Vision Continues

Prayer & Praise Report #1, December 2014, January-February 2015

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In 1995 several of us from another ministry, who had just spent the day working in more than 100 degree weather, were invited that evening to watch God's Story: From Creation to Eternity at the Miller home. Dorothy Miller, screen writer and director for the film, wanted to test the new music and effects before proceeding to final production with the English version. It became clear to me while watching this evaluation copy, "this program belongs to God."

Changes were made to the music, and God's Story in English was completed soon afterwards. For the next 3 years, the producer struggled to fulfill their vision of getting God's Story into world languages, so in 1998 they asked Dorothy Miller to lead "The God's Story Project" (TGSP).

Dorothy and I worked together to develop the God's Story website. As well, we worked on several other projects until I moved to Honduras for some missions work. After returning from the field, Dorothy offered me the opportunity to join the team going to the Netherlands for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association conference known as "Amsterdam 2000".

For me, there has never been a conference like Amsterdam before or after. TGSP earned the reputation as the busiest booth. Our booth had 40 people or more at each moment wanting information about God's Story in their

language. These national leaders from around the world also saw the value of our solar powered VCD players that fit in a backpack. Several language translations of God's Story started as a result of our new relationships.

I continued assisting Dorothy via email and flying to California once every month or two. She started discipling me a few years earlier and continued for many years more. At the end of 2001, Dorothy asked me if I wanted to join TGSP full time. Even though I spent several hours a day working with her, this invitation meant moving to Hemet where TGSP is headquartered.

For a few years, Dorothy and I were the only two in the office. I managed shipping and became a sounding board and advisor for the development of many processes and policies that helped establish TGSP. During this time, I developed our in-the-field recording studios, setup our own production and mastering studio, and became the head of technology for the organization.

The 100th language of God's Story started with a suggestion from a friend, "Why don't you get God's Story in Hip Hop?" My friend must have read the "you're kidding" look on my face and asked me to just listen to a man nicknamed "Modavador g." Modavador sounded great, which led me to suggest the same to Dorothy. The look on her face said, "No way. " Taking a cue from my friend, I suggested she listen to Modavador when he calls. Dorothy wisely recognized that the Bible is 15% poetry, and Hip Hop spoken word is a type of poetry. This version of God's Story could reach a genre of people that may never walk into a church. We celebrated the 100th language of God's Story in 2004.

Around this same time, Dorothy and I were learning about orality and oral communicators. We were also astounded by how God was using God's Story in people's lives. We recognized God's Story spoke to the 80% majority of the world who learn best through stories. We integrated solar audio players into our repertoire of equipment, which allowed for thousands more to hear the Word of God in their mother tongue.

More people started volunteering in the office around 2003, and overseas, leaders began bubbling to the surface. We thank God for each person listening to His call. For TGSP, this meant Dorothy was free to listen to God and His vision for us.

We were still overwhelmed with requests for God's Story when Dorothy started to develop Simply The Story in 2006. I remember saying to her one day, "We're not keeping up with God's Story, why are you developing this?"

Her response was clear, "Because I believe God wants me to." I told Dorothy that was enough for me to support her.

Within a month of that conversation, Simply The Story (STS) became my vision too because so many Christians were being affected by God's Word like I had never seen. The responses people had in the USA and during our premier STS trip in 2006 to 5 other countries astounded me. Dorothy and I knew very quickly by the requests for training that we needed to raise instructors. Dorothy moved me from my comfortable position in the background and behind the camera to being in front of the people teaching and training starting in 2007.

For the next 4 years, I traveled the globe conducting or assisting with 80 STS trainings in 25 countries raising instructors. By the end of 2011, God blessed us with instructors on every continent except Antarctica (still working on that). We multiplied in a short amount of time. It was an honor to report back to Dorothy, along with others, about what worked in our training and what needed modification. By 2013 our training and handbook were well established.

African leaders said to me, "This is so African!" Asian leaders also said the same.

For the past few years, Dorothy allowed me to help our instructors learn to raise instructors, attend to special situations, and to be her right hand.

Our first 8 years focused on God's Story, and for the second 8 years we focused on Simply The Story. We start 2015 praising God for Tom Miller's continued leadership. We also look forward to what the Lord has next, which includes a training center, developing a children's Bible ministry, focusing our online presence, and refining several multiplication strategies that use God's Story and STS.

Our beloved Dorothy is sorely missed. Her guidance, trust in the Lord, and mentoring will continue in the many people worldwide who learned from this godly woman.

Grateful to the Lord, Andrea

Executive Director

The God's Story Project

TGSP | PO Box 187 Hemet CA | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.| Gods-Story.org | SimplyTheStory.org