Pray for the two awareness/fundraisers. The Bike Ride is on September 26th at 2:00 p.m. starting at Emmaus Lutheran in Bloomington, MN. The Grand Canyon Hike is October 10th. It will be a modified hike because of the flash flood that occurred on August 29th.
Praise the Lord for the Mission Twin Cities based out of Hope Lutheran in Minneapolis, MN.
Praise the Lord for the successful family camp in Ukraine June 26 – July 6 and the encouragement it will offer to the families affected by the war. Pray that they would be able to recognize and fight the spiritual battles of hatred, anger, and unforgiveness.
Praise the Lord for the successful trip to Malawi. There was a graduation in Zambia as well as Malawi and a meeting with one of the classes in Mozambique. It was an intense trip with over 50 hours of driving and intense excitement in every meeting that we shared. Kevin enjoyed introducing Africa to his brother Glenn and grandson Josiah.
Pray for the means to reach new countries and encourage the training in the existing countries.
Praise the Lord for our international partners who continue training in Islamabad, Pakistan, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Praise the Lord for successful training in Burundi.
Pray for financial provision to go through the open doors the Lord is providing.
“I don’t know if I had the impact in Ukraine that I wanted to have,” said Debbie Hartle at the Ukraine trip debriefing. The language barrier between the Ukrainian children and our English team made it difficult to know if our lessons were being understood. Our team taught four Bible stories in a VBS-style program at the family camp in Lviv, Ukraine. At times, it was hard to tell if the seed of the Word of God was landing on fertile soil. Sometimes seeds take time to grow. Debbie was gentle and loving with the children and her impact was felt beyond the words that she spoke. Her presence radiated the love of Jesus and her face communicated grace and kindness.
Have you found it difficult to use words to convey the Gospel? I often contemplate all that Jesus’ face communicated without words.What did the Blind Man see the moment his eyes were opened and Jesus was in front of him? What did the disciples see when they woke the Prince of Peace in the middle of the storm and heard Him say, “Peace, be still”? What a contrast it must have been to the terror that creased across their own faces. How warm and welcoming was His smile when He scooped up little children into His arms and blessed them. What did Jesus’ face communicate when He said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe” or “Do you want to be healed?” or “Martha, Martha…” The stories help us relate to Jesus. They help us to understand who He is. They compel us to trust Him. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). He lights up when He sees you! Jesus’ face is shining on you and through you!
Mission Twin Cities
On August 2-6, Hope Lutheran in Minneapolis, MN hosted an outreach called Mission Twin Cities. Instead of heading to an overseas location, they decided it would be good to learn how to be on mission near home. Orality Institute was invited to provide orality training to the youth in order to equip to share the Good News of Jesus.
Jesus told His disciples, “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). That would have been an exciting assignment for His disciples. They were to tell people about Jesus. What He did, what He said, and how He treated people. They were tasked to tell stories about Jesus! The Hope Lutheran youth were taught to do the same thing. Tell people about Jesus by sharing the stories that you have learned. They learned the story of Jesus healing the Blind Man from Luke 18:35-43 and then divided into groups of three to go around the neighborhood and share Jesus with people. There were those not interested in hearing about Jesus, but there were also many who accepted the invitation and listened to how the Blind Man was healed.
Following the outreach there were many excited testimonies. Seeds had been sown in the form of a story from God’s Word. One group shared with residents at a nursing home. They were interested in the story. Five residents requested Bibles and one man prayed to receive Jesus as his Savior! You can join those first disciples who were eager to be on mission, always ready to share the good news of Jesus through a story.
Hike and Bike: September 26th the Orality Institute will be hosting a 30-mile awareness/fundraiser bike ride. We will start at Emmaus Lutheran in Bloomington, MN at 2:00 p.m. and ride around the Minneapolis lakes. October 10th is the annual Grand Canyon Hike. The hike will still happen, but it will be modified because of the August 29th flash flood that took out some bridges in the bottom of the canyon. These events are intended to raise awareness and finances for this essential ministry.
Praise the Lord for the successful family camp in Ukraine June 26 – July 6 and the encouragement it will offer to the families affected by the war. Pray that they would be able to recognize and fight the spiritual battles of hatred, anger, and unforgiveness.
Pray for the trip to Malawi from July 27 – August 8th. There will be a graduation in Zambia and in Malawi as well as a meeting with one of the classes in Mozambique. We are praying that gasoline will be available and for safety for Pastor Kevin, his grandson Josiah, and his brother Glenn as they cover many miles in these two weeks.
Pray for the means to reach new countries and encourage the training in the existing countries.
Praise the Lord for our international partners who have been training in Islamabad, Pakistan, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Praise the Lord for successful training in Burundi.
Praise the Lord for the classes that continue in the U.S.
Pray for financial provision to go through the open doors the Lord is providing.
Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before. Romans 4:9-10
When people hear of the Orality Institute, they often think of a classroom where participants learn to tell Bible stories from memory. While that is true, it is only one example of how Orality can strengthen the Church.
At its heart, Orality is simply engaging people with God’s Word in ways that invite active participation rather than passive listening. Scripture is internalized, retold, discussed, and applied through thoughtful questions that help uncover the treasures within the biblical text. These same principles can be used in Bible studies, Sunday School classes, youth ministry, family devotions – and even Sunday morning sermons.
Recently, Pastor Paul Kneeland preached on Romans 4 using a courtroom setting, rather than simply explaining Paul’s argument. The congregation watched the trial unfold, saw witnesses testify, heard evidence presented, and questions asked. It led everyone to discover why we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Orality is active learning and participation. It is an effective approach designed to help people understand and remember God’s Word. Another way that Orality goes beyond the classroom is our annual Grand Canyon Awareness Hike. We invite you to join us October 10th for a Rim-to-Rim hike. Whether you hike a portion of the trail or simply come to encourage the team, it’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about how God is using story and discussion to make disciples around the world. Email paulk@oralityinstitute.org for more details about hiking or sponsoring us.
Hope Amid War
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
This summer, IOI had the privilege of partnering with Pastor Tomasz Chmiel and his ministry in western Ukraine. The Lord assembled a group of seven that brought hope to the children and adults of their Family Camp through the Scripture stories and testimonies in the Bible.
The team taught the Bible using oral stories, allowing the campers the chance to hear God’s Word, retell it, discuss it, and discover its treasures together. Many of those attending had fled eastern Ukraine because of the war, and several were hearing the gospel in this type of setting for the first time. The stories opened the door for meaningful conversations about Christ’s healing, forgiveness, and hope.
Pastor Nate Jore shared that one of the greatest lessons from the trip was recognizing that while the physical realities of war were obvious, the deeper spiritual battle is against bitterness, fear, hatred, and darkness. The Gospel continues to bring freedom where human solutions cannot.
The Lord also provided encouraging reminders of His faithfulness. One family who had been trying to have a child returned to camp carrying the baby they had prayed for the previous year – a beautiful testimony of God’s care even during uncertain times. Please pray for our trip to Malawi from July 27-August 8th. Pastor Kevin, his brother Glenn, and his 12 year-old grandson Josiah will be attending the graduation of 20 students in Zambia, 76 in Malawi, and meeting one of the new classes from Mozambique. Pray for enough gasoline for the car and safety over the many miles they will travel.
Pray for the family camp in Ukraine June 26 – July 6 and the encouragement it will offer to the families affected by the war.
Pray for the trip to Malawi from July 27 – August 8th. There will be a graduation in Zambia and in Malawi as well as a meeting with one of the classes in Mozambique. We are praying for $750 to give Bibles to the new graduates and $3000 for Kevin’s travel expenses.
Pray for the means to reach new countries and encourage the training in the existing countries.
Praise the Lord for our international partners who have been training in Islamabad, Pakistan, Mozambique, and Zambia.
Pray for our Ugandan trainers who will be going to Burundi for a second training.
Praise the Lord for the classes that continue in the U.S.
Pray for financial provision to go through the open doors the Lord is providing.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season… 2 Timothy 4:1-2
There are environmental seasons, seasons of our lives, and there are seasons of ministry. This year has been a season of change in the Orality Institute ministry. In January, we began ministry in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Cambodia. In February, Paul moved from his ministry base in Arizona to Stover, MO. In March, Kevin and Pam moved to Burnsville, MN which meant the Orality Institute office also moved. In April, Nate introduced Orality to New Brunswick, Canda. In May, Kevin started a sabbatical from Emmaus for the summer. In June, Kevin accepted a call to serve Minnesota Valley Church in Lakeville, MN starting August 23rd.
The Orality Institute is able to do ministry through these seasons of change because the Lord has orchistrated these movements. We have a small and flexible team with Paul and Kevin both serving churches part-time to lower OI salary budget. Nate has been doing ministry with local churches as well as four big trips this year. He is currently with a team in Ukraine leading family camp for families deeply affected by the war.
In addition, our international partners carry a big load of ministry in several other countries. Our Pakistan team has been training a new class of students in Islamabad, Pakistan, the center of the Taliban’s base. Our Ugandan team is teaching the class in Burundi that started last July. Our ministry partners in Malawi have led training in Zambia and Mozambique. We will have a graduation for 16 students in Zambia and 43 in Malawi this month. Every one of these ministries is dependent on the Lord to raise up the finances and people. We are praying for $750 to provide gift Bibles for the 59 graduates and $3000 additional to cover Malawi travel expenses.
Every Tribe
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb,… crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Rev. 7:9-10
Every nation, tribe, people, and language, all with one message… “Salvation belongs to our God!” What an amazing sight, what a great mulititude, what a loud voice that will be!
The Orality Institute has the unique privilage of being a part of seeing that happen here and now. It is astonishing to consider the open doors that the Lord has brought us year after year. This year we will be hosting training in twelve countries which is in addition to the ongoing local classes in other locations. What is equally amazing is that this simple strategy of using the naratives in God’s Word is the text book for teaching people about the Kingdom of God. In every one of these nations, tribes, and people groups a simple oral tool is transforming lives, making disciples, and spreading the gospel.
For example: Ernest Chigawa is from Malawi. His brother Moses introduced him to the Orality Institute. He participated in several trainings before he caught the vision of muliplication. Now, he is the leader of 15 teachers in Kasungu, Malawi where we had a large graduation two years ago and there are 43 more students receiving certificates this summer. His class in Zambia is ready to graduate, he has held two trainings in Mozambique, and he just met someone from Zimbabwe who would like to introduce his people to this strategy of training.
God’s Word is powerful. It can change us deeply when we stop and allow it into our hearts. When we pause to consider what it is saying to us, and when we share it with others. That means you could be in that multitude!
Last year, while in Ukraine on an IOI trip, I remember being asked, “Why did you come?” There was a lot behind that question. Together with the residents of the city of Lviv, Ukraine, we had taken shelter the night before from 2:00 am – 5:00 am because of an air raid as Russian drones and missiles targeted the city. The question, “Why did you come?” meant; you didn’t need to leave the comforts and safety of home in the U.S. to visit a country at war. You didn’t need to risk getting hit by a drone. “Why did you come?” I said, “We didn’t want to tell you that we are standing with you by email from across the ocean. We wanted to tell you in person.”
That question could have been asked of Jesus when He came to earth. It could have been asked of Paul after he was beaten. It could be asked of any of us when we step into another person’s life to care about them.
On June 26th, a team of seven people aged 18-70 will fly back to Ukraine. Please pray for us. We carry with us the Spirit of Jesus who gives life, hope, and love. The people of Ukraine are now in their fifth year of active warfare and they are tired. Pray that we might be filled with hope and joy as we seek to encourage the brethren and share Jesus with the lost. I remember as a teenager reading the book by Brother Andrew, For the Love of my Brothers. Brother Andrew tells of his journeys to encourage people in some of the most persecuted places in the world. I remember he wrote about his visit to Uganda during the persecution under Idi Amin. This trip to Ukraine feels like it is in the same vein. Pray for us as we seek to encourage and bless the people of Ukraine.
Pastor Nate Jore
House to House
They departed and went through the villages preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Luke 9:6
That summarizes the mission that Jesus sent his twelve disciples on. They were going home-to-home and “preaching the gospel” to the lost. In Luke 9:2, Jesus sends them out “to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” What did this proclamation of the Kingdom of God look like? These are disciples who are learning to mimic their master in every respect, so they told stories (parables) just like Jesus did. They proclaimed the Kingdom of God going door-to-door telling those same parables, using those same examples from normal every day life. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, a fruit tree, a net, a treasure, a measure of flour. When Jesus was asked why he spoke in parables, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of heaven.” Stop and consider, the Word of God that we share, the stories and parables, reveal the greatness of God and the secrets of the kingdom of heaven!
The Orality groups at Hope Lutheran in north Minneapolis decided to practice their training by going into the community seeking to introduce people to Jesus through sharing stories about him. They have gone out several weeks now and have found an openness from people to hearing the stories. A couple of weeks ago there was one who shared the story of the blind man in Luke 18 with a young lady. After hearing the story and discussing it a bit, she was asked what she noticed about Jesus. She said, “He cares.” When the crowd was telling him to be quiet, Jesus cared. He heard. He stopped. He healed. The young lady was assured that Jesus cares for her too. Give it a try! Pick a story. Learn to tell it. Ask someone, “Can I share a story about Jesus that I have been learning?”
Praise the Lord for those that have nurtured us in our faith as we pray for those nurturing others.
Pray for the means to reach new countries and encourage the training in the existing countries.
Praise the Lord for the recent trips to New Brunswick, Canada; Mozambique; and Zambia.
Pray for the summer trips to Ukraine, Malawi, and Kenya.
Praise the Lord for successful international trips to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Uganda. We continue to pray that those who were trained will begin teaching others in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Uganda.
Praise the Lord for Nate Jore’s training in Honolulu Hawaii. We pray that this will be a useful tool for Pastor Brady Arneson and the leaders of the Waikiki Beach Gathering.
Pray for the training that has begun in Islamabad, Pakistan. The training that was held in Lahore will be sending teachers to Islamabad so they can go through the same training. Pray also for their war with Afghanistan.
Praise the Lord for the classes that are continuing in the U.S.
Pray for financial provision to go through the open doors the Lord is providing.
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children… We were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
Paul was like a “mother taking care of her own children” to the churches that were his family. Mother’s Day is not fully recognized in every country, but most places set aside a day to recognize mothers. This month seems like an appropriate time to share a story about my mom.
This past November, she started reading the Orality Curriculum for the first time. She started with the shorter stories in the book “Equipping Disciplemakers” and answered the questions for her personal devotions. She said, “I have been in many Bible studies, but I have never grown in my faith like I am now. It feels like all of these stories are so much more personal.” Then she asked, “Kevin, is this what you teach all around the world?” “Yes” I responded, “This is what we have been teaching for the past 18 years.”
At age 86, this gentle old lady began telling her family the stories she was learning and it began to spread. Her first student was my brother, and then grandchildren, and a niece, and her sister. My brother brought the curriculum to the youth workers in his networks and he noticed how it forced them to apply God’s Word to their own life rather than just discuss theology. He ordered multiple copies and gave them to leaders who were looking for a tool to connect with their students in a fresh engaging way. Now classes have begun within networks that we had no idea about, all because my mom was still willing to listen to the Lord and learn what He had to say to her.
We all have people we watch over and care for, people that watch our actions and listen to our words. What would happen if we allowed God’s Word to become “more personal” and in turn it affected those around us?
Please note that our address has changed and send your contributions to the new address.
If not us, then who?
If not now, then when?
It is a challenge trying to keep up with the Orality training taking place around the world. Here is a review of recent trips and a picture of what is coming soon.
In January, Kevin Olson and Paul Kneeland led training in Bangladesh, and Cambodia, with students coming from Myanmar. Nate Jore brought training to Hawaii.
Our friends in Pakistan began a class in Islamabad in January. They travel there every month to bring the gospel to center of Taliban activity.
In February, Nate encouraged the leaders in Uganda and Mesa,Arizona.
In April, Nate traveled to New Brunswick,Canada for training. It was a deeply impactful time for those that were part of the training.
Ernest Chigawa fom Malawi spent two weeks in Maua,Mozambique over Easter. The northern area of Mozambique has had significant persecution of Christians. He is now in Zambia to help them prepare for graduation in July.
This summer, Nate will lead a team of five to Ukraine from June 25th – July 6th where the team will help lead the summer family camp. Kevin will lead a trip to Malawi from July 27th – August 8th. Paul will be organizing a trip to Kenya in August.
We are aware that this is an aggressive schedule and a challenge to our budget. We are also aware that the gospel is going into countries torn apart by war and places that are removed from other means to share the hope that Jesus offers. The Lord does not call us to do easy things because we would be prone to take the credit for the results. He calls us to do impossible things. Things that only He could accomplish and only He could make a way.
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