Do We Know For Sure People are Engaged

Prayer & Praise Report #6, October-November 2016

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Should Bible studies engage people with the Word?

During a recent phone conversation, the person shared about her desire to be baptized. We spent an hour and a half discussing baptism, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8:26-39 and more.  I knew this person had been part of a Bible study for several months in her town, so I asked, “How’s the Bible study going?”

She shared that she’s not engaged. As well, she was struggling with the thought of quitting that Bible study.  Since the second session months ago, she has “zoned out” due to the way this group does the study.  She described this popular and highly literate Bible study method, which is a great method, but the group failed to understand that this person is an oral learner. She continued to share that when we talk on the phone about Scripture, she loves it because I engage her. 

It made me ask myself, “How many people attend Bible studies or church because it’s the thing to do, but leave unengaged with the Word of God? How many people are present in body and gone in mind?” Many people love the Word, want to know God better, but don’t know how to reshape their thinking to integrate with some styles of teaching.   This led me to ask more questions, “How do we know for sure if people are engaged? How do we engage those who are not?”

Why Might Sudanese Refugees Engage with the Word?

During most of November, three lead STS instructors from Africa traveled to Uganda to train Sudanese refugees in Simply The Story. They helped with medical needs, provided beds for orphans, lead Bible discussions, and showed God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity. Eleven Sudanese, who were trained the last time the team was in Uganda, assisted the main instructors.

The main STS leader texted me daily with results that overwhelmed all of us in the office. Enjoy the amazing photos!

Children watched God’s Story in Juba Arabic.  One night 3000 people watched God’s Story.  The next night 4000-5000 people blocked the roads to watch! The leader reported, “Thousands prayed and they shouted for joy after praying.” 

After one training in a distant settlement, our instructor shared “Those who had no hope, now they have vision to win their nation for Christ. Many people young and old prayed to receive Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior.”

In another settlement the instructor shared, “…refugees are doing their best to help. They gave us two houses for one week for free. Some hosted others.” Can you imagine refugees, who have so little, sacrificing to help feed and house 14 people?

In answer to the question, “Could Sudanese Refugees Engage with the Word?” Yes, in more ways than one.

Jordan

We just completed an STS workshop in Jordan. During many trainings, we have practicals, where we send students to go tell Bible stories and have discussions with anyone they meet. The instructor reported the results. “Practicals went great. One of the ministries that came has already had a meeting where they committed to changing the way they do Bible studies starting immediately. …. All the students got it very quickly."

Asia

Christmas time provides many opportunities for showing God’s Story and for sharing the story of Christmas that comes from Scripture. In one closed Asian country, our leader there will again be going to the prisons, as well as conducting programs with children and leprous groups.  Please pray for this team.

Who said, “I will build my church”?

Recently an instructor returned from a difficult African country where he met someone, who had to leave another highly Musl*m country in that region. 

This missionary shared with our instructor that up until 7 years ago, there was no church growth in that country where the missionary previously served.  Dorothy Miller trained this person 7 years ago in Simply The Story, and the person returned to the country which had no growth. 

This missionary began to share Bible stories and have in-depth discussions with nationals, and the nationals wanted more.  The missionary had the nationals go share with others what they learned and then return for more Bible stories.

Soon the church began to grow and nationals were sharing with other nationals the Bible. At one point, a national leader in one region was killed and the missionary thought this was the end of the church movement in that area.  However, a couple years later, this person took a team to that region and discovered that the national leader raised 4 more leaders before he died. Along with that, the church growth in that area was flourishing!

I wish it was possible to share the country where these results occurred, but for security reasons, we cannot.  However, this is the first I have ever heard of a church movement in this country, and it is clear, Jesus is building His church, even after several missionaries have had to leave.

Please keep the people involved in this movement in prayer.

How does the Bible impact People when Understood?

USA — STS Workshop — Gratitude to the “Nth” Degree

A young lady wrote this letter to our instructor at a recent training in the USA.

 “Even if I told you every second of every day thank you it would not even come close to what I feel inside. … I thought how can I share God’s word when I don’t even know it. So I prayed to God if this is what I should do please help make it possible. I was able to get the time off of work but I didn’t have the money to pay for the class.

 “So I filled out the form and asked … if I could pay when I got my next paycheck. God knew I didn’t have the extra money so God work his magic and somebody provide money for scholarships to attend…. I knew God wanted me in the class.

 “For the last year & half my soul has been searching for a way to understand God’s story. Everyone would tell me how perfect God's love was for us but I wanted to know for myself. You have finally delivered the red neck version of understanding the bible to me. I wanted a simple way that I could look at God’s Word. I know I could have talk to people at the church but they all seem so smart and they knew all about God’s word and I didn’t want to admit to them that I didn’t know what they were talking about. Your team has given me hope that with time & using the process I WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S WORD & LOVE.

“Thank you for giving your time, knowledge & understanding to me who thought that I was not worthy enough or smart enough who knew that by simply sharing a story that I would find understanding in God’s word & worthiness in my self.”

Bible Stories Affecting Several Groups

Our STS instructor on the Africa Mercy ship continues to share the Bible with the patients in the hospital ward on Sundays, and with the crew every Wednesday.

Pray for him as he also meets with the day crew who were trained in STS.  The day crew goes to churches to share Bible stories.  When the ship leaves, our prayer is to have people in Benin trained and leading STS for the country.

We share the following story from a ministry that uses STS on the radio and in their Oral Bible Schools.  Pray for this project.

Grateful to the Lord,

Andrea

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