Interview with J. O. Terry on Orality and Cape Town 2010 3

One of the hot topics in the world of missions, and being addressed this week at Cape Town 2010, is that of Orality.

Few individuals today have been involved in the theoretical and practical matters related to Orality and Bible Storying as J. O. Terry, Bible Storying Consultant/Trainer, International Mission Board (retired).  J. O. served for 35 years in the Asia-Pacific Region as a Media Consultant.  I asked J. O. to share with us some of his thoughts on these topics and Cape Town 2010.

What is the significance for having an entire session at Cape Town 2010 on the topic of Orality and Bible Storying?

The greatest significance is what many of us are calling the “Reality of Orality.” This is a realization that large portions of the still unreached/unevagelized world are basically oral communicators and learn best via oral means. Additional benefits are that Bible stories can cross boundaries of resistance and hostility to traditional evangelistic presentations, and the use of stories–which are easily reproducible by most oral learners–increases the possibility people will in turn pass the stories along to others. One final reason is the continuing need for translated Scripture for those still lacking it. Oral Bible Storying provides an immediate stop-gap presentation of evangelism, discipling, church planting and leadership training teaching.

J. O., for readers not familiar with the topic of Orality and Bible Storying, can you please provide us with some links to your writings?

Here are some links to the Lausanne Conversation Page:

“Are We There Yet”

http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/10721

“Feed My Sheep”

http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/10383

“The Urgency of Orality”

http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/10029

“Should Theology Be Taught Through Non-literate Means”

http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/10212

What do you hope will be the outcome of the presentations/discussions on orality after Cape Town 2010 ends this week?

Two good things are bound to come from the presentations and from the relationships established through the presentations and blogs. First, that many of us see that we are not lone voices crying in the wilderness. Not only are there others around the world who share our vision, but they often have perspectives that we also need to have. Second, while the build up to the Cape Town session has been wonderful to establish these relations, the physical presence and conversations between those sharing similar concerns will further cement communication and perhaps result in cooperative projects that will increase the effectiveness of what is already being done for Orality needs.

What do you believe are the implications of Orality and Bible Storying on areas of the world such as North America?

Recent research in the United States has pointed out that by-and-large this country is deficient in literacy and that secondary orality, via recordings and visual media, is replacing traditional literacy. Some of this is evident in the sound-bite phenomenon where people want information in a short popular format rather than lengthy print.  Also, the high-tech, impersonal, world of communication is leading people to search for high-touch relationships.  A recent book by Dr. Avery Willis and Mark Snowden, Truth That Sticks, highlights this need and refers to a highly successful ministry of a growing church in Idaho that uses Bible Storying groups for discipleship training. Another facet has been the growing use of Bible Storying with immigrant/refugee peoples and the large influx of Hispanics into the South.

Thank you, J. O., for sharing with us today.

Since 1994, J. O. has published a quarterly Bible Storying newsletter with safe-to-share Bible Storying news, development hints, resources and training, and other items of general interest to those involved in such ministry. In addition, he maintains several websites that address some of the typical questions related to Bible Storying.
www.biblestorying.110mb.com
www.oralbible.110mb.com
www.sermonstorying.110mb.com
www.Bible-Storying.com