Anybody want to talk about Orality and Media?

[Joshua Wu]

Anybody out there want to talk about Orality and Media.

Specifically how stories can be distributed through media in light of a growing engagement in many areas with mobile technology and 3G networks.

I would love to hear what question and answers people about about this topic. Especially, how to utilize media in a wider storytelling strategy in CAN nations.

Possible starting points for this discussion...
*Saber MP3 player
*Mobile Apps (possible VPN and security solutions for local leader/storytellers)
*RSS Feeds (Podcasts)
*Cell phones and G3 networks (For example...China has over 400 Million cell phone users, and is creating a nationwide G3 network)
*Storytellers Wiki
*On-line Minority Language storying resource website
*Radio
*etc...

[Joshua Wu]

I will start off by adding a couple thoughts I have about this topic.

I think in the age of a growing engagement with technology on a massive scale there are huge implications for how we can share and distribute stories. Even among unengaged people groups, I have found people using mobile phones. I been the first foreigner in some villages in which I was able to check my e-mail. I know this is not the situation everywhere. But it IS becoming a reality in many places.

One of the things that excites me so much about this is how technology can be used in 'focused' distribution of stories and other resources. Especially in a user driven interface.

To put flesh on this. I am very interested and excited about how technology can be used by local storytellers to create, share, distribute Stories. Imagine a website or some media platform in which a local storyteller can upload Bible Stories in their language which could be used by a 'gatekeeper' or 'facilitator' who would virally spread it in CPM network, or but it on some sort of open minority language story database.

Or

Local Storytellers being able to keep "authoritative"/"Standard" version of Bible Stories on Cellphones, MP3's and other mobile media devices.

Or

Some sort of outlet like youtube where even video version of stories could be uploaded, downloaded, viewed, shared, etc.

Or

Local Storytellers setting up a podcast of sorts for people of their language group who may be in a form of diaspora around the world

The skies the limit? i don't know. What do you think?



This excited me because it does not have to be merely a "Mass Media" approach like Radio, but could be a viral form of media which is driver by user to user interaction which helps give a more focused and personal dimension to it.

[Joshua Wu]

Example:

I am currently a part of a house church fellowship in a non-CAN country. We have been meeting sunday afternoon around a shared meal, prayer, worship and Bible Stories. We are currently storying through the book of Acts. One Sunday, my wife and I were unable to attend because we were working in a village. However, we really wanted to connect with our fellowship and keep up with the story. So when it was time for the story they called me on my cell and the story teller told the story and helped the group to memorize it while I listened in and gave my feedback via speaker phone. Later my wife and I processed the story and discussed it throughout the rest of the day.

So how to do this in different contexts? Especially CAN's

Any ideas anyone?

[Joshua Wu]

If anyone is interested, a friend and I have set up a secure wiki for the purpose of discussing these issues on a secure site and servers.

If anyone would rather share and discuss this topic on that wiki then send me a personal message and I will arrange it.

Peace

[J.O.Terry]

Joshua, Tom Boomershine has written several papers regarding Bible and Media. I think you can find these at [e-mail]. He was not dealing with orality as such but with putting the biblical message into media.

I have been personally involved in several projects to utilize Bible Storying formats for radio. And earlier I was involved in several audiocassette projects to bring leadership and theological teaching as well as Bible stories to those living in oral learning situations. I am so glad that we have better methodology now in the units that can use solar power and digital means to store and play the programming.

While there has been much interest in programming Bible stories into digital media, there is still need for whole or partial testaments for players. Especially programming of the Four Gospels for digital players to be used by pastors and their congregations who need to hear recorded presentations.

We need to be careful about equating oral presentations and traditional written material that had been recorded. There can be quite a difference in formatting and possibly some rewording needed for best comprehension. Still it is good to have these resources available.

Recorded media (both audio and video) have been very helpful to use in clinical waiting areas where the programming is both entertaining during the wait and educational. For these we have often mixed health issues with Bible stories. And these programs are usually cycled over and over during the clinic hours.

Others have used recorded media to play at night when people are back in their homes. In rural areas these sessions, whether live or recorded, form a communal setting for listeners. Years ago we had tried using a village literacy worker to be a reader of the Bible in Bangladesh villages. There were two problems. The reader often did not have a program of what to read so this was a matter of his convenience and choice. And the readers, even though literate, were not trained as readers and so often read erratically leading to poor comprehension. So in that case pre-recorded readings would definitly be preferable.

One of the disadvantages of the crank-cassette players so many of us used is that the programming had to be in five-minue modules as this was about as long as a person could crank the players. With the digital players this is no longer a problem though I still prefer to break up programming into reasonable modules and allow pauses for singing or for listeners to relax a bit before continuing. In long recordings there can be a weariness unless the people are accustomed to listening to long recitations.

Years ago in northeastern Thailand there was an interesting observation made. The local people expressed a preference for listening to audiocassette players rather than live storyers because they said that the machines always told the stories the same way each time.

Also a real advantage to mediated programming is that it can often go to places that a live person (especially a foreigner) cannot go. We have made great use of audio and video CD's and later DVDs to take programming into closed aread. Now the small digital players which can be easily loaded via USB ports are great for providing discipling and leader training and can be reloaded with new teaching as needed.

A real aspect of using media with oral communicators is that of repeat listening. They learn by hearing and they learn best when they have heard the programs many times. And from time to time their memory may need tob e refreshed due to fading and even corruption as outside syncretistic ideas and cultural stories creep in and contaminate what they have learned.

I hope that you get more responders. I'll keep an eye on your blog, comments and responses to see what develops.

[Chuck Huckaby]

I just got an iphone. It would be interesting to use iphone applications as a possible way to reach people or to tap into iphone applications like paragon internet radio app to see if it's possible to reach people that way.

[Paul.Mark]

Have you seen the Web Evangelism Bulletin? It's an excellent resource that recognizes the value of storytelling.
http://www.web-evangelism.com/resources/bullfeed.xml

[Max Rondoni]

The group that is the most advanced regarding technology uses for proclaiming the Gospel is Global Media Outreach (GMO) which is a ministry of Campus Crusade. You may want to check out their website (www.ichristianlife.com).

You might be interested in learning how a story regarding the Life of Jesus Christ has been developed for use in Christian, Home, Parochial and public schools. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAtB4BH8oag)

It is my understanding that there are now 3.4 billion cell phones in the world, and that number will increase dramatically. Using technology can be difficult, but doing your homework will help ... and every media should be explored as a means of taking the Gospel to the world. If you would like more information, you might contact me by email.

All the best,
Max Rondoni
[e-mail]

[Paul Armstrong]

I would love to talk about how video/film can be used as a platform to bridge into spiritual conversation and the sharing of biblical stories. As we all know, it can be extremely difficult to engage in spiritual conversation with people who are "turned off" by Gospel presentations. I am only 23 and realize from much experience how this can turn off students and young adults. However, I also know how rapidly students and young adults share stories, whether they are in written, audio or video format. Some of those stories on the web have been great ways for me to talk about and share my faith.

So...
What efforts are being made to help in this area?
What resources are out there?
Anyone have any good ideas no one has thought of?

On another note:
I think it is extremely important not to focus too closely on the medium (i.e. phones, web, print, radio, ect.), but rather the message. The lines between media are become very blurred, very quickly! It is important to always stay one step ahead of technology, but it is even more important to remember that the quality of the message being delivered will always speak more than the medium in which it is driven through.


Thank you so much for posting this Joshua! I am still learning a lot and think this is a great topic to chase! :-)

[Tom Stout]

One of the beauties of tech is that it allows us to perfectly preserve the canon of scripture for oral learners in ways that were never possible before. In Paraguay we have created two projects. One is Audio Bibles for Paraguay: Where we will see 100,000 "Gospel Players" with nothing but the Bible on them.

Along side of this tech we add our version of T4 Global's audio listening devices. The media for these devices and other ministries in country will be produced by this project: The Guarani Recording Task Force

The idea is to physically separate the canon of scripture from any other recorded teaching matter. So oral learners can be among those that search the scriptures to test the veracity of the stories they hear.

On a broader scale YWAM's Indigitec is using media on demand in creative ways to share the gospel.

[Tom Stout]

Here in Paraguay we will be distributing 100,000 audio Bibles on a device called the Gospel Player. For us one of the beauties of tech is that we can give oral learners the canon of scripture so they to can test what they hear in stories against the very Word of God. The idea is to physically separate the Bible from any other recorded media.

We view stories as sermons to oral learners and our leaders are the preachers who are crafting the stories themselves after repeated listening to a passage of scripture. Then they record the stories and teach each other. So although there is a story "set" that forms the foundation for these believers, soon they are creating far more culturally relevant stories than we could ever produce. These materials and others are recorded by our Guarani Recording Task Force and made available freely online and/or in media of choice.

Other resources and inspiration in these areas can come from:
YWAM's Indigitech - Mission Resources: Using on demand video and audio media to increase the effectiveness of their short term missionaries.

JAARS Vernacular Media Services: Expert and humble, they know how to use tech where "the rubber meets the road"

SPARK has good information about "effectively using media to share the Gospel.

And then I would encourage anyone to read papers at T4 Global, They are insightful and challenging and quick to point out that tech, no matter how good it is, is only as good as the recorded material you put on it.

And of course you can contact me, and I would be glad to talk with you more about tech and orality.

[Pr.Prem Khandare]

Dear Peace be with you!
Greetings to you in Jesus! We are very happy to inform you that how wonderfully God is making use of us for expansion of His kingdom in Amravati city and villages’. We are so thankful to you for your sincere prayers.
Last 13th April We started our out-reach programs in Amravati. First day we all were in fasting and intersessation prayer .So God may use us mightily in city. That day God spoke to us through one verse Acts18:10 “ I have many people in this city” We come to know that God is going to give His people to us or He is going to introduce His people to us.So We can pray and serve them.
We all together were nine members in Team.
Prem (Amravati)
Suwarta (Amravati)
Najma (Indore)
Philasing (Manipur)
Sasmita (Orissa)
Liya (Orissa)
Sonali (Orissa)
Alio (Orissa)
Dibya (Orissa)
We mate one Muslim man, who was open for the gospel. we sheared with him. When we hired Auto rickshaw to go back home. That driver was divorced man by his wife. he was feeling alone in his life. He was 45years old .Finaly we took him to our home. We all prayed for him and he sheared his tears. We said believe in Jesus, you are not alone Jesus is with you always! It was good beginning for out-reach. We said praise the Lord!
We started house visiting every day mourning 9:00am to 1:00pm.We mate many Hindu,muslim,Budhist and Sindhi people. Some of them well comed us and some of them rejected us. Those who wel comed us .We sung gospel song and sheared testimony with them. Few came forward and ask us to pray for them. We praise God for His amazing work.
It was very hot session in Amravati some time it goes up to 48%dc.c.We all suffered a lot because of more hot. We had not our own vehicle. We prayed God provide us vehicle! So this hot session may not stop us from preaching of gospel to others.
One whole weak spend in giving Christian Education to slum aria children’s. Some time number used to go up to 60.We thought them songs, skits and moral teaching from Bible. We stop our breakfast! And used that money to provide sweets and snacks to children’s. Seeing children in eating time we used to feel that our stomach is full. We prayed for all children one by one by laying hands on them.
Every Friday we had fasting and intersession prayers for the World. Whatever information we had about world. We prayed for the nations, so God may give peace and salvation to the worldly people. we had wonderful time in intersession prayer.
We visited one Brahmin Hindu family, where son was highly durnked. We spend one hour with him telling how are valuable for God .Finaly he said today onwards I will not drink wine!We all rejoyice in Lord and thank God for his work. Now he believes in Jesus.Praise the Lord!
We visited one Bhudhist family there was a man who was on bed more than three years. He became blind and not able move any part of his body. His parents spend lots of money and went witchcrafts for him to be well. but no use. We said If you believe in Jesus you will see miracle. he said yes! When we started pray for him his body began to shake like fish and snake. It was devil spirit man. We cast out that evil spirit in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Off Crouse it took more than one hour but finally victory was belong to us in Jesus. We helped him to stand and praise God he began to walk in Jesus. Those who were there they amazed and praise God. still he is not able to see but you can pray for him.
We went to Daryapur for four days. we had a wonderful time with children’s and youth. They said we are blessed by your fellowship.
Every Sunday we used to visit churches of Amravati.All main line churches gave us chance to lead in worship and sheared testimony. We had good time with them.
We went to Wardha 100k.m far from Amravati.We prayed for sick. We got chance to preach word of God in C.N.I. Mr.Damle was retired he was suffering financially. He said Please pray for me so I may get job. We all prayed for him. Next day one man came and said I have job for you. We praised God and said Hallelujah! In same place we mate one Christian who married budhist boy. They had no peace in their home. Our some members shared their testimony with them how they belive in Jesus.I t challenged him to put his trust in Jesus. We thanked God for opening his heart for him.
We came back in Amravati by train, we had no sit to sit. Next day we visited General hospital called Irvin. We visited many sick people and asked them can we pray.If they said yes We used to pray for them. It was good time in hospital ministry.
Now we had only two weaks to complete our out-reach in Amravati.We started to work to organized mini-DTS for the youth in Amravati.Whole weak we spend to invite youth for mini-DTS.We hired St.Thomas boys hostel for one weak. We had a wonderful subjects for youth.1) Sin and Repentance2) Hearing God’s voice3) Father heart of God4) Descipleship5)Mission6)Quite time7)Intersession.
We had more than 40or less than 60. It was a wonderful time with youth. We had not sufficient amount to do this mini-DTS but God provided for his work. We praise God for his faithfulness.
Our team have given commitment to come back in Amravati for Long out reach in Amravati city. Please pray for us and Amravati !
Your’s 4 His Kingdom.
Prem & Team
Amravati.India.