Oral Methods
From SPARK
Strategies or oral methods, in contrast to literate methods, include such things as stories, proverbs, poetry, chants, dances, ceremonies, music, etc. These might be shared with the people live via musical events, live drama and dance or they might be shared through media such as video, cassettes, filmstrips, digitial players, CDs, VCDs, or DVDs. Presentations can be aided via a variety of visuals such as pictures, flannel graph, puppets, etc. Combinations of media (sometimes called media mix) might be used such as a book with a CD or cassette. Or a film might be shown followed by a distribution of audio portion of the film on cassette.
Another strategy is chronological Bible storying. The following descriptions come from the oral strategies website, see: [1]
- Chronological Bible Storying (CBS): A method of sharing biblical truths by telling the stories of the Bible as intact stories in the order that they happened in time. The person using this method leads the hearers to discover the truths in the stories for the purpose of evangelization, discipleship, church planting, and leader training. Jim Slack and J. O. Terry developed CBS when they saw the need for a purely oral approach to oral peoples. They coined the term ‘storying’ to differentiate CBS from Chronological Bible Teaching (see below). CBS is promoted globally by the IMB (the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention).
- Chronological Bible Storytelling: The act of presenting biblical truth generally in story format though the story may be deeply paraphrased or may be interrupted for teaching whenever some important issue occurs in the passage. The story may or may not be kept intact as a story. It follows a chronologically organized timeline.
- Chronological Bible Teaching: The type of chronological Bible instruction used by New Tribes Mission, popularized by Trevor McIlwain in the 1970s. It references biblical stories but does not necessarily tell them as intact stories. It uses exposition and explanation as teaching approaches. This presupposes at least semi-literacy on the part of the teacher. CBT methodology reflects NTM’s mission of literacy development in conjunction with translation, evangelism, and church planting. See ‘New Tribes Mission’ [2]
Most of the ethnic groups are oral communicators, yet the majority of the world's Christian workers present the gospel using highly literate communication styles.[1] As you may have already read elsewhere, this website attempts to provide you with nonprint resources, guidance, and strategies.
