Progress & Adjustments
Prayer & Praise Report #4, June-July 2020
Training, in-person and on-line!
Uganda records the first training in our unfinished training center. What we could have never anticipated months ago, when the team started building the building, is how important the place would be during this time. Since the building is NOT a church, the missionary center remains open under Uganda guidelines. The central location allows our leaders from all the refugee camps to get to the training location easily.
The building remains an unfinished center as we pray and wait to see how the Lord provides the resources for the next step. To see part of the training and the missionary center, go to www.Facebook.com/SimplyTheStory.
Our North Sudan leadership just completed two STS workshops that resulted in the start of several Oral Bible Schools. The training team had life threatening sleeping conditions during the training and the leader invited them to rest at the living space he rents. He worked as a guard and house cleaner in exchange for housing. Unfortunately, the home owner kicked out our leader and the trainers, and now he has no place to sleep and no job. Typical house rent can cost between $100-$150 per month. We are praying for the right location that can be used also for hosting meetings and STS training.
The Oral Bible School team in Cameroon continues to learn Bible stories. Then they gather people regularly, who listen and discuss these Bible stories, a key part of their church planting progress. Our leader reported that the OBS, used for church planting, occurs in 7 languages!
We are excited to announce the first in-person training since the lockdown in Kentucky this September. It will be a hybrid of Zoom for a handful of registrants and in-person for the rest of the attendees. Back in 2012, we tested the hybrid model in Northern Arizona by "Skyping" in an instructor to lead one group. It worked well and we have used that model periodically. Our lead instructor thought that the Covid shutdown would mean ministry would cease. However, in reality it has increased, giving us a buffet of various opportunities.
Preparations for more training are occurring in multiple West African countries. We continue to pray for the team leaders to incorporate wisdom during this interesting time and reaching the lost.
God's Story: From Creation To Eternity
Recently, one of our prayer partners wrote this to me, "…two separate ministries laboring in Albania met with me simultaneously and both sang praises for how much more effective God's Story is than anything else at avoiding the syncretism which was so deep in Albania!"
We're thrilled to share with you that recording more languages is planned for South Sudan and Ghana. We are progressing well on a couple of Central Asian languages, and languages from South East Asia.
We have 19 language premiers, also called "launchings", throughout West Africa. The team has been preparing SD cards, solar players, and more for the many villages asking for their language of God's Story: From Creation to Eternity. Pray for the borders to open so we can bring the completed languages to the people.
Tune In — STS Radio Over the Air Waves
For the past several weeks our Northern Kenya trainers and the leaders have been preparing the STS radio broadcasts using WhatsApp. The radio story team usually spends 1-2 hours discussing the Bible passage, and enjoying the growth in God's Word. The English radio Bible stories are increasing in listeners so much that our team has been asked to start STS Bible studies on radio now in Arabic and Turkana. The Cain and Abel story required two programs to finish!
The radio reaches the Kakuma refugee camps that house refugees from Somalia, Sudan and other areas. Please pray for our leaders and the radio team. People are listening, hungry to learn more of God's Word, and responding to the Truth.
We also have Bible stories hitting the air waves in Ghana that reaches two regions and several villages. In Chad and Cote d'Ivoire more teams are preparing for STS on the radio. All the teams are blessed and gleaning from the years of experience our Filipino leader has leading live Bible discussions over the radio. Together, we have developed an STS Radio Standard that can be shared. Praise the Lord for His goodness and love for all people to know Him.
As the radio listenership grows, people can begin to lift up the storyteller rather than God. We pray for "God" attitudes that continue to bring glory to the Lord.
Can Covid Stop Oral Bible Schools and Church Planting?
Oral Bible Schools continue in several countries, some using WhatsApp, some in person, and others with Zoom. Bible studies are growing in the homes and churches are being planted in the houses of village Chiefs!
A report from our leader in India states, "The Lord has helped us to reach the lost even in this critical situation. More than 2 lakhs (200 thousands) people watched GS movie in different languages. We were able to meet 96 our leaders … and encouraged them to continue in the Lord's ministry even though situation is very critical now.
"Corona positive cases are keep on increasing, hundreds of people are dying. We are having heavy rain and flooding, many families are losing their belongs and their family members. We need your prayer support in these days." Please stand with us in prayer!
Online Training Grows!
Since May, we have conducted several online STS trainings with attendance from multiple countries. Through the process we continue to refine and streamline the experience for attendees. As well, our "Tech Plus" team, those who handle the technical aspects behind the scenes, continues to grow in number and skills, which helps ensure a better learning experience.
We invite past attendees of STS training to subscribe. This is best for those who wish to brush up on the apologetics, refresh their memories, and even remember specific aspects of the training. We have both a monthly and an annual subscription option.
Contact our office or click here:
https://www.gods-story.org/subscribe.html
Sharing Jesus with Others
We know that it can be hard to share the truth of Jesus Christ to people who have no hope. If you struggle to share your faith and know God is prompting you to do this, we have developed our Moment For Eternity series to help even shy people take a step of faith. The 2 web pages below walk people through each step with a series of very short videos. We even include the bloopers for fun!
http://www.SimplyTheStory.org/evangelism
TGSP Prayer Team Leader Graduates
John and Priscilla have graced our headquarters starting in late 2007. They both assisted Dorothy, our founder, with critical functions that allowed Dorothy to focus on the vision. Priscilla became our prayer team leader, and faithfully lifted the needs of our ministry, the leaders, and various projects before the Lord. I attribute much of our success to the powerful and effective prayers of this "righteous" one. Although she rejoices in being with the Lord, we miss her dearly. The legacy she and John have left in their children and grandchildren amazes me. Please take the time to watch some of the celebration service. It will both encourage and inspire you in your walk with our Lord Jesus.
http://Priscilla.WisdomCorner.com, click on "Celebration Service" tab and under the picture is a link to the service.
Website and Branding Progress
Our leadership, with the help of creative experts, has nearly completed the new logo for Simply The Story. We pray to have the new website home page mock up, or wire frame, completed by the end of August.
Dr. Chaps Interviews 2 of our Directors
Just before Covid shut our country down, Gordon Klingenschmitt, known as Dr. Chaps, interviewed Butch Vernon, our International Director, and myself at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville. Dr. Chaps fights for the rights of Christians to pray in Jesus' name and defends religious freedom. We work to provide the tools for people to know Jesus.
You can see these interviews on our YouTube station: https://www.youtube.com/SimplyTheStory or click on the links below.
Dr. Chaps interviews Andrea
Dr. Chaps interviews Butch
The "Apple" Fire
The Apple fire has made the news in the USA along with a few other fires. What's special about this one for The God's Story Project? Some of our volunteers live in this area. While one family traveled to see their grandson graduate, the fire ravaged around their home. We praise the Lord that the firemen were able to stop the fire at the edge of where this precious family lives. See the map where O circles where the family lives.
Thank you for your prayers,
Andrea & The whole staff of The God's Story Project (TGSP)