Introduces students to the Biblical basis for storytelling as an effective mode of communication. Explores and compares both Old and New Testament examples. Examines differences between oral, print, and digital cultures. Students develop a culturally-appropriate theology of storytelling.
Many students come from non-oral or have been trained in non-oral cultures. These students are “re-trained” to understand how oral peoples communicate and learn. The student learns this Biblical method and how to apply it in cross-cultural missional endeavors so that the gospel can be heard, understood, and responded to.
Non-oral missionaries encounter communication barriers in oral cultures. It is the missionary’s responsibility to learn the theology and the practice of storytelling to better communicate God’s redemptive plan.
The Bible is the grand story and is full of stories.
The story of God is one of redeeming His lost creation. The purpose of a theology of storytelling is to join Him on that mission.
Stories arise out of contexts and must be told with the context in mind, none more so than the God's story.
Many cultures are oral cultures whose entire worldview is told in story. The course explores both the nature of cultural storytelling and how God's story can be told within any and all cultures.
Much of what the student learns concerns the art and skill of storying the gospel.
The student is challenged to understand how story has played a part in their own worldview development and the importance of storying in relating to those of different cultures.
