Connecting Lives Through Biblical Stories
Photo courtesy/Lu Maifei, Wu Xinhui
2024KRC Spring Retreat Report
Telling Bible stories is an art
In the new green Pennsylvania Messenger Training Center, Jim and Janet Stahl led more than 40 students to open the Bible and unveil the theme of the 2024 KRC Spring Retreat - Storyline: Connecting Life through Bible Stories.
Based on the speaker’s experience, telling non-believers Bible stories will help them to empathize with God’s words, be willing to share their own stories, and resonate with the Bible. When they retell the Bible stories they hear, it is also a great way to preach the gospel.
Janet Stahl開始述說耶穌與撒馬利亞婦人相遇的故事（參考約翰福音4章）。隨著聲調、音速、刻意的停頓，加上蹙眉、仰頭、手勢，帶著大家回到兩千多年前的雅各井邊，注視著尊貴的猶太拉比和卑微的外邦女子對話。
While listening, the audience thought, had pictures and feelings, and never let the microphone be silent when sharing: "On a very hot noon, you need a mouthful of cool water to quench your thirst, but the living water of Jesus is better! Until eternal life"; "Jesus deliberately Through the land of Samaria, through a woman, His preaching was accomplished"; "Jesus asked the woman to call her husband. The woman said she did not have a husband. Jesus' answer expressed kindness rather than judgment. The woman's condition was seen." ; "Before the burning bush, God thundered and said I AM WHO I AM; here, I heard a gentle voice saying I am, full of love and compassion"; "The tired woman was very fond of Jacob's well owned by her tribe. Proud, hearing that Jesus had water that was not thirsty but very thirsty for it." "The woman was ostracized because she had had five husbands, but after she was moved, she immediately went back bravely to speak out." "It was like there was a movie in her mind. Like a movie, one scene after another. Although I have heard this story since I was a child, this beautiful and familiar process made me color each image, especially the water jar. You can see its shape, color and pattern."; "Jesus The prophetic revelations particularly touched me."
Janet reminds that there are disciples in the story. They saw the interaction between Jesus and the woman, and heard the Master say that He had something to eat. They were curious and confused, but they did not dare to ask. Didn’t understand Jesus until later
We must break through rigid social norms and accept all believers into the Kingdom of God.
The woman at the well was a very different person from Jesus and the disciples. So who are the others who are different from us? Another wave of enthusiasm: "I am somewhat repelled by homeless people and will avoid them. When I was serving at a charity food supply station, I mustered up the courage to talk to them. It turned out to be a very pleasant experience"; "I will reject indifference and dishonesty. , or people with different views. How to connect and love them is a big challenge"; "The controversial topic of illegal immigration cannot be viewed from a political or economic perspective. We must think about what Jesus would do"; "A woman working in the market After I found out that she was living with someone else, if she was in the market, I wouldn’t go shopping. Now that I’m aware of it, why should I judge?” “I would chat with the taxi driver and talk about missionaries or my own testimonies, or stories from the Bible. , and pray for their driving safety"; "Those who serve us, such as cleaners, nurses in rehabilitation centers, etc., are often turned a blind eye"; "My mother, who is a Buddhist, was willing to hold a memorial service for my father in the church. It was her first time to enter the church. Now she has accepted the Lord and is very eager to preach the gospel to her neighbors." "There are several homosexuals among the young people I serve. I think the LGBT community is also created by God. They should be respected and should not be labeled based on their sexual orientation. I have organized a Bible reading class, hoping to be a bridge for them to accept the gospel." "Some people who live a comfortable life often go to the food bank to receive free food. It makes me sad every time I see it. !”
Jesus crossed many barriers and went to different people groups. A conversation with Jesus changed the lives of the Samaritan woman and the villagers. Are you and I willing to go to different ethnic groups and tell them stories?
Act out the story
Jim told the story of Hagar (referring to Genesis 16) and then discussed the emotional entanglements involved. Some people blame Abram for his cowardice, Sarai for her arrogance, or sympathize with Hagar, the Egyptian slave girl who had no control over her own life. KRC founder Gao Lili pointed out that the actions of the three people all showed their vulnerability and sensitivity. Hagar became swollen after becoming pregnant because she found that she could give her master a child, which her mistress Sarai could not do in her life; Sarai had no children and gave her maid to her husband, but was looked down upon; Abram At a loss. After running away from home, Hagar walked into the hot desert. In despair, she met God's messenger at the well. God's hearing and promise greatly comforted Hagar, giving her the courage to return in order to survive.
Then the groups use drama, desktop drama, and storyboards to perform the story.
In the drama group, director Qian Wentao plays the role of Abram, who plays the role of an octogenarian with a cane and coughing from time to time; Sophie, who plays Sarai, is gentle at first, and then becomes fierce; the most expressive one is Hagar Amy, who is unable to resist, Wrapped in a scarf by the old master. Afterwards, she showed she was pregnant by vomiting, so she proudly returned to her mistress and put the broom on the ground. After running away from home with a look of grievance, he came to rest by the well. The angel Maria appeared, lifted up Hagar with solemn kindness, hugged her, and allowed Hagar to go home with a smile. Lucia used piano as the soundtrack for the plot, and her interpretation was very fast, gripping, and wonderful.
Storyboards illustrate the composition of story images in the form of graphics. The contrast between Sam's drawings and Livingston's narrative, the size of the characters, and the colors give the flat image depth and breadth. The small theater on the table uses the desktop pictures of two laptops as the background of the story. One side is looking out from the tent, and the other side is the desert. Local materials are used to tell a story with a visual sense.
Janet and Jim’s own story
Speakers Jim and Janet have been involved in the Wycliffe Bible Translation Ministry for many years, helping people without writing develop letters so that they can read their own languages. Starting in 2007, he
We cooperated with a seed company (which belongs to Wycliffe Global Alliance and participates in Bible translation work) and went to the southwest of the Pacific Ocean and the Republic of Vanuatu (Vanuatue) east of Australia for 15 years to do missionary work. This country consists of 83 islands, with a population of more than 300,000 and more than 100 dialects. The Bislama language in circulation has no written characters. In order to protect land ownership, residents are required to tell their family's story on the land as evidence.
When the old chief was asked about his favorite Bible story, he eloquently told the story of King Saul for 20 minutes, and even added the story of King David. Fifty years ago, when he was a child, he followed missionaries from Australia. The stories he heard at that time were still fresh in his mind and accurate even after all this time.
An Indian woman who participated in a Genesis story-telling camp met a young girl who was about to be divorced by her husband because she was still not pregnant nine months after marriage. After the woman went to the girl’s home and shared the story in Genesis 2, the girl made a covenant with her husband to be his wife forever, and the husband also promised never to divorce.
Jim and Janet have trained more than eighty language groups throughout the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Africa, and the Americas to tell Bible stories in their native languages. This creates a sense of community, strengthens local ministries, sparks interest in Bible translation, and creates a spontaneous desire among those being ministered to.
Communication: Listen actively and ask good questions
Arctos團隊的莫博恩（Brandon Morgan）帶領溝通講座，強調「停頓； 積極傾聽；問問題；複述 （rephrase）或分類短語 （split tracks）」。In fact, communication is not necessarily about seeking answers, so be kind, ask open questions with curiosity, and seek a deeper understanding. Do not limit the conversation to closed questions with yes or no answers. Repeat the key points heard to determine the correctness of the progress. Complex content can be divided into several categories. These are all things that make the other person feel heard.
During the demonstration exercise, Brandon repeated: "I observed that you just talked about worrying a lot"; used in-depth questions: "Please say more about that matter"; used clarifying questions: "You said 'patient'" What does it mean?" The interaction is completed smoothly, helping the other party clarify the source of anxiety and find a solution on their own. Brandon finally asked how he could pray and bring communication before God.
awareness, insight, action
During Sunday worship, Pastor Su Wen’an reminded everyone of Paul’s fantasy adventure (refer to Acts 27):No matter what challenges you encounter, you must be able to observe carefully (Sight) and see everything clearly; be calm and insightful (Insight) to understand everything; respond with heart (Action) and have the ability to take action. He encouraged making a Worry List and then becoming aware of it and discerning it.
Cross out the troubles that you worry will never happen; make a prayer list (Prayer List) based on insights into the remaining needs and other needs; and finally, there must be an action list (Work List). Having an action list does not mean that we can solve all difficulties by ourselves, but it is another set of prayer lists, trusting God completely and letting God’s power be demonstrated in our weaknesses.
Director Xue Yueyue, who has a resonant voice, led the worship service, which included the KRC anthem, "For Christ and the kingdom, we will integrate and connect every committed warrior, open and utilize every heavenly treasure house, and willingly dedicate it to the benefactor to glorify the heavenly Father..." …”.
Founder Gao Lili shared the grief and loss since the death of her father, Pastor Gao Yaomin, and saw the vision and mission in meditation. She realized that "the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but living without purpose" (MylesMonroe), and encouraged to use God's perspective Plan your life and challenge yourself to think, "Who can be your role model at this time in your life?"
During the morning update, our copy editor Lin Minwen invited everyone to count "what is in their hands" based on the miracle of five loaves and two fishes. When people are connected with things, people, and God, even if they only have a little bit in their hands, they can still bear fruit to bless people and glorify God.
Executive Editor Wu Xinhui recalled that Pastor Gao Yaomin of the Holy Church in New York cared for and pastored young international students 40 years ago. While eating, drinking, talking and laughing, a 15-year-old young girl later believed in the Lord and joined the European campus ministry. This is an example of the 2024 KRC theme "God is like me, connected in many ways, and bears good results".
The right palm is up to receive God's grace; the left palm is down to give God's story; it is connected to the neighbor's left and right hands and becomes a part of the body of Christ. I hope that you and I will continue to tell Bible stories with our lives and bear the fruit of life in the Bible.
Check out future KRC and Arctos events:
Intro to Becoming a YouTuber
Hearing God
KRC Online Writing Course (20 hours)
KRC Intro to Writing Class (6 hours)
Project Arctos Prayer Meeting
Compassionate Communication Workshop
