OralityTalks

Listening Again: Storying, Participating and Relating

Danyal Qalb — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:21:52 +0000

This issue explores how storying, relationships, and communal experience can make spiritual truth come alive for high-orality-reliant communities. It ranges from teaching the Trinity in Brazil’s Xingu region to Bible translation in Nigeria’s Ijebu dialect, from Biblical storytelling among Muslims in Oman and Tajikistan to chronological Bible storying among Tibetan Buddhists and Thai communities. Our contributors show that faithful, effective ministry most often does not begin with written materials, but with listening, presence, and the timeless power of story.

Emotion Exegesis for Faithful Oral Bible Translation: Understanding the Emotional Dynamics of Scripture (Part 1)

Joshua C. Frost — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:35:28 +0000

While methods for tackling many of the issues that Bible translators commonly faced have already been refined over the decades, Bible translators have, by and large, not needed to translate the emotional dynamics of Scripture that could only be captured by voice. All of that is changing now that oral Bible translation has come onto the scene. In the last decade, oral Bible translation has grown from translation projects in a few dozen languages to translations in around a thousand languages. This 2-part paper presents a summary of my thesis findings on the topic of emotion exegesis for Bible translation. In the first part of the paper, I present three theoretical perspectives that Bible translators need to understand emotions in light of recent scientific discoveries.

Watch the related webinar presentation.

Check out further resources about orality in holistic hermeneutics at OralityResources.International.

Resources

A Theology of Orality for the Global Church: Recovering God’s Narrative Revelation

Cleber Paula Santos — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:45:26 +0000

In many parts of the world, people engage in the truth primarily through story, relationship, and shared experience rather than through abstract concepts or written texts. Yet much of Christian theology and discipleship continues to rely on frameworks shaped by Western, text-centered assumptions. This creates a growing gap between how the gospel is communicated and how it is understood and lived in oral-preference and hybrid contexts.

This article argues that orality should not be treated merely as a communication strategy, but as a theological reality rooted in the nature of divine revelation. Drawing from biblical theology, narrative epistemology, and intercultural missiology, it demonstrates that God reveals Himself through story, relational interaction, and communal participation.

Grounded in a recent discipleship experience with an Indigenous community in the Xingu region of Brazil, this study shows how engaging Scripture through chronological storytelling and repeated reflection can lead to deep theological understanding. In this context, the doctrine of the Trinity was not received as abstract information but as lived and meaningful truth expressed within the community’s own cultural framework.

The article concludes by exploring practical implications for discipleship, Bible translation, and theological formation. It suggests that when theology is communicated in ways that align with oral patterns of knowing, it becomes more easily remembered, embodied, and shared. Recovering a theology of orality enables the church to participate more faithfully in God’s ongoing work of forming and sending His people.

Summary: The Prospects of Bible Translation in the Ijebu Dialect for Motivating Christian Discipleship

Gabriel Oludele Adeloye — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:52:56 +0000

This is a summary of the capstone project, The Prospects of Bible Translation in the Ijebu Dialect for Motivating Christian Discipleship. The study used surveys and observations with 25 participants to compare their motivation to read and share Scripture before and after exposure to Bible portions in the Ijebu dialect. The findings show that engagement and willingness to share increased significantly when Scripture was presented in their heart language, highlighting the strong potential of Bible translation to motivate discipleship among Ijebu speakers.

Engaging Muslims in Oman Through Orality-Based Teaching

Clay Burrows — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:15:33 +0000

This article examines the use of orality-based teaching as an approach for engaging Muslims in Oman with the gospel. Drawing on over seven years of ministry experience, it explores multiple oral strategies, including textual reading with discussion, spontaneous storytelling, group storytelling communities, and arts-based practices such as drama. Each model is evaluated for its effectiveness within a Muslim-majority context shaped by social and legal sensitivities around religious conversation.

The article identifies five key characteristics that contribute to the effectiveness of orality-based teaching: generating feedback loops, overcoming barriers to spiritual dialogue, enabling reproducibility through relational networks, creating safe environments for exploration, and fostering holistic learning through embodied experience. These findings suggest that orality-based approaches provide a flexible and contextually appropriate framework for both evangelism and discipleship. While not a universal solution, they offer valuable tools for mission engagement in Islamic contexts.

Bible Storying as a Bridge to Buddhist Communities: Insights from the Field

Tony — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 18:06:50 +0000

Giving a clear presentation of the Gospel to Buddhists has proven to be challenging for many missionaries. In this case study, Tony shares common struggles of sharing with Buddhists and Tibetans who have a very different worldview, resulting in misunderstandings and confusion. Tony’s team viewed illiteracy as a major problem in reaching Tibetans, so they began using Bible Stories to tell people about Jesus. In doing so, they discovered that the root of many of their other problems was Tibetans’ preference for oral learning. When they started using simple oral Bible Stories, understanding skyrocketed among listeners as the concrete and relatable nature of stories opened hearts and minds to Jesus, and a set of stories built the framework to understand the gospel.

Watch the related webinar presentation.

Building a Movement among Filipino Muslims

Jerome Cepeda — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:17:18 +0000

Jonathan’s heart for mission among Muslims, shaped deeply by his own life story, became the foundation for both a growing movement and a lasting compassion for reaching young Filipino Muslims for Jesus. His personal journey gave him a unique perspective on the urgency, complexity, and beauty of cross-cultural mission, cultivating a burden to see lives transformed through the gospel. Called in the year 2014 to lead a missions movement in Manila, Jonathan stepped forward at a time when such efforts were uncommon in his church. What he and his team built was more than a program; it was a mission initiative that required courage, respect, and persistence, intentionally reaching various Muslim tribes across the Philippines. Guided by the Great Commission and strengthened through strategic collaboration, they have focused on evangelism and discipleship for young Filipino Muslims. Their long-term commitment, grounded in relational engagement and cultural sensitivity, continues to foster spiritual growth, trust, and transformation not only in belief but also in identity, purpose, and community.

The Power of Storytelling among Buddhists

Tony and Larry Dinkins — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 11:24:54 +0000

During our March 2026 webinar, two experienced presenters discussed how storytelling presents unique opportunities to share the good news among Buddhists.

Tony told us how storytelling opened doors among the Tibetans during the 14 years he lived among them. You can also read his article.

Larry Dinkins took us deeper into the subject, showing that storytelling is not optional to engage these people with God’s Word.

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.

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.