Orality Breakouts – Section 1 – The Back Story

The following is a chapter from the book ‘Orality Breakouts – Using Heart Language to Transform Hearts‘.  A chapter will be posted here each week.

Section 1 – The Back Story

With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. – Mark 4:33

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. – Sir Winston Churchill

Bagel, roti, cornbread, pita, bun, chella, baguette, injera, paska, mantou, white bread, tortilla, croissant! Bread, by any name, is a prepared food enjoyed across the world. In some parts, it actually serves as the knife, fork, and spoon, and not the meal itself. Indeed, in many places, sliced white bread is served as a necessary part of the meal of the day. We take it for granted. About a century ago, however, Otto Fredrick Rohwedder invented the bread slicer and it was not until the 1930s that Wonder Bread made sliced bread famous.

It took nearly two decades for sliced bread to become popular in the United States. This novel invention had two consequential effects: (1) many inventions are now measured as “the greatest thing since sliced bread” and (2) sliced bread is served worldwide. Just as sliced bread took some time to gain acceptance, so orality is now taking root in missions across the world—and following a similar path of innovation adoption. It is being discovered, rediscovered, and spreading around the world. These chapters recount remarkable activities that God is doing through His servants worldwide using oral strategies and practices.

The chapters in this first section unveil “Back Stories” that show God’s Word is at work, planted in faith, garnered in hope, shared in love, and by God’s grace and influence, comes to fruition. Following the stories, there is a selection of questions designed to be processed in a group setting.

Step into these remarkable stories with us. You may never be the same again!