OralityTalks

The Power of Orality among Hindus

Greeto Racharia and Bala and Caleb — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:17:03 +0000

During our January 2026 webinar, three presenters shared unique perspectives on church planting movements.

Greeto Racharia took us from the beginning of Hinduism to the modern time, highlighting the oral origins that are still practiced today.

Bala and Caleb, after hearing the story of a Hindu who began following Jesus and the struggles she faced because of it, we heard how personal stories can bridge the gap with these people.

Check out further resources about narrative theology and download the slides used in the presentation at OralityResources.International.

Resources

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.

Multiplying Disciples: Making Movements

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:49:11 +0000

During our September 2025 webinar, four presenters shared unique perspectives on church planting movements.

Jojo Manzano offered a global perspective, highlighting the urgent need for rapidly multiplying disciples to reach the unreached.

Todd Kerns from StoryRunners emphasized the crucial role of storytelling in disciple-making movements. He shared an example from rural Africa where people empowered by stories began planting and multiplying churches.

Sonny and Bel Lapada, serving among the Tagbanwa people in the Philippines, demonstrated how Bible Story Dialoguing can establish house church networks. They have been applying oral methods and principles since the late 1970s, even before they knew the term.

Neil and Doreen Benavidez recounted their experience in Mindoro, Philippines, where they started a Bible school among the Mangyan. They train church planters, most without a high school degree, and require each graduate to have planted at least one church.

Discover the Power of Narrative Preaching

Ezekiel A. Ajibade — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:52:48 +0000

In this inspiring talk, Dr. Ezekiel Ajibade discusses why storytelling is central to African communication and biblical teaching. First, he lays the foundation for narrative preaching, then unpacks how narrative preaching moves hearts, engages imagination, and reflects God’s purposeful action in history. Drawing from both theology and experience, Ezekiel challenges us to preach with vivid, relatable stories that show, rather than tell, the truth of Scripture and challenges the listener to take action.

Read the related journal article.

Check out further resources about narrative theology and download the slides used in the presentation at OralityResources.International.

Resources

Beyond the Western Mind

Charles Madinger — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 03:14:00 +0000

This issue explores diverse Applications of Orality, a distribution model for oral Bible study materials in rural Africa, the role of emotion in Bible translation for the Deaf, a book review on ethnohermeneutics, and a preview of an upcoming publication.

Gospel Joy International’s Audio Bible Study Distribution Model

Emily Pohl — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 03:13:00 +0000

Gospel Joy International produces audio Bible studies for rural African women. It has developed a distribution model that capitalizes on denominational networks and relationships to disseminate its materials and disciple women in rural villages. This paper explains its distribution model and how it has created a network of leaders across rural Africa in its effort to support the church’s mission to disciple its flock.

From Silence to Sign: Emotional Exegesis and Oral Hermeneutics in Pakistan Sign Language

Salas Rashid — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 03:10:00 +0000

This paper explores the intersection of emotion, sign language, and oral hermeneutics within the Pakistani Deaf community, highlighting the integral role of emotional expression in interpreting Scripture through Pakistan Sign Language (PSL). Drawing on personal experience and emerging scholarship, the study argues that sign language is not merely a visual form of communication, but a fully embodied oral-visual language rich in emotional and theological meaning. It highlights the role of emotional and linguistic markers, facial expressions, and body movements in conveying biblical narratives, emphasizing the concept of “emotional exegesis,” which involves interpreting Scripture through the lens of emotional expression. The paper also examines emotional triggers and their role in making biblical stories resonate personally with Deaf audiences. By applying oral hermeneutics and embracing multisensory communication, the research advocates for more inclusive and effective ministry practices that honor the lived experiences and linguistic realities of Deaf communities. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how Scripture can be faithfully and powerfully communicated in a non-written, emotion-centered modality.