Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025) – OralityTalks

Stories Show More Than They Tell

Danyal Qalb — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:36:35 +0000

In this issue, Ezekiel Ajibade expands on his presentation with a short article on narrative preaching. David Gargule examines how orality bridges the gap for nomadic communities, as their lifestyle does not align with traditional church structures. Jennifer Belcher contributes a summary of her dissertation, examining The Logic of Retribution and Biblical Forgiveness Among the Wore People of Papua New Guinea, following the implementation of Story-Based Trauma Healing. Tara Rye reflects on her experience reading the first volume of Connecting Points, and this issue concludes with the second part of Jay Mātenga’s chapter from the same book.

Narrative Preaching

Ezekiel A. Ajibade — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:33:34 +0000

Narrative preaching connects deeply with people because everyone loves a story. Life itself unfolds through stories, and the Bible is filled with them. Ezekiel Ajibade explores how preachers can communicate God’s truth through storytelling that is artistic, rhetorical, and theological. By praying, selecting complete plots, using imagination, and structuring sermons inductively, preachers can engage listeners’ hearts and minds. Narrative preaching helps people not just hear Scripture but experience its transforming power.

Watch the related webinar presentation.

Mobility, Identity, and Mission: Rethinking the Role of NOMADs in Global Christianity

David Gargule — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:31:30 +0000

Nomadic communities represent a distinctive social and cultural identity built on mobility, kinship, and autonomy. While often marginalized or misunderstood by sedentary populations, nomads embody resilience, adaptability, and deep relational networks. This article examines the socio-cultural and spiritual dimensions of nomadic life through the lens of the NOMAD acronym: Not individualistic, Organized as clans, valuing Mobility, prioritizing Autonomy, and maintaining Distinctiveness. Drawing from discussions with nomadic communities, the article explores five key areas: the NOMAD/NO-AD distinction, the challenge of mobility, leadership and honor-shame dynamics, the role of digital and oral strategies, and the theological resonance of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The findings highlight that contextual engagement, oral and digital communication, and indigenous faith expressions are vital for effective mission among nomadic peoples. The article concludes that global mission must embrace nomadic wisdom and prioritize intercultural dialogue to foster authentic and sustainable faith communities.

The Logic of Retribution and Biblical Forgiveness Among the Wore People of Papua New Guinea: A Battle for Peace

Jennifer Belcher — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:30:40 +0000

This article is an adaptation of Dr. Belcher’s doctoral dissertation, the purpose of which was to research the Logic of Retribution and the response to teachings about biblical forgiveness after implementation of Story-Based Trauma Healing (SBTH) lesson seven, How Can We Forgive Others in the Wore people group of the Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). In PNG, there exists a cultural norm of paying back offenses that can be violent and escalating. Though the Wore have a system in place for bringing about peace when a grievance has occurred, after implementation of the SBTH course, the Wore reasoned that their cultural road to peace lacked a personal encounter with Jesus and true forgiveness.

Connecting Points: Bridging the Orality Gap to Minds and 💞

Tara Rye — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:28:34 +0000

Madinger, C., & Qalb, D. (Eds.). (2025). Connecting points: Bridging the orality gap to minds and (Vol. 1). OralityResources.International. ISBN 978 621 96888 3 3.

Reading the Environment: Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Communicating in Context (Part 2)

Jay Mātenga — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:26:16 +0000

Together with around 20 experts and practitioners in orality, theological education, anthropology, and missiology, editors Danyal Qalb and Charles Madinger are developing a three-volume book series. The project explores orality from multiple angles while offering diverse insights from both research and practice. The first volume was released in the fall of 2025 as a free eBook by OralityResources.International under the title Connecting Points: Bridging the Orality Gap to Minds and . The following article the second part of Jay Mātenga’s chapter, which explores the intersection of orality and a people’s seen and unseen world.