Meet Pastor Kennedy and the folks in Naibor Keju. 3 1/2 months ago, there were no followers of Jesus in this village. Now, there is a church of 100 folks, 65 of whom have been baptized in the past 2 months. Pastor Kennedy was one of our distributors, and used the MT4 device to help him in his church planting. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. – 1 Corinthians 3:7
Archive for October, 2008
A New Church
October 30, 2008The T-Willy Preaching Model
October 30, 2008
Our methodology of taking training to oral-culture learners doesn’t just have application for the MT4 device. One of our partners in Samburu, Pastor Wilfred, has discovered another way to put orality into play in his ministry. A bit of background information would probably be helpful.
Our Kenyan pastors, much like their American counterparts, have certain preachers they like and emulate. However, the typical literate, lecture-based model of preaching runs into certain roadblocks when used in an African context. Imagine trying to preach to a congregation that has no Bibles, and even if they did have them, could not read them. Our friend Wilfred is a T.D. Jakes fan, but as he learned, it’s hard to do T.D. better than T.D. does T.D.
In the course of developing the content for our Samburu project, Wilfred decided to try the blend of indigenous stories, songs, proverbs and retelling the Bible story in his weekly preaching responsibilities. It was tweaked a bit, in order to include the application of the Word to the lives of the congregation. The results have been stunning: Wilfred (Big Willy) now preaches in a Samburu manner to the Samburu. The gathered congregation is engaged, and participates in the preaching event. People stop him during the week to ask further questions about what they heard on Sunday. Oral-culture Samburus are hearing the Word in a powerful way.
Wilfred called this the “T4 Style” of preaching. We have, however, compromised. It is more than just a style – it is a model of preaching that builds cultural bridges, lets the Word do the heavy lifting, and is authentically African. One of our indigenous leaders pioneered this method, hence, the T (4)- (Big) Willy preaching model.
Let me sing you a song…
October 20, 2008
“What did you think about the new movie last night?”
“Well, I can’t say exactly, so let me sing you a song and perform a drama to answer your question.”
That exchange probably would never happen in America (unless you are acting in the latest High School Musical movie), but it is what happened to us recently in northwest Kenya.
An evaluation team was in Kenya assessing our mobile school project among the Samburu people. We gathered a group together at a newly planted church to ask them about the project and to hear stories of impact and transformation. After a few summary comments and testimonies of impact, a group of women assembled in the front to “tell us” in their own way. They began singing one of the songs from our training content. But they added some of their own verses. And then began performing drama vignettes as part of the song. What emerged before our very eyes and ears was a drama/song that told the story of the mobile school project and its impact among the Samburu in that region. While we still needed a translator to explain the words of their song, the drama didn’t need translation: we could see with our eyes the real impact our project has had among the Samburus.
First Ever T4 Global Camel Race Smackdown
October 18, 2008
On the same grounds as the famous annual Maralal Camel Race, we had our first ever T4 Global Camel Race Smackdown. Todd Nichols (with Calvin Edwards and Co) led for most of the race. Kyle and I attempted several times to over power him, but got forced back into single file line when the trail narrowed. Tim Hughes (with Barnhart Crane), however, came out of nowhere and surged ahead of Todd down the stretch, pulling away by a camel length. Trent Walters (with Northpoint church) finished second, with Todd holding onto third. While Kyle finished in disappointing sixth place, he did say that he could have won but decided it was good form to let his guest win instead. So Kyle got the last smack in.
International Orality Network Annual Conference in Dallas
October 3, 2008Ed Weaver and Chuck Madinger recently participated in the International Orality Network annual conference in Dallas, TX. The conference gathers ministries, businesses and vendors that specialize in reaching oral cultures with Good News. Ed serves on the Executive Committee of ION and chairs the Communications Task Force that posts a great website. (check it out: www.ion.com), and Chuck sits on the Research Task Force. The picture is of Ed reporting to the plenary session on the work of the Communications group. Chuck presented two papers for the research task force – one on better defining orality and the other on comparing communication strategies (mass media, collective media and small media). You can check those out on the T4Global website under “research.”
