Reaching and Teaching

Orality-

"Almost two-thirds of the world’s population is illiterate (non-literate, preliterate) or has an oral preference (can’t, won’t or don’t read and write.) The quality or state of being oral. The constellation of characteristics (cognitive, communicational, and relational) that are typical of cultures that function orally."

-Lausanne Committee

Understanding Orality

"From the time of the Gutenberg Bible, Christianity “has walked on literate feet” and has directly or indirectly required literacy of others. But, 70% of all people in the world are oral communicators--those who can’t, don’t, or won’t learn through literate means. Four billion in our world are at risk of a Christless eternity unless literate Christians make significant changes in evangelism, discipleship, leader training, and church planting.

Making disciples of oral learners means using communication forms that are familiar within the culture: stories, proverbs, drama, songs, chants, and poetry. Literate approaches rely on lists, outlines, word studies, apologetics, and theological jargon. These literate methods are largely ineffective among two-thirds of the world’s peoples. Of necessity, making disciples of oral learners depends on communicating God’s Word with varied cultures in relevant ways. Only then will the gospel be able to reach to “the uttermost parts of the earth.”

-excerpt of the executive summary from the Lausanne Occasional Paper 54, LCWE Issue Group "Making Disciples of Oral Learners"

"Making Disciples of Oral Learners" Lausanne Occassional Paper 54

Orality Resources Available for Download:

"A Description of Chronological Bible Storying with Missiological Considerations"

"Biblical Foundations for Chronological Bible Storying"

"Brazil: A Nation of Non-Readers"

"Chronological Bible Storying: Description, Rationale, and Implications"

"Cognition and Communication within the Oral Majority"

"Contextualization"

"I Have a Story (Magic Words in Somalia)"

"Introduction to Storying"

"Memory and Recall of Stories by Oral Communicators"