Chronological Bible storying was a huge focus of our training to come to Africa as missionaries. When we arrived, we felt confident that the Mahafaly are an oral culture. Their literacy rate is 10%, and their communication matches all the definitions of oral-preference learners: circular, rather than linear; indirect, rather than direct; stories, myths and proverbs in response to simple yes or no questions.

 

We worked hard over several years to develop stories that were sound and accurate Biblically, culturally, and linguistically. We and our near-culture partners learned the stories and how to share them. We tested stories and often received a good response.

 

But once we began meeting with our villages regularly to share stories, the meetings were a struggle. People were quiet and slow to respond. In many cases, only one or two people would try to answer all the questions, and often not from anything in the story, but with religious knowledge they already had. When we challenged hearers to repeat the stories, they balked.

 

Were we on the wrong track? Were we forcing something that wasn’t right for our people? Why was it so difficult, so slow and painful?

 

We chose to press on with storying, convinced that, while difficult, it was the most likely to be accepted and adapted by our people. Over time, our people grew not only in their ability to repeat and teach the stories, but also in their understanding of God’s character and submission to His Word. We noticed a few things. Ease in learning and repeating the story increased:

 

• As our stories were more fully in the Mahafaly dialect.

• As the stories were told by near- or same-culture believers, instead of us.

• As our relationships with the hearers grew.

 

We’ve been humbled and amazed at the power of God’s Word in His stories. Even as we rejoice in this, we pray for the day when the Mahafaly will have a complete Scripture in their language that they can read and study. In the meantime, we pray for faithful transmission of the stories to future generations of churches.