A word from the Acting Director

Orality is the new normal.  That’s good news and not so good news for the Good News.  It’s good news for those in the world that live with affordable access to the internet and the virtual world of life-saving, life changing information.  We do business, teach, preach, and pray through on-line platforms from AnyMeeting to Zoom and a host of others.  God is doing amazing things among the digitally rich, and opportunities grow exponentially for the “connected.

It’s not so good news for the digital poor – those already off the information highway.  You’ve seen the news reports.  Migrant workers in India stranded without transportation home or food in their make-shift shelters.  They’re migrating from Chennai to Kolkata (1,500 km) in 120 degree temperatures on foot!  Empty streets and highways that once clogged Manila commuters grimly remind us that day workers cannot pay rent, give their children access to on-line school lessons & assignments, or even buy medicine, food and clean water.  How do they benefit from a Zoom call?  What do think would be the words Jesus might speak to us digital wealthy?

The members of ION understand orality is about communication.  We see the digital divide.  It’s especially about reaching people off the grid of global affluence.  It’s about communicating the Good News to those who are without our Hope, and without God in the world (Eph 2:12).  They’ll remain there until we build high orality-reliant strategies based on how they (not we) receive, process, remember and pass on information.

Look for the announcement about the ION sponsored web-forum: Information Highway? Connecting Paths with the Oral Majority.  Six well-known experts in the field of mission & orality will meet to discuss how orality builds the bridge to the Oral Majority in ways that the internet has done for the rest of the world.  You can also join one of the six in a breakout room for further discussion.   Orality is the new normal, but only for those willing to learn new paths.