By Anne Alexander (of Taiwan)

During Taiwan Missionary Fellowship's annual conference retreat July 13-17 John Walsh and Dr. Michael Lockett taught over 150 adults some basic story-telling skills. John taught 3 Elijah stories, as well as the one where the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant over the Jordan. He showed us how simply asking 'What did you like best and why? What did you learn about God? What did you learn about man?' is a great way to see the Holy Spirit work through the Word, whether told, read, acted, sung or drawn. In over 40 years in Taiwan I have never heard so much laughter, seen so much creativity, or found time to fly so fast at the TMF Conference. Response from the international missionaries was overwhelmingly positive.

In over 40 years in Taiwan I have never heard so much laughter

Immediately afterward July 20-23, in a city an hour north, the BibleTelling Workshop was warmly received, from 9am-5pm. The major difference was that most of the heads bowed over creative projects in the small groups were black, as the sessions were interpreted into Mandarin, and some of the groups presented in Taiwanese, Hakka and English as well. Many churches sent delegates to determine if the program could be used in their churches. Some pastors, evangelists and spouses attended, along with a few missionaries. In addition there were Sunday School superintendents, teachers, publishing companies and departments and the Christian press represented. What was delightful is that no one stood on ceremony or maintained formal dignified distance, but entered into the drama etc. with enthusiasm and laughter. John said it was one of the most responsive groups he could remember, and the way they entered in even the first day led him to include 11 stories total, two more than he had promised.

The last day John told us to look up a scripture in a group (two groups each for two scriptural stories from Acts), get the story-bones selected out and make hand motions for them, and teach it to the group who had the other story. They would teach us theirs, then we'd decide (in smaller groups within the combined two groups) how to put it into music, pantomime, drama, art or poetry, and perform it for each other. Great fun, and a good way to make us practice the creative work of preparing a Bible story for teaching others. Puts it deep into your heart.

After all that, we had a final half-hour of instruction, then broke into groups of 12 to share 'what I'm going to do with BibleTelling next week'. The best from each group then shared with the whole group, and there were some wonderful creative and practical ideas given. VERY high enthusiasm, and much desire for another similar workshop in the future.

One friend of mine, the mother of 4, was wakened at 3 am with a vision of how to set up an association (NGO / nonprofit) and network to continue to encourage 'graduates' of this workshop, as well as how to use graduates as volunteers in future workshops. She is now planning to teach the stories, one a week, to five people (who will sign her card), then encourage them to teach 5 each. The following week she'll teach the next story to them, as well as to a new 5 people. What multiplication potential! I'm hoping to teach them to my sister and her girls and assistants in Chiang Mai during my visit 8/1-24, and to the Thai woman who will be hosting me.

...and much desire for another similar workshop in the future

Today my heart is much more at rest, after a wrap-up / afterglow coworkers meeting for the workshop, which was also the kick-off for a new storytelling association here. We have big plans to see God work in the Chinese world through Bible story telling by subtitling John's DVD's, starting local chapters of the BibleTelling international organization, giving certificates, prizes & recognition, sponsoring regular workshops with local or US teachers, planning mission trips, selling syllabi, teaching the stories, raising money, etc. as part of the project. And to think it all started with a 'chance' meeting with John 3 years ago in Thailand, attending 1/2 day of his 4 day Christian storytelling workshop, and hearing God speaking to me about a future empowered to reach the oral / postmodern world! Our workshop here was started with no financial or large-organization backing, just faith God was calling and would provide and bring those He knew needed to know the Stories of God. 'What hath God wrought!'

It will be marvelous to see what God does with this in the months and years to come, and how it causes people to know, praise and serve Him!