mouk Story and EE-Taow: The Next Chapter, was that this violent tribe of people was transformed by God and His Word. 

As missionaries discovered the effectiveness of chronological teaching, the Lord also prompted an artist, a film-maker and a writer to produce God's Story: From Creation to Eternity using this same chronological approach. By sharing God's transforming message from the beginning and continuing the story chronologically, God's Story allows viewers and listeners to learn of God in the order through which He revealed himself. The context for people's need of forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation with God is established, and the purpose for the coming of Jesus is more clearly understood. This provides listeners with a solid foundation upon which to begin a new life in Christ through repentance and forgiveness of sin.

God's Story proves to be a powerful tool both for discipleship and evangelism. The chronological approach used in God's Story helps reduce syncretism (the merging of two or more different beliefs) because people recognize Jesus as the one and only God.

God's Story and MegaVoice Solar Players

MegaVoice^TM solar audio players are ideal for use sharing God's Story throughout the world. The players are simply to use and intuitive in design. The players come preloaded with God's Story and the Bible, if a translation is available in the target language. The solar panel on the player allows it to be used anywhere, without concern for the need of electricity. Users are unable to delete the content and repurpose the device because loading content requires a special interface. MegaVoice players have also shown themselves to be rugged and durable, providing years of faithful service. The built in speaker allows for group listening and a head phone jack allows for private listening or the use of an external speaker for louder volume. 

For more information contact our office. For purchase options see the resources page. 

God's Story on SD Cards and Cell Phones

Outreach with God's Story has never been easier. With the video loaded on a cell phone in a person's language, you can show them the start of the program and gauge their interest. After a few minutes, ask questions can be asked about the the video itself of the quality of the translation. Micro SD cards loaded with the video file can be given to the listener. This approach has been successfully used around the world. 

God's Story Flip Chart for Outreach

God's Story is also available as a wide-format flip chart. Evangelists make effective use of the flip chart in rural areas where electricity is scarce and video is available.

Each page has pictures that are reproduced from the video. The flip chart is designed so the text that goes with a particular image is printed on the back of the next page to be flipped. The evangelist can either read the script as printed on the page or follow along as an audio of God's Story is played on a MegaVoice^TM solar audio player or some other audio device.

Village Video Showing

The versatility of God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity for use in one on one and large group outreach is tremendous. When a new language is launched, God's Story teams on the field, set up for an open air evening showing of video. In many villages, seeing a movie in their own language is a first. This novelty draws people out, and the message of the gospel impacts their hearts. At the end of the gods story video, there is a summary of the message presented in the video and an invitation to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. 

Over the years, we have seen many thousands come to faith through village showings of God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity.