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Since oral learners generally do not possess a biblical worldview, an abstract presentation of the gospel will often be unconvincing. However, chronological Bible stories, selected and told greatly increases understanding.  Bible stories build bridges and overcome barriers to a biblical worldview. In time, the Holy Spirit will lead many oral learners to accept the more compelling stories of the Bible over the stories associated with their non-biblical worldview. Eventually, many oral learners accept the saving grace offered by Jesus Christ, the greatest storyteller of all.

 

For many oral learners, the only Bible they will ever have and use effectively will be the one in their mind and heart. This will enable them to meditate on God’s Word during personal time with Him, and even take part in devotionals, evangelism, church planting and leadership development. 

Stories stored in the heart can go where the written Bible cannot go. They can cross borders, enter prisons and even homes staunchly resistant to the presence of the written Bible. They become the permanent possession of an oral learner, always available for use.

 

Out of necessity, oral learners have much better memories than literates. They cannot save their information on paper or computer hard drives. But they can retain, recall, and retell Bible stories with amazing skill. This is called internalization because the Word of God is inside them. Some oral learners who hear these Bible stories will become followers of Jesus, and they will share their stories with others who will also believe and retell the stories to still more people.  

The initial Bible stories are selected and translated for the listeners in their local language and natural storytelling style. The stories are checked for comprehension among the people, recorded and archived to produce a recorded story set for that people group. As the stories are retold through a people group, God’s Word will exist in a form that can cross borders long closed to the gospel.

 

When oral learners come to faith in Christ through an oral means they are much more likely to want to learn to read the “story book”. There is great potential for accelerating written translations and literacy programs.  By helping translators oral learners know they are producing the "story book" with over 700 Bible stories in their language!