Ordinary Australians are willing to listen to stories!

On a Sunday morning, Bible storytellers turned up at the different markets on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland to share God’s Word through stories.

Responses: One person responded: “You are sent by God.” Another said, “I didn’t know that there was so much in the Christmas story.” And another: “The story you shared with me reaffirms God’s power.”

More than 70 people heard these stories in one-on-one meetings at the three markets. Several storytellers had the opportunity to pray for those who heard the stories. And some storytellers found people interested enough to hear more than one Bible story.

Churches: Four groups of nine storytellers told a Christmas panorama of stories at four churches from three denominations. In each church members of the congregation said things like: “This is a very engaging way of sharing Gods Good News.”

“I have never before understood the message so clearly as the way you presented it.”

“The storytellers brought me to Bethlehem. I felt like I was part of the story.”

The Lutheran pastor said, “The storytellers were terrific. I hope they can come again next year.”

Story crafting: During the seminar, 28 trainees crafted seven Christmas stories, working in groups of four per story. During the process, participants recognized that we Christians often use language that ordinary Australians may not understand. One participant said, “There are a lot of words that I know and use as a matter of course, but others might not know what I mean. I need to be mindful of that when I communicate.”

Telling the story: One participant said: “People appreciate it when we make an effort to communicate. And the Holy Spirit can use that and move in different ways, when we make the effort.”

At the beginning of the seminar some participants were convinced that they could never publicly tell a story. One lady said, “If you think that I’ll get up publicly and tell a story – forget it!” But by Sunday she took her place in church to tell her story. She said afterwards: “One of the most difficult things for me was to overcome my fears. But I did it!”

How did this seminar change your life?

• I want to teach more people how to craft a Bible story (engineer).
• I will take the time to craft more Bible stories, so that I will have more available to me that are suitable for a variety of occasions (grandmother).
• I will look out for opportunities and be ready to tell a Bible story (teenager).
• It will help me to make a big change. I never knew how to share the gospel with Muslims, because I don’t know the Bible very much. But now I know that I can share the gospel with them just by knowing a story (Masters degree student from Muslim country).
• I will make the most of the opportunities and gifts that I have. I will change my schedule so that I have more time to share with others (builder).
• I want to empower people who think that they don’t have anything to offer (missionary).
• I’m inspired to tell Bible stories to people whom I meet in coffee shops (widow).
• I’ve come to realize that each day is an opportunity to share the gospel (young man).
• I would love to convince my church friends to come to this course.  And I will grasp every opportunity to tell stories to my friends (older lady).
• I want to learn more Bible stories and to think about their themes, so that I can bring them to mind when in conversations (medical student).
• I lead Bible studies with international students.  I want to use this skill with these students. I will also encourage others in my church to do this course (theological student).
• In my Bible Study group the kids normally go off to do something else during our Bible study.  But if we were to have Bible Studies based on Bible stories, the kids could stay and be involved (mission director).

Conclusion: The greatest joy of this Bible storytelling seminar was to hear participants report back after their time telling Bible stories in the local markets. Some participants found it difficult to believe Jesus’ words. The harvest is plentiful = there are oodles of people who would be willing to hear the Good News. The labourers are few = if only there were people willing to tell it. But in the marketplace they found it to be true. One young man asked six people if they would like to hear a Bible story. Five of the six said, “Yes!”

*Used with permission of KB