Put on your explorer’s hat. Let’s consider the challenges of bringing the gospel to people in their native language.

Oral Learners

In the late 1990s, Cru ministries encountered obstacles with people who could not or would not read. For example, sometimes the voice actors for the JESUS Film Project could not read their lines during recording sessions. These people learned orally and were coached line by line.

Cru responded to the challenge by launching a ministry, StoryRunners, in 2003. These Cru missionaries use Bible storytelling to take God’s Word to unreached people living in oral cultures.

StoryRunners developed the School of Storying which includes learning a series of 42 Bible stories from Creation to the Return of Christ. They help the people learn and “translate” these Bible stories into their context and language. After four weeks, story groups form. The people learn the stories which spread rapidly for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.

An East African man is using oral Bible stories with his unreached people group. He explains, “I [came] out of darkness and into light. There are many of my people who aren’t in the light, … I want to help show them the light.”

The Deaf Reaching the Deaf

Another important milestone is a new film presented in American Sign Language (ASL) and subtitles. Cru’s JESUS Film Project came alongside Deaf Missions as they created a film about Jesus. The producer, director, and cast are deaf.

In June, you and your church have an opportunity to reach the Deaf community in their language, ASL. The movie, JESUS: A Deaf Missions Film, is showing in limited theaters beginning June 20, 2024.

One woman said the film “was beautiful, long-awaited, emotional, and just miraculous.” She continued, “The best part was sitting next to my Deaf friend and hearing her gasp at scenes and cry at others. She said she felt like she was in heaven because she never thought she’d get to see Jesus speaking her language in her lifetime on earth.”

Thank you for joining us in going into the whole world to reach all people with God’s Good News in their language.

NOTES:

• StoryRunners
  • Learn more about orality. You may have many oral learners in your city.
  • Learn StoryRunners Bible stories to share your faith with others.
    • Learn some English stories or share the stories in 77 languages with internationals near you.
    • Organize a virtual Storytelling training for your church group.
  • Follow:
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
• JESUS: A Deaf Missions Film
  • Watch the trailer.
  • Find a theater showing the movie.
  • Follow:
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
• Photos
  • I found the photo and the story from East Africa on StoryRunners’ Facebook page.
  • The movie poster is from the ticket page for JESUS: A Deaf Missions Film.

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