Author: ion-admin

Worldview-based Storying: The Integration of Symbol, Story, and Ritual in the Orality Movement

This book is dedicated to the present global generation of Bible storytellers. It will challenge you to learn from the rich history of the Orality Movement, do your cultural homework related to the integration of symbol, story and ritual, and tell the great...

Literacy training in prisons using Bible storytelling

For those desiring to use literacy or English teaching to reach others for Christ, here is some inexpensive, effective and easy-to use material based on 30 Bible stories. It was designed for prison use, and is being used in four or five states to get indivi...

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A Word from the International Director (March 2021)

We don’t have a Bible in our heart language. Existing churches in our region overlook us because we seem to be so much of a challenge in sharing the Gospel.

A Word from the Deaf of ION

The Deaf constitute a people unlike any other on earth. Mission scholars define them as a people group composed of profoundly Deaf men and women, usually Deaf at birth or before the acquisition of language, who use sign language as their preferred language ...

A Word from the International Director (February 2021)

ION exists for action.  Yes, we talk, teach and promote orality and oral strategies.  In this new era everything we talk about, teach or promote expects intentional synergistic work – collaboration to reach the oral majority.  Often that process & progress ...

A New Day in India

We now face the most difficult days in the recent history of India.  Our president is bound to establish our country as a Hindu nation following the demands of Muslim and Buddhist countries all around him.  Yet these are possibly the best days the church of...

How to Prepare Your First Bible Story

Bible storytelling is a skill that most of us are not born with. It’s hard the first time but will get easier the more stories you learn. Here is the basic process.

Story Sticks

The Storytellers Bible project is an initiative of Blazing Trees. We are innovating Bible resources for frontier missions. We believe that all anyone needs to make disciples is God’s presence and power through the indwelling Holy Spirit and the stories of t...

ION North America Regional Online Connection 2021

We are pleased to announce that the next ION NAR Conference will take place in Houston, Texas, in Fall 2021!

The Return of Oral Hermeneutics

Have Western exegetes turned an Eastern book into a Western one? Does God require all people to be able to analyze grammar to interpret Scripture? Does God assume all people can interpret Scripture through oral means?

Missionary died thinking he was a failure

In 1912, medical missionary Dr. William Leslie went to live and minister to tribal people in a remote corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. After 17 years he returned to the U.S. a discouraged man – believing he failed to make an impact for Christ...

Zealous for the things that matter

“I was trained by David Watson,” my friend said over lunch. “My mentor in Disciple Making Movements was so and so,” I replied. A bit later I added, “I also learned under Ying and Grace Kai.” George Patterson was another person whose name came to my mind. Wa...

Orality Research Primer

Walking the intersection of science and faith Prepared by Adriana Donaldson, Charles Madinger, Nicholas Nickl, and Emily Pohl  A Primer for Research in Orality Go ye therefore, and teach all nations Matthew 28:19, KJV Congratulations for havin...

Toronto 2019 Resources

Sign-Up Connect with us here to receive the International Orality Network monthly e-newsletter and other updates.   2019 Toronto Conference Resources Main Session Recordings: uploads pending—check back soon!Thursday Friday Saturday ...

If Only God Spoke My Language – Introducing Render

Imagine this: You’re sitting on a worn, wooden bench—or even the floor—of a tiny church in a rural community. Maybe you walked hours just to be here, carrying the weight of the troubles from this past week into this place of rest. Your feet hurt, your lips ...

ION Africa Conference: Togo 6 – 8 November 2019

We are pleased to announce our upcoming ION Africa Conference, which will be held in Lome, Togo from Wednesday 6th to 8th November 2019.

Growing orality trends impact how we share the Gospel

Instagram and Facebook are expanding their TV platforms. Podcasts are growing in popularity. More and more, people are ditching written text in favor of audio and visual communication. These modern developments are not only shifting how society shares infor...

Why the Community Caste Focus is Needed

Let us start with how people perceive themselves. There is too much of classifying people by who we think they are, rather than who they perceive themselves to be. That is arrogance on our part, not a respect of people as people who are living as members of...

One Great Tool to Explain the Gospel in Real Life

Missionaries working in countries where there is no printed gospel available in the heart language of the people use a method called storying to present the gospel message. Story sets help create bridges and address barriers to the gospel.

Is It Time to Declutter the Great Commission?

Started by a Japanese woman, a recent viral movement is spreading rapidly. All over the world, people are growing more and more enthusiastic—to declutter. More and more, I’m thinking the global mission community should take Kondo’s advice about decluttering...

God Speaks My Language

World Mission works closely with a network of national partners who speak the language and are working to create relationships within the indigenous communities where they minister.

Understanding the Remaining Mission Task

Have you wondered which peoples are still waiting to hear about Jesus for the first time? This illustrated video can help.

Honor, Shame and the Gospel: Reshaping the Messenger

Sam Winfield teaches about the dynamics of honor / shame cultures at the Honor Shame conference at Wheaton College in 2017. He puts forward the case that the cultures of the Bible were based on honor / shame, and unless Western missionaries consider seriou...

Remembering Pioneer Jim Slack

“Hello World!” was Jim Slack’s enthusiastic greeting to coworkers and his exclamation whenever he learned something new. An unassuming man always in good humor, Slack became one of Southern Baptists’ most influential missiologists during a 50-year career wi...

ION Africa Youth Conference: Zambia 6-8 June 2019

We are pleased to announce our upcoming ION Africa Youth Conference, which will be held in Lusaka, Zambia Thursday 6th June - Saturday 8th June 2019.

Orality, the Bible, and the African Imagination

What are the links between orality and literacy? Is one method better than the other? Dr. Gregg Okesson discusses the effects of modernity and how it mistakenly posited literacy against orality as part of the Seven Minute Seminary series.

The Bible like you have never experienced before

Whether in a home setting with just a smartphone, or in a 360˚ projection dome equipped with moving seats, wind, mist, scent, bubbles, snow, and flying actors, imagine experiencing the Bible as a participant in the great Story.

The Gospel and the Spoken Word: ION NAR Conference, Toronto, Oct 3-5, 2019

We are pleased to give advanced notification that the 2019 ION North American Region Conference with take place in Toronto, Oct. 3-5, 2019.The theme for this year's conference will be '1 WORD 4 ALL - Embodying Jesus in a Post-Textual Society'Please ...

ION Africa Consultation Nov 2018

ION Africa consultation was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from November 27 to 29, 2018. It brought together 130 participants from 21 countries. The 3-day program included presentations, interactive dialogue and panel discussions under the theme “Reachi...

Got a resource or story to share?

This is a community website, and we need YOU! You are invited to share stories, useful resources, events and opportunities to collaborate on our site. Do you have an inspiring story, or know of a useful resource? Our community site aims to serve the Oral...

Update from the Office of the Executive Director

Growth in ION South East AsiaThe orality community is celebrating exponential growth in recent months within South East Asia. Flowing out of the regional conference last November, an additional six national orality gatherings have been held stimulatin...

Orality: An Infographic – Lausanne Movement

The Lausanne Movement has published a new Orality Infographic for your use.

2018 NAR Conference Plenary Sessions

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the main plenary sessions from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

Sharing Spiritual Light With Those Who Cannot See

Raahithya is a 32-year-old young man from India who is continually hungry to know more about God. Employed at a local bank, he is the only Christian in his family.Two years ago, Raahithya came across a TWR India radio program. This is his story: "I rea...

Scripture in your hands

SIL has developed a free tool for translators to get the precious Scriptures in the hands of the people quickly and cheaply.  Scripture App Builder helps anyone to build customized Scripture apps for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. 

A New Day Dawns for the Deaf

Bible translation has been around for centuries, with missionaries venturing out into people groups near and far to make God’s Word accessible. As we steadily count down the number of languages left without Scripture, a people group seems to have gone overl...

It was a dark and stormy night…

How many of our Halloween stories begin this way? Even though many people tell such stories for fun at Halloween, for others fear characterizes their daily lives. Voodoo practitioners are not myths or stories in West Africa–they are all too real. Jesus rec...

2018 NAR Conference – Arts and Culture Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Arts and Culture" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

2018 NAR Conference – Development Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Development" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

2018 NAR Conference – Education Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Education" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

2018 NAR Conference – Media Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Media" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

2018 NAR Conference – Media Audio and Video Scripture Engagement Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Media Audio and Video Scripture Engagement" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Ap...

2018 NAR Conference – Research and Innovation Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Research and Innovation" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Ma...

2018 NAR Conference – Storying Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Storying" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

2018 NAR Conference – Focused Outreach Gateway Breakout

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the Gateway breakout session "Focused Outreach" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

2018 NAR Conference – Bushwhacking: How Digital Technology Has Taken Us Off the Map Workshop

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the workshop session "Bushwhacking: How Digital Technology Has Taken Us Off the Map" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the the...

2018 NAR Conference – Arts, Orality and Culture Workshop

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the workshop session "Arts, Orality and Culture" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applications - One Mandate'.

2018 NAR Conference – Engaging People through Oral Bible Storying Workshop

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the workshop session "Engaging People through Oral Bible Storying" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applicati...

2018 NAR Conference – From Creation to Consumption: The Whole Story Workshop

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the workshop session "From Creation to Consumption: The Whole Story" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applica...

2018 NAR Conference – Inductive Scripture Engagement Workshop

Catch up or refresh yourself with the audio recordings of the workshop session "Inductive Scripture Engagement - Oral style" from ION’s 2018 North America Regional Conference, which took place in Orlando, FL in September 2018, with the theme 'Many Applicati...