Sharing THE STORY

Recently Pastor Barnabas of the Dagomba / Mamprusi Baptist Congregation in Kumasi, Ghana, went to a two-week workshop to learn about Chronological Bible Storying. This method is especially effective with "oral learners" and non-readers. When Barnabas added a teaching time after prayer meeting on Wednesday evenings, attendance TRIPLED! He is also using the method occasionally on Sunday morning in place of a sermon - with great success.

Nearly 30 other participants attended the same workshop and have reported very positive results using this chronological method of sharing Bible stories. One young woman, a seminary student and former hairdresser, is using the method at the monthly meeting of the hairdressers' association in her neighborhood. Another student is going into the poorest areas of the city and "storying" once a week with young women from the Tampulma people group.

Please pray that God would touch the hearts of those who hear these stories with the truth and beauty of His Word, not just so they would know Him better, but that they would also share what they hear with others.

Wanda Walker
Convention Team

A Tea Party in the Dark

One Friday night in the Malian bush, eight women huddled around a single lantern. There, under the stars, they shelled peanuts and drank tea to keep themselves awake after a day of planting corn and millet in the African sun. Heads bobbed. Babies cried. Their mothers nursed them back to sleep and drank another round of tea. Although it was nearing midnight, the women didn't leave the circle for the comfort of their sleeping mats inside their huts. Why? Because A.* was taking them to ancient Egypt. She was standing in front of them, weaving the story of God raining frogs, locusts, and hail down upon the Egyptians. She told them the story of the Passover, and she asked questions like, "The Israelites really suffered in Egypt. Did that mean God had forgotten them? When you encounter suffering today, does that mean God has forgotten you?" No, it does not, and that is a truth these women are learning for the first time. Truths like those keep them coming, Friday after Friday, late at night. The women give up their only free time, their sleep time, to listen to Bible stories.

Please pray that these women would understand God's love for them and give their lives to Christ. Also pray that they can stay awake to listen, as they are more tired during the planting season than any other time of the year.

*Name withheld for security purposes

wapart@afribonemali.net

Susan Roach
Bambara (BAHM-bar-ah) Team