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.