I had a special experience this June when I headed to Tonga with fellow Wycliffe Australia representative, Margaret Love. Two local Tongans joined us to train people in how to share their faith by simply asking, ‘Would you like to hear a three-minute Bible story?’
I was impressed with their boldness. Trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, they went out to the streets and markets on Saturday afternoon to share their faith, using the newly learned tool of Bible Storytelling. I suspect that many of them had not previously known how to share their faith. It was a privilege to be there as they learnt to trust in God to overcome their fears as they witnessed to people outside the Church.
I went to the market with an older man named Peter who asked several groups if they would like to hear a story. They gave him their full attention as he shared with authority and conviction, and they thanked him at the end.
During our time on the island of ‘Eua, I came across a group of young rugby players, waiting for their game to begin. They agreed to listen to a Bible story and I told them about how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. This was one of the stories we had trained the workshop group to share. They don’t have too many white men telling them a Bible story before a rugby game, so I’m sure they will remember that story!
Participants in the workshops said to us after their course, ‘We want to train more people for this! It’s exactly what Christians need!’ Jesus never taught without telling a story. We can’t get a better example to follow than his!
Margaret Love joined Ian as a trainer for the workshop. She shares:
My husband, Robert, and I have been involved in facilitating Story the Bible workshops in NSW on a regular basis. We have also run workshops in the Solomon Islands (2012), Fiji (2012 and 2013) and in Tonga (2013 and 2025).
A lot of people think that Bible stories are just for children but they are for everyone. We all start out as oral preference learners and then are taught literacy skills at school. After participating in Story the Bible workshops, I discovered that I still learn better orally. When you can hear, see, and experience something in community, the Bible is no longer dry and tedious to read.
I have discovered so much more about God’s Word from learning Bible stories. I listen to the Bible each morning as I do my devotional readings. I use stories at my Scripture classes, and when sharing at our little outreach church in one of the suburbs of Tamworth.
Suliana is a local Tongan who has participated in previous Story the Bible events. She helped lead workshops with Ian and Margaret and says:
It was good to see my people, on my island, knowing more about God’s Word. It helps me remember Bible stories, deepen my faith, and my journey with God, especially as my family is growing.
Reverend Sitaleki also joined the workshop as a participant. He says:
I came to the workshop because I wanted to know more of God’s Word. I am excited to know how the workshop would help us with our ministry here on ‘Eua Island.
Reflections on the Luke Drama
by Jonathan Finch, Producer of the Luke Drama in Gawler, South Australia
The Luke Drama was an unforgettable experience. It involved 18 amateur actors and two Gospel Drama directors from Wycliffe Bible Translators Australia. There were six different church fellowships represented and we formed a cohesive team over six days to present the Good News of Jesus Christ to the town of Gawler, South Australia.
To see the characters from stories come alive was eye-opening and uplifting. Some characters literally came to life, like the dead son at Nain, springing up from the ground when Jesus spoke to him. Other characters were given a new lease on life, like the demon-possessed man, and the crippled woman who were raised up by Jesus in the synagogue. Our audiences witnessed Zaccheus being set free from the grip of money and guilt in his own home. We saw the disciple Peter being restored from a place of failure to being a leader in the early church. The culmination was the unjust arrest and horrific crucifixion of Jesus, followed by the resurrection.
It was an incredible experience for the cast to connect as brothers and sisters in Christ and to confidently share God’s life-giving Word with others. To see our young people (and old) grow in confidence and allow God’s words to flow through us was nothing but the Holy Spirit working through each and every one of us.
Thank you to everyone who was part of the Drama – from organising food to setting up locations for rehearsals and the performances, producing the artwork and printing for flyers, posters and programs, providing accommodation and transport for the directors, playing a role or directing the Drama, or being in the audience. It made all the late nights, long days, repetition of lines (and anxiety over forgetting everything) worthwhile.
We know that there were people in the audience who were confronted with what Jesus had done for them and some of these engaged in spiritual conversations afterwards. We pray that God’s Word will take root in their lives and produce fruit in due course. Now that the Drama is finished, we are glad to declare with the angels, ‘Glory to God in the highest!’ (Luke 2:14).
Being part of this Drama, I learned that telling a story impacts the teller just as much as the audience. It has really revived my spiritual relationship with God.
Participant in The Matthew Drama
The theatre-in-the-round was a new experience for me. I became involved in the active Bible story going on right around me.
Audience member, The John Drama in Bendigo
I’m now far more confident in God’s Word being the everlasting truth.
Audience member, The John Drama in Darwin
I think the thing that impacted me the most was seeing Jesus’s words come to life.
In Nairobi, while team leader, Malcolm Barker, trained a second cast to perform The Matthew Drama, the rest of the Australian team were involved in a Story the Bible Teacher Training Seminar at the Africa International University. This was attended by Bible translators and 10 pastors from two different ethnic groups, who went home to teach the seminars in their own languages. Benson is one of the pastors who attended. He shares how the training is now bearing fruit in his village and beyond:
We had training here about Bible translation and how to use Bible storytelling in a very simple way. It has been of paramount importance to me and to the entire church. I was informed about how to preach the Word and to tell a Bible story from a different perspective. So I thank those who have organised the Bible storytelling because it has been of great help to the church.
On Sunday, I started using the storytelling techniques in the church and the elders there were very much amazed and excited to see that their pastor has gone to another level [of understanding]. So I thank you, brothers and sisters from Australia, for bringing this teaching to us through brother Keith. May God bless you now very much. If time allows you, and the opportunity, you can have a time with us so that the gospel of Jesus Christ in our place may grow even deeper in our lives and the church.
Waiting is hard, isn't it. But imagine waiting 2000 years for Scripture in your language! Thanks for your patience. And thanks for your generous support which will help bring the long wait to an end...
In Nairobi, while team leader, Malcolm Barker, trained a second cast to perform The Matthew Drama, the rest of the Australian team were involved in a Story the Bible Teacher Training Seminar at the Africa International University. This was attended by Bible translators and 10 pastors from two different ethnic groups, who went home to teach the seminars in their own languages. Benson is one of the pastors who attended. He shares how the training is now bearing fruit in his village and beyond:
Thanks for your patience...