Persecuted Church Impact

Prayer & Praise Report # 3, April-June 2012

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Dear Friends of God’s Story,

Persecuted Church Impact. A team traveled to Egypt and led two back-to-back workshops. The believers they trained experience beatings, threats, surveillance, disappearances and more. In the workshop Egyptians asked, "How can we face what we see coming on our land?" "How can we help our flock with what is happening around us?"

This new partner in Egypt just sent this exciting testimony on GS and STS results.

We have trained over 500 people on the story telling and the use of the Bible story to reach the unreached for Christ. We also recorded God’s Story in Egyptian, printed a program for children (this year program includes 11 lessons taught on 11 days designed according to the STS way) and trained Sunday school teachers and the program is reaching more churches and more unreached areas.

Knowing that Egypt is a country we’ve prayed for, one being turned upside down politically and with massive challenges to believers, makes that report most exhilarating!

These photos show 3^rd and 4^th generation storytellers in a nation not friendly to Christianity as they tell stories in the marketplace of life. Many hearers are being saved and baptized.

I wish I could reveal this next country to you, but it is so high on the persecution scale that I dare not. Some believers were secreted out to a nearby country for STS training. We later received a note telling how “the brothers and sisters are enjoying telling the story.”

Telling story in STS format become our lifestyle. Now we started to reach some unreached places with STS and now the quality of believers life is improve and the passion to tell God story in their heart language, also the blessing they have using STS in personal devotion

Only Stories? What About Evangelism? When we talk about telling stories and discussing them with unbelievers, some people rightly inquire about using “only stories.” They express caution that “with just a story all that occurs is a moral lesson.” I suppose this could happen. But in action, what we see over and over is that God’s Word reaches people spiritually. As unsaved individuals see the character of God demonstrated in people’s lives, they ask, “How can I know this God?” For example, we heard from Nepal:

We used the STS story of Abram & Sarai in audio with lots of questions [Practitioner Audio Training] on 14 unbelievers. These Hindu and Buddhist men discussed story more than two hours. They expressed strong feelings about how Abram acted. They said Pharaoh was better man and talked how God treated Abram nicely. After, the men asked if they could talk about some more stories like this.

Later we heard that within 7 months, 13 of the 14 men had accepted Jesus and 6 churches had been planted! That is just one of many reports we hear that demonstrate that the “goodness of God” (as seen in stories throughout the Bible) “leads to repentance.”

Notice in Sudan how a story (inside God’s Story) impacted a listener.

A boy here was furious with a classmate. So he brought a knife to school intending to kill the other boy. We had just given the teacher of this class a solar player with God’s Story in Juba Arabic. That very day, the teacher played the story of Cain and Abel for the class.

When the angry boy heard that Bible story, something happened. He took out his knife— and gave it to the teacher, confessing his plan! God had touched his heart. That day, the boy asked God to forgive all of his sins and accepted Jesus as his Savior.

New Resources. We now have brochures for God’s Story and Simply The Story. Also we completely restructured our STS Handbook, printed it, and recorded it for use in audio. This stand-alone book now allows people not only to learn the how-tos of STS, they can also find testimonies of STS impact and obtain some of the reasons (the apologetics) for this way of preparing and sharing Scripture. We completed a booklet, Practitioners Guide, that helps newly trained people use STS in ministry and shows how to easily hand off their new skills to others. We also prepared a syllabus of 3 courses for use in seminaries.

Contact us if you want any of this material or check the search feature on web site to see if there are downloadable versions.

God’s Expansion. While we were developing needed material, the Lord helped staff lead STS workshops in 5 of 6 continents of the world. (None in Antarctica!) Trainings were done all over USA, India and Kenya. Also we trained in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Mexico, Southern Ireland, New Zealand, Burundi, Uganda, Togo, Mozambique and many other countries. The settings ranged from prestigious seminaries to outdoor village locations.

We joined 41 academic leaders from around the world who gathered at Wheaton to investigate how to incorporate oral strategies into theological education. After a few delegates voiced concern about stories being done without the larger framework of Scripture, a professor who uses God’s Story in his courses on narrative spoke up, “God’s Story is the metanarrative you need. Have you not seen it?” [metanarrative=big picture]

Over 60 STS-Oral Bible Schools (OBS) in 9 countries are in session or beginning and STS is now used in 96 countries. Four new languages of God’s Story were finalized: Egyptian Arabic, Spoken-arz; Giryama-nyf for Kenya; Bisu-bzi for Thailand and Pyen-pyy for Myanmar, plus 15 other new language versions wait for final approval.

Advanced Trainings, Joys and Challenges. The advanced training in Kenya is going so well that country leaders are on a waiting list to participate in the October class! The 6-week course, Comprehensive STS Leadership Training, covers STS training, advanced leadership skills, multiplication methods and setting up Oral Bible Schools. The August class has 15 students from 7 countries on 3 continents!

An African denomination’s leaders had observed the impact of STS on their people, so they believed in STS and had called for an advanced training so that OBSs could be set up throughout their country. The team of African instructors arrived at the location only to find that none of the STS Assistant Instructors to be trained had shown up! It seems that when those well-meaning country leaders discovered that those who had come for the advanced leadership did not have formal Bible education, the leaders sent those uneducated people home and selected instead people who were “qualified,” people who had certificates—but people who were not STS trained!

After a time of explanation, the leaders realized that they had not understood how STS opens Scripture so it can be learned and shared by anyone “who has an ear to hear.” They grasped the principle that STS is an oral way to learn, and that oral learners can teach their nearly 100% oral congregants as well as (possibly even better than) those educated in Bible in a literate style. So a beginning workshop for the selected Bible school graduates was done instead of an advanced training. Below see the heartwarming and insightful responses of the “educated” attendees.

"I've learnt so much within the short time I have been here for this training. I wish I was taught this way in the bible school I attended."

"This is what our people need. You have talked about OBS, do you have plan to open one in my village? My people need this."

"It is amazing how we just discovered so much treasure in the story and we even didn't finish the whole story. Who taught you this wisdom? We are so happy that you came to teach us this."

"I think the school I attended forgot the non-literate people because they only taught us to teach in literacy way. So the people we have been reaching do not get it. Thanks for this new way you have taught us this week."

The leaders themselves said, "You told us that every school should have twelve students, this will give us a ‘problem’ in selecting the twelve. Already there are so many people who want to attend the school."

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Dorothy A. Miller, TGSP

Empowering Others

Prayer & Praise Report #2, March 2012

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Dear Friend of God’s Story,

For your prayers we thank you, and for God’s answers we stand amazed.  

A few days ago our Africa director spoke to the Lausanne Executive Committee about oral strategies. He later shared with the African committee how our program, Regional Empowerment, can reach Africa. The leaders agreed and said, “Let’s do it.”

God’s Story: From Creation To Eternity

God’s Story versions increased by 25 in 2011.  We have completed 4 more this year; 11 are waiting for final field approval, and 7 are in recording. More are in translation.  The following languages were completed since we last listed new versions. For Ghana we have Ntrubo, Sekpele, Selee, Gikyode, Lelemi, Koma & Wali; Ethiopia got Afan Oromo West Central; for NE India, we produced Hajong & Thadou Kuki.

“Best Tool.”  At an Eurasia media conference in Germany, attendees showered our International Director with, “God’s Story is the best, most effective tool we have to reach the lost!”  How exciting to hear verified again that the timeless nature of God’s Word, as delivered in the stories from the Bible in this chronological overview, does reach the lost.  For basic discipleship, many are using the short stories in God’s Story and then discussing them with those learning about their new Saviour.

“For Me!”  While in India, we were privileged to hand over scores of our 150-page flip charts and MegaVoice solar-powered audio players with God’s Story, New Testament, recorded Bible stories and the how-to of Simply The Story.  

One village church planter, who oversees 6 churches, was enthralled when he saw the chart and heard his own language on the solar player.

But when I said, “These are for you,” in shock he asked, “For me?”

After he finally realized he could keep the player and chart, he couldn’t stop smiling. 

For a long time he just kept turning the pages and listening to God’s Story.

Over and over this same response of delight for the gifts reminded us of the value of biblical resources to those who have so little.

Simply the Story

After the training, our instructors traveled to 15 locations in 12 different countries to oversee and move many they just trained toward leadership.  Challenges arose that many of our instructors had never experienced. Promised preparation that did not materialize (and worried gatekeepers who at first resisted the information) confused those who were new at overseas ministry.

After prayer and quick reminders of worldview differences and bondages, hundreds were blessed.   

In many regions ministry took place. As you see in the photo, interest in Bible stories and responses to the Gospel were many. 

After training, text messages, emails and phone calls poured in from pastors and workers at the rate of 20 or more a day!

Here are two of the hundreds of messages:

“STS TEACHINGS ARE VERY MUCH USEFUL IN MY CONGREGATION, ALL ARE SO PLEASED.  I WANT TO GIVE STS TRAINING TO MY AREA PASTORS AND BIBLE WOMEN IN MY AREA.  PLEASE PRAY AND ENCOURAGE ME.”

“I want to thank you for spending time to train us. Your labor did not go in vain as just trained more then fifty pastors and evangelist. STS has played an important role to open the eyes of the pastors and church leaders to shift their old way of thinking, as we have conducted two workshops in XXX and XXX in Kashmir. And we invited pastors, evangelist and the Bible teachers too.

“At the beginning they started telling me ‘brother we know most of the Bible stories we are learning all these stories from our childhood,’ but I said ‘at least come and attend one session if you don't like then you can go back.’

“Praise God and thanks to the STS leaders who have made the gospel so easy and simple and interesting which anybody can easily understand. And, I tell you at the end of the day every one was saying ‘this a good way to preach the gospel and we will implement this method to our churches, and in our Bible studies.’ Praise God that we got the positive and tremendous response from all our participants and not only that they started using this method to their congregation from same day onward. Please continue to uphold us in your precious prayers so that we may train and equip many more pastors and evangelist and church believers.”

Combining God’s Story and Simply The Story

A year ago, a missionary who has used God’s Story for years in the public schools in his country of service asked us to help him. His question came during an STS workshop, his first exposure to STS: “We have these one hour weekly mandatory religious education slots where I have developed a story by story program using God’s Story, but I need a DVD with a full program so I can multiply myself. How can I use STS and God’s Story on DVD in schools?” His question sparked development of the Interactive Discovery of the Bible (IDB)

Over this last year, we developed and tested this new DVD program.  We tried it with children and adults, in Christian and secular settings, even in prisons.  In India we watched over 100 people interact with the filmed storyteller, respond to his questions and then periodically go into small groups and discuss their ideas about the Bible story.

The IDB design was such that, presumably, it would work in audio too.  Suddenly, when the projector went out, we had an unplanned chance to see if the audio version worked.  It did!  The lively discussions continued. The participants never missed a beat!

Empowering: Our goal and tools are all designed to empower. We trained a film and editing team while in India so the IDB can be produced by Indians in their own languages.

The empowerment is working. Note one of those trainers (in this photo) is an African who had been trained by USA leaders on two trips to Africa. Now these Africans are producing their own films.

Innovations: Last year we developed an advanced leadership training called Vine Huggers. The Africans then led their own version of it. They had 15 “leaders” from six countries sleeping on the floor in apartment living rooms just so they could gain this oral leadership style. They went back to their own ministries to lead workshops and establish Oral Bible Schools

Kenya now has 22 OBSs and Sudan just opened their first two.  Philippines operates 4 in remote places. They train, check stories and do discussion—all over cell phone!

Blessings,

Dorothy A. Miller

Executive Director TGSP

Multiplication of Leaders

Prayer & Praise Report #1, January-February 2012 

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Dear Friends of God’s Story,

We saved up reports, and again, finally exploded with excitement wanting to share reports with you. God has been answering prayer, so thank you for praying and thank you Lord for your Word and that you are enlarging your family!

But first, this announcement: A week ago we said goodbye to Norm McGary, the talented artist who worked for 2 ½ years painting the hundreds of pictures in the film. His vision and love for the lost started God’s Story. He did all of the art for the movie. Our loss–heaven’s gain! We will miss you my friend.

Risk Taker: Today a letter came in from a worker in a mu/sm dominated country of less than 2% believers in Jesus. In only two years, this worker distributed over 3,000 copies of God’s Story in 3 languages! Why risk getting caught?... People want to know God. People are curious about Jesus.

Another Risk Taker: National Christians in another mus/ln country (that is often in the news) are working on 4 new language versions of God’s Story that target unreached people in their country. They too take a risk as they are seeing a hunger for Jesus and results from the one language version of GS available that works in their county.

Kenya: A businessman who witnesses in Africa using tracts received a gift copy of God’s Story. He watched it at night, got up in the morning and watched it again. Then he purchased a lot of copies, gave them out, and came back for more!

Wide Use: Another report came from a missionary in Asia. Her organization has distributed thousands of God’s Story for use in evangelism and decided to obtain rights for it so they could “seriously” distribute it.

In a few days I fly to India. An ace team of 25 STS instructors from 17 countries and 19 states of India are to lead advanced training of 70 instructors. Then, after this unprecedented training of trainers, workshops are set for 18 locations in 9 countries.  Why do these unpaid volunteers spend their time and money to commit to this training?  They see results.

One key man just was turned back. Please pray.

India: At an STS workshop, the lead instructor had encouraged mainline pastors to go out with him one evening and use Bible stories to witness to "strangers." “These pastors had NEVER done that in their lives. Until now, they only go to the

office and people come to them, or they preach in church. On the outreach 14 people accepted Christ! The pastors were ecstatic!

“Then a uniformed policeman and a plainclothesman came to "investigate" the situation. There had been a false report of a disturbance. Someone was trying to stop the training! The policeman in uniform asked, ‘what you are doing?’

“So I told him a Bible story and he too accepted Jesus. That day he stood in front of all attendees to give testimony of his new faith.”  [God's Word does not fail!]

What we are seeing now with Simply The Story and the Oral Bible Schools is production and multiplication of leaders; godly, motivated, deep-in-the-Word leaders. We just expanded our STS Handbook, the first copies being due off the press in March. One section includes impact reports.  Following are a few from the book that show how the time spent teaching and digging into stories touches lives and replicates.

Mentoring and Multiplication

Three of the testimonies below came from Bram..., Mark and Ramesh, men mentored deeply by the TGSP executive staff. Those they mentored have trained others – who are training others. Isn’t this God’s way?

“A Bishop in Embu stood up and said this to me. ‘The church is in trouble, because we lack church fathers who are biblical ... Please tell those who trained you, “Thank you for empowering Bram... to be a father to Bishops...’”

Bram... M - CEO Straight Path Resources, Kenya

“STS method helped us to train more spiritual leaders than before and multiplication is talking place in producing spiritual leaders, and keeping them in the church, and sending them to the mission field. His Word is for both literate and non-literate, both young and old. It is a complete spiritual meal to fellowship with our Triune God.” Dr. Mark Muniyappa - All India Council / TGSP-India

“I am non-literate but serving the Lord as Pastor and Evangelist since 5 years. I came to the Lord in the year 1993 and I wanted to serve the Lord and to get Bible knowledge in any Bible College, but Academic Bible colleges did not accepted me to get Bible training because I am non-literate and also I was not able to understand God’s messages on the pulpit because it was literate style.

“I was struggling to share the Gospel to my family members and friends; in this situation our Lord brought TGSP into our lives and ministry I thank God for that. I have learned 155 stories through STS method and now I am happy to say that I can share the Gospel to both the literate and non-literate.”

[Mark’s leaders trained this man.]    Y. Babu - Evangelist/Pastor MMBC-Karnataka, India

“What words do I use to express my gratitude to you all? I am so much thankful to the Lord and to this tool Simply The Story. In my 20 year's ministry time, it is most useful that I ever came across.

“STS certainly helped me getting deeper and wider into the Word of God but it also has many applications in my organisational life. Some lessons learnt from this is to look for choices before I made any decision and it also made my team farsighted to see the impact of our work.”

Ramesh Sapkota – CEO Kingdom Investments Nepal,

Organisation Fighting against Human Trafficking

“First of all I want to give all glory and heartily thanks for our all mighty Lord Christ Jesus and my co- prayer Elder brother Ramesh.  When I met him I was new in Christ and my ministry was just like new born baby. I needed Spiritual mother to continue nourishing me.

“Ramesh gave me STS training. This was the beginning. In that time we were very few people in Christ and had one fellowship that was very weak. He continued STS in my Church.

“Now in very short time through the STS training God used to plant eight Church and this year we have planned to plant two new Churches.

“I used STS method to multiply Church because of this reason wonderfully I got invitation to participate in the STS training not only me but to get the chance my daughter Church leader he is using STS method better then me.

“Thank you brother Ramesh, I was only a body of butterfly and now you are preparing me to complete butterfly!

“Thanks to the Servant of the Lord those who have labored for the STS to Glorify His Name and to bless me and my ministry.”

Ps. Krishna P. Ghimire - Asst. Gen. Secretary, National Churches Fellowship of Nepal

Follow Simply The Story on Twitter!  Looking forward to tweeting.

The official link is http://twitter.com/SimplyTheStory and click +Follow or Text follow SimplyTheStory to 40404 in the United States.

We would appreciate prayer for upcoming summit in India, and for all of the godly leaders who sacrificially train others. There is much opposition.

Blessings,

Dorothy A. Miller

Executive Director TGSP

She Remained Determined

Prayer & Praise Report # 5, 2011 

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Dear Friends of God’s Story,

Wow days are full!  Since we sent report number #4 in September, numerous workshops in USA (PA, MI, 3 in CA) and scores overseas were held.  

Also since September, 4 new languages of God’s Story were completed: Kijita for Tanzania and Adele, Ewe and Nkonya all for Ghana. 25 other new languages are in production or awaiting final approval and yet 26 more are now in line to be recorded! Why continue to produce languages?  Those who need Jesus need to hear in their mother tongues!

 “Stories” about God’s Story

North Africa: “We have given many C.D's of GS wherever we go and the Mega voices players with God’s Story.  When my son goes the fields to visit the Shepherds, he always takes his back pack with GS and player.  It is a great way to start a conversation.  They always welcome you!”

UK Innovates New Course: “What a wonderfully clear presentation which so effectively encapsulates the Gospel of His plan of redemption.  I see this as an ideal resource to use with our ‘Christianity Explored’ course and particularly welcome as we had identified a real need to be able to complement the course with an overview of the Bible. 'God's Story' fits the bill perfectly!
”Having now had opportunity to appreciate the value of the Discussion Guide, I would much appreciate it if you could forward 2 additional copies.”

Christmas Witness Special: We made a large run of God’s Story in English on audio CD with a cover title of “How Christmas Began.”  These are perfect gifts for family and even for spontaneous witnessing opportunities while out during the Christmas holidays.  $2.30 each. 

Cost Dropped for solar-powered MegaVoice players. With either 3 languages of God’s Story on them (or God’s Story and assortment of programs and New Testament if available) the cost went from $45 to  $39.95. 
New “storyteller” model solar-player holds one God’s Story and some added content … only $17.95!!!!   

Simply The Story

Shall We Call Them Churches?  Out of the 19 Oral Bible Schools now in session in Kenya, four use the “business” model. Businesses there stop work at 5:00 p.m.. So from 5:00 to 9:00 in the evening, five days a week (and now often in lunch time too) students gather to learn and discuss Bible stories. During the 7 months they have followed this plan, the students have learned 147 stories! As well, students are telling those stories to others and people are getting saved. These new believers meet together weekly to hear and discuss more Bible stories and sing, pray and break bread together.  Shall we call them churches? Oh, by the way … so far, 16 of these “churches” have sprung up!

Two STS workshops soon! Weekdays, Victory Ranch in Hemet and Weekend in Feb in Beaumont.

Kenya Not Qualified! After Anna (in photo) was saved, she had a passion to evangelize. But when Anna’s pastor discovered that she was illiterate, he told her, “You are not qualified.” But God equipped this lady.
A week after she was turned down for service, an Oral Bible School began in her village. One year later she graduated, having never missed a day of school!  As well, she could tell 210 Bible stories AND knew how to teach them using discussion.  To her pastor’s surprise and joy, she also now leads weekly Bible studies and has a vibrant evangelism ministry!­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ She remained determined    
 Ghana: He won 2 Goats! A successful missionary with a heart for children has established 189 Bible clubs in 19 regions of Ghana.  The 6,000 children who attend these weekly clubs took part in a year-long contest.  They “studied” God’s Story on DVD or from a solar player.  This missionary compiled 239 questions about the film, plus some from Galatians. 

A 12-year old boy answered all of the questions correctly and won 2 goats! (The 2^nd place was one goat and some chickens, 3^rd  one goat and some money and 4^TH one goat.) Don’t you wish you could have competed?  Realistically, the boy probably would have beaten us all, so I guess we would have missed winning the goats anyway.

From USA to Africa (Or is it from an African to an American?) Christian university student from California traveled to Uganda and stopped by an STS workshop led by Africans from Kenya.  The discussion of one story, Martha/Mary, spoke to her so profoundly that her life was radically impacted. Across the world from her homeland, God spoke His message to a young American girl through a Bible story told by an African!

India: Births At Funeral: ”A phone call came to a church office while I was doing some business there.  The caller said her relative died who used to work in that office. They phone several Pastors of that denomination to visit this family but no one came on time so they requested me to help them in all proceedings. So I went and conducted funeral service.  

Next March we plan to lead training summits in Asia. We hope to encourage and fine tune hundreds of STS instructors. We also plan to do advanced training of those who orchestrate new God’s Story versions and those who record God’s Story and audio and DVD Bible stories.  All these leaders come from a wide range of countries and states outside of the USA.

Our ”Thanksgiving” to God is for this huge increase of instructors world-wide who now are independently leading Simply The Story (STS) workshops and orchestrating and recording new versions of God’s Story.  Thanks to you for your interest in The God’s Story Project!!!!

For prayer, please hold up the thousands of leader in TGSP, many serving at risk.

In His service, Dorothy A. Miller

Haitians Saved

Praise & Prayer Report #4, August-September 2011

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Dear Friend of God’s Story,

Once again we thank the Lord for the lives touched by the audio and video use of God’s Story and our style of oral inductive Bible study, Simply The Story.

God’s Story: From Creation to Eternity

Thailand: “We have worked with Karenni refugees for 5 years, more specifically with the Karenni widows of war. It has been a difficult task presenting the gospel to the mostly animist Karenni people, while having good success, there is always a better way to present the Good News.

This past week, I spent 2 days inside NS Refugee Camp armed with my Bible and a backpack video player offering the God Story in Karenni. Presenting the 80-minute video containing the story of creation to eternity was very exciting, and then carefully offering an invitation to receive Christ, that had impacting results upon the children and youth.”

Timbuktu: Yes, there really is a place named Timbuktu. Ripley of “Believe it Or Not” fame listed Timbuktu in Mali, Africa as the “most remote place on earth.” We were just told by an evangelist that he carried many copies of God’s Story there, only to discover that there was not a home in the city that did not already have a copy! (And people are responding!)

New Versions: We await final approval for 25 new God’s Story languages we have produced.

Snapshot of New Versions Being Recorded: Jesse, a retired man living in the USA, has a heart for the lost. He leads “translation clinics,” training numerous language teams to translate God’s Story into their languages. Currently, Jesse is in Ghana with a team of Africans and Americans hoping to record at least seven new versions for West Africa.

Jesse asked us to pray especially for the Ligbi. Attempts to record it have been unsuccessful for the past two years. Isl.am is their major religion and they also believe in “bush spirits” and “fairies.” These speakers are considered a “least reached, closed” people group. They need God’s Word!

Avatime speakers, mostly animist in belief, are less than 1% literate. So you can see how much they need this audio/visual Bible overview. Speakers of Tafi have no Scripture in their language. Other languages they are recording, Logba, Dagari, Birifor and Dagaaba, have some Christians among them, but spirit possession is widely practiced alongside Christianity. It seems many believers, not knowing God’s Word, mix religious practices.

Haitian refugees in Dominican Rep. hear Bible taught the STS way. In 6 days of ministry (24 locations) many were saved. The refugees loved the stories. They (and leaders who work among them) asked us to come back and train them to study, and share the Bible like this!

Simply The Story (STS)

We know 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Of course these words are true.But more and more, through STS, the incredible deep and diverse truths in those verses are coming alive. People from all over the world, educated and non-educated, from every walk of life and belief system are understanding and responding to God’s Word in a way never before anticipated. ** We are not keeping up. Please pray for help at USA headquarters.**

Vast New Horizons: It was hard to squeeze 1,000 high school students into one photo. This boarding school is sponsored ½ by the Presbyterian church and ½ by the government But for three days all these girls did hear and discuss Bible stories. The last story discussed was The Woman at the Well.

Teachers saw 40 girls saved and hundreds open up and confess how they (as the woman in the story did) had tried to find value through wrong relationships with boys.

Afterwards the principal asked our Kenya director to send a team to their school three times a year to minister like that! Later, the principal expanded the invitation to include all of their 52 schools! We said “No. We cannot come just to minister. But we will return to minister AND to train your students to study and share Scripture this way.”

From this exchange, the Lord showed us how a team of three instructors can make three visits to minister and train at schools. But also on thd three trips, the team trains an average of 15 nearby pastors in STS and plants an Oral Bible School. In nine months local pastors can continue the ministry. Appropriately this Multiplication Strategies is called “Regional Empowerment.” (Copies of full plan available on web site or from headquarters’ office.)

Radio Successes: 1. In the Philippines an STS lead instructor does weekly radio programs. He tells a story and discusses it live with four people. As it is being discussed, people phone in or text their questions or share treasures that they see in the Bible story. The calls average 400 per week! This innovative instructor also used radio to lead a mini STS workshop on the air, and listeners are now using Bible stories to minister. As well, three “Mobile” Oral Bible Schools have sprung up from this radio program. Those remote schools added to the three regular schools already in operation.

2. In one other country, a story was told over secular radio. In each of two 5-minute spots, ½ the story was told and a few questions were asked. Over 8,000 letters came in from people touched and convicted by that story!

Four Filipino Pastors Give View of STS Pastor J.R.A.-

“This system is powerful because it changes my direction, my way, my teaching. I graduated in two years course of Bible college. I commented before this training saying, ‘It is only for the children.’ But in the training when we found the treasures, I see that I myself am lacking.

“On the next day I gave my Bible study and I apply sts way, people do not want me to leave because they wanted more story. I see the excitements in their hearts listening to the word. Before they always looking their watch. They are time conscious and always wanted to go home. I can say this system is energizer of all Christians in their faith. I experienced the very word of God talking to me. In this system it is not all about how much I have in my mind, but it’s about how I live true to what I have learned from it.” Pastor A.-

“I am pastoring for many years and I planted 6 churches. I was boastfully looking at myself thinking my strategy and my comprehension of serving the Lord is more than others and I attended more seminars and different methods of studying of the word of God than anyone.

“In this system all I can see at the first day of the workshop is that I do not like to comeback because my pride was arose. But when the instructor taught Martha-Mary story, I was convicted that I need this tool because it was big strike in my heart. I taught this story many times but did not see its wealth. This system is very humble way delivering the word of God.” Pastor F. B.-

“I am surprised at the workshop because the first day I requested to the senior instructor to divide the people according to their level. I thought it was the same as seminars I attended and I knew how difficult the experience would be for the attendees who are not educated. The humble instructor obeyed my instruction.

“But in the afternoon during the groupings I saw that it was so different than my expectation about this workshop. I see that everyone can learn this system if you are educated or not.

“Because I am a pastor, I preached many times the stories like Abraham that we studied in STS. I was thinking that I am a good teacher. But when I heard the instructor give the full model, I was shy and convicted the way I had preached those stories. I experienced more deep understanding to the word of God listening to God’s voice by doing STS way.

“I thank God for sending STS team in my place and I want to continue more to study this system so that I can share it to others also. God bless my heart hearing these bible stories again convicted and I cry. I pray we can have a Bible school like ‘Mobile Bible school’ because I have 7 pastors with me. I now use STS in my ministry. I see in the eyes of some of the church members they are giving their treasures with tears in their eyes, unlike before when I see that people are sleeping inside of the church.”Pastor D.-

“I am so happy that I attended in this workshop STS. I am pastoring for many years and I almost discourage seeing how the people reacted. I gave heartedly to my people, but it seem nothing for the people and I see their growth are slow. I am thankful for the STS because I learned even in the presentation I see my self. I was bless. I see that the way I was delivering to the people that I have the problem.

“I share to my people the story that I learned from the workshop during our break. I see that the people who are not Christians /unbeliever they are so inter-active to the story and I never see in their face that insulting me.”

We thank God for your prayers and support. Consider joining us in Hemet, CA in January 2012 for a workshop. Call or write for details.

Dorothy A. Miller

Executive Director, TGSP

All Ages Lean In

Praise & Prayer Report #3, June, July & August 2011

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Dear Friend of God’s Story,

It is with great excitement and awe that we send this report to you.  We continue to see languages of God’s Story, new ones and old reaching the lost.  So far this year, *12 new language versions of this 80-minute overview of the Bible have been completed. An exciting number of versions we produced (21) are just waiting for final approval! Also,19 more are in the recording phase!  

Flash!!! This report just arrived: Right now our Africa director is at MANI, an African led, Christian conference. “I am currently very emotional because for the first time a man literally cried to me ‘in tears on his knees’ asking for STS training. He saw the demo of an STS story done for the attendees in which the participation and discovery was phenomenal. He said, ‘This is for my people. Only me and God know how long I've wanted this for my country and how many times I've been turned down or given the wrong form of teaching material. Please come,’ he said!!! So we are making a date before tomorrow.” 

Men, women and children in Mali lean in to see Bible pictures as they hear God’s Story played on solar powered audio players.  

Over and Over: In Africa a Simply The Story (STS) instructor led a Mus.lim man from Ethiopia to the Lord. The instructor loaned a MegaVoice solar-powered audio player to him with God’s Story in the Oromo language. We were told, “Over and over this new believer keeps listening to God’s Story. Then he asks questions and we talk and he is learning about the Bible.” 

Mali, It’s Their Bible: “We brought in some players with Bambara God’s Story and Bible stories in them. In the few weeks we were there, they listened to them constantly, calling it their ‘Bible.’”  

“While in Haiti, I did use the Megavoices - PTL for those little voice boxes! [With God’s Story in Haitian Creole.]  I saw several of the pastors again whom I had given them to in the last 2 years (Thanks to you and donors).  One pastor I saw again said – ‘It is so wonderful, my people like it.’”

From Nepal: The leader who attended our STS seminar along the Tibet border and another one reported, “By using this tool we have now started 6 churches average 20 people in each.”

Paraguay: A man who learned STS in Ireland wrote,  “I did a story last night with the youth. I hadn’t told the pastor how I was going to do it, but he asked me about it today. ‘Where did you learn to do that?  It is a style that works very well in nuestro ambiente’ [our environment]. Everyone participated including 2 drunks who had come in! So maybe STS will be able to come to Paraguay sometime?”

Upcoming Trips: Please pray for our STS staff (including 7 International directors) who will be sharing the vision and how-to of STS and God’s Story at the International Orality Network’s conference in Asheville, NC and then going on to Williamsburg, Sept ,16-20, to lead a workshop. [A few attendee spots are still open. Details on site, lower right, Workshop Locations.] In October a team goes to Bible schools in Ukraine for the first STS training done in that country. Continually national instructors are leading workshops throughout Africa, Asia, India and Oceania as well as making ongoing forays into Europe. Numerous Central and South America countries are being touched through workshops, led mostly by one of our senior instructors, Regina.

www.SimplyTheStory.org presents the short Clouds Without Rain video on the right side of the home page.  Hear vibrant testimonies, including how Africa Inland Mission leaders are setting up the STS Oral Bible Schools (OBS). Now, 15 schools are meeting in Kenya alone. The schools use God’s Story and train students to learn over 200 Bible stories. Because of what pastors in the region saw take place on the lives of the graduates, the Kenya leaders have been asked to start eleven more schools!

Nine Machines: Below is a note sent to an STS national instructor in Africa.  The instructor had led a workshop 6 months earlier among these MBBs (Mus/lm background believers).

"Greetings. Thank you for the 9 machines (mega voices) you gave us after training us to tell stories. We have used the machines in the village and 1000 people have heard the word of God from the machine. 35 people have given their lives to Jesus as they heard the word of God from the machine. People are interested hearing the machine as it speak our language. If you have more, we need other 35 machines. Thank you for coming to help us."

Seminary Success:  We have asked for prayer to see more doors open for STS in seminaries and Bible schools.  By God’s grace, in the last few months, instructors have taught classes wrapped around STS in Denver Theological Seminary and Talbot Theological Seminary at Biola.  The PhDs taking the classes continue to send in praise reports to the professors who taught the classes.  The reports include successful witnessing using the stories and the lives of the students themselves being touched by God’s Word.

Myanmar: “I believe I told you that some of our grads from the 2 Bible Colleges that my church now supports have told me that they were having no success in sharing the ‘Good News’ with anyone in their villages.  The Buddhists didn't want to hear.  Then, after learning STS, they found everyone willing to listen to a story and ask for more.  They also would say, ‘We didn't know your God was like that, tell me more about Him.’  Last time I was there I had reports such as, ‘I just baptized 14 people last month.’ I asked what had changed to cause the Buddhists to listen and respond by trusting in Jesus for their salvation?  They said, ‘It was the stories.’  Many now have a church and are using the stories to disciple the new believers.  Their Bible College information is not presented in a style that they understand, but the stories are easily understood.”

God’s Way of Peace in Asia: “In our radio station right now many people has been touch by the story. The good news are the listeners joining us at the radio station they just wanted to thank us and to be a part in our program. So I put schedule for sharing time so they are crowded in studio.

“The place that is famous for always having war between our gov army and the rebel army until this day text us how they are bless listening in our program. They are hoping that they will receive peace in their place because of this program. 

“These places are not desirable to minister or to go there and plant church, but by the power of the Bible story near to that place asking us come. So I let my team to visit and stay 2-days just to share stories. The result is the people are asking us to put a church building in their place.  Please pray for them that God in the heaven will grant their prayer because this is a great changing in their lives our country are famous rebels movements, especially many young people in that mountain asking us to study desiring to know how to do more STS so pray for them.”

Togo Attendees: In West Africa they said,  “The training time is too short.” “STS helps to have a deep Bible study.” “STS help to keep the attendees awake during all the presentation what is difficult when preaching.” “I will do a better work in the ministry after this training I wish That all the churches attend this training.” “STS is a good tool it open my eyes deeply in the word of God.” “STS model is effective even the unbelievers who hear a story can remember it after.”

Ethiopian Women's Conference: “It was an amazing time, especially for the first women’s conference ever in the Awi zone.  We had hoped for 200 women. And that is how many showed up.  75 women came by public bus from outside the city. That was a great surprise to the Evangelical fellowship leaders. They were beyond thrilled with the event.” [Next report we hope to share impact.]

Togo Pastor Reports: “STS is different.  It is practical.  In most of the seminars I have been in are just messages.  But here you use your time to help us to come step by step and this is something very significant for me.  And this will help me for my personal meditation and the Bible study and different type of teaching.”                                                                                                                             

India, Pastors Recommit: “Many leaders told that God’s Story and STS is a great tool from God for their Mission field. It is very useful and great opportunity to learn from God through HIS word to our personal life and as well as make disciple (story tellers) as Jesus taught to His called once.  6 Pastors recommitted their lives to the Lord in this workshop. The Bible Stories helped these pastors to come back to Christ and experience with the fellowship of Triune God.

“During the 1^st day evening practical work 21 new souls came to the Lord. On first evening an Advocate, when she heard the story of Martha and Mary, she told that, ‘I am working since 15 years as Advocate, I have earned lot of money but I did not spend time with God and not done any good work.’ She accepted Jesus as her personal Saviour. Then she requested us saying that shall I attend STS? We said ‘Yes!’

“She attended next four days and she learned STS skills. She said, ‘Now I understand the Word of God well and now STS helped me to do my job according to God’s plan. And I have learned how to ask questions to my opposite clients.’ She led 5 more people to Christ within those 4 days and now she is a great witness to the local Court. Please pray for her and her family.”

Witnessing At My Apartments: Jenny attended two workshops and started using Bible stories to witness including sharing a story with a guy at her apartment complex. A week later she wrote,
”By the way, I ran into the Russian guy who I shared the story of blind Bartimaeus  with. (He is not a believer. Someone had given him a Bible and he keeps it by his bedside, but doesn't really ever read it.) Well, he said he went and read that story. He told me, ‘It’s just a short story, but so much in it.’

“I asked him what did he see or learn from the story?  He said, ‘Well just what we had talked about before, you know … mercy. He (Bart) saw something in Jesus.’ So we talked just a few minutes about mercy again and then discussed whether today we ever find ourselves in a place where we need mercy. We talked about who we look to receive mercy. I commented, ‘We did see that Bart saw something, believed something about Jesus, so he cried out to Jesus for mercy and Jesus responded Bart received his sight and was made whole.’

“Then I asked this guy, ‘Do you think if we find ourselves in a place of needing mercy that we could cry out to Jesus and He would respond?’ I could see the wheels in his head turning and he nodded his head and smiled. It was cool to see God's word stirring this man’s heart.”

USA Youth Leader: “In July of this year I did STS with a team of our youth leaving on a missions trip to Russia. When they got there, they found out that they were ministering to a large group of young adults that were there studying to be doctors and scientists. These students were from all over the world and very intelligent! At first our students (ages 14 – 18) were intimidated by this group. The youth ended up sitting down with the students and telling a Bible story. It was incredible! The foreign student’s hearts were captured by the Word of God and discussion came alive with revelation after revelation. The trip was very fruitful with our students feeling empowered to minister and the foreign student’s learning a different way to explore the Bible.

“In the USA, one of our youths brought a completely unchurched friend ‘J’ to a meeting. ‘J’ didn’t know any Bible stories.  As the 2 girls and the pastor’s daughter got into my car for a ride home, ‘J’ said, ‘Jen, I bet I can tell you the story.’ ‘Ok I said. She was almost word perfect! We dropped her off and then the pastor’s daughter said, ‘Jen, I bet I can tell you the story.’ So I had her tell the story. She was word perfect.  Her next statement blew me away. She said, “I have been in church and Sunday School my whole life. I have memorized all the verses in Sunday School and won the prizes, but I barely remember any of them. This story … I will never forget it, never.

“The next day after school, Kate connected with me. She said, ‘Jen, you will never guess what happened. Last night after we dropped off ‘J’, her mom asked how it went and what happened in youth. ‘J’ then proceeded to tell her mom the story AND the observations AND the applications!’ One night at youth meeting, and an unchurched 14 year-old girl is sitting on her bed sharing the Word of God to her unchurched mom!”

*New God’s Story versions:  Kayah -eky Myanmar; Ao-Naga – njo,  Khasi-kha & Kui - kxu all for India; Juba Arabic - pga Sudan; Luganda – lug for Uganda; Maldivian-div Dhevehi for Maldives; Afrikaans-afr for South Africa; Bassari - bud Ghana & Togo, Chumburung – ncu,  Hanga – hag, Nafaanra - nfr  all for Ghana and Malagasy - plt for Madagascar     

The effectiveness of these tools and trainings was sweetly demonstrated at the September 4^th OBS graduation. One lady confessed to her fellow students that she was married and had split up with her husband two years earlier.  She told of tremendous hatred in their marriage. They had not communicated even once since the breakup. 

Oral Bible School graduates in gowns march through town. Crowds followed these 24. Soon the parade swelled to over 300 people in the spontaneous celebration. The paparazzi saw their chance, snapped pictures, and quickly set up display to sell photos of this great event to the excited onlookers. 

What she saw in all of the stories they were learning was forgiveness.  She said, ”I can’t forgive him, but would you pray for me to change?” The ladies prayed. 

Two days later her husband phoned her!  Soon they reconciled and she began telling her newly-learned Bible stories with him. 

Now, fast forward to her graduation.  Her beaming husband presented her with a bouquet of flowers!  Everyone present knew how God and his Word had healed this marriage! Please pray for an expanding army of OBS graduates, as they are now well equipped to tell the stories and to teach others.

Thanks for your prayers and support for all of the volunteers that God is using to accomplish this work. For each of the praise stories we shared, know that many volunteers are sacrificing to produce new languages of God’s Story, to lead these workshops and to attend a training.

In His Mercy,

Dorothy A. Miller