Search
Close this search box.

Blog

Angolar University Seminar

Indigenous Storying Dignifies Local Languages

In the tiny island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe just off the coast of west Africa, national leaders participated in a recent seminar. Among those invited were the President, Prime Minister as well as Ministers of Education, Culture, Sciences and Communication. At the event in September 2017, the church-based translation association, The Bible in Our Language (ABNN) promoted Bible translation projects in Angolar and Forro to spread awareness of the effect of these languages spoken in churches and homes. Both languages are recognized, but enjoy a lower status than the island nation’s official language of Portuguese. The Seed Company (part of OneStory) has labored in Bible story projects for these languages for years.

By Andrew, ago

In the Know

When speaking truth to unreached people groups on the final frontier of the great commission, OneStory keeps key concepts and realities in mind.


Key Term
“Orality refers to reliance upon the spoken, rather than written, word for communication. Orality is an ancient phenomenon that continues to the present. …Purely oral societies pass along everything that matters from one generation to another without putting anything into writing. They rely on the spoken word including its sung and chanted forms.”

By Andrew, ago

Seed Company helps reach tiny tribe

Starting with a “skeleton panorama” of just 17 stories, Asian and American missionaries eradicated Bible poverty in a tribe who’s unwritten language is spoken by only about 1,000 scattered in small villages. Today, this remote tribe can memorize, meditate and disciple others using a set of 50 stories that begins in Genesis and tells God’s story in chronological order through the 1st century AD.

Lives are being supernaturally transformed using the time-tested OneStory approach. Not content with the progress made so far, mission workers have now launched a full digital oral Bible translation using the new Render tool on tablet computers. All this to bring freedom in Christ to a small, seemingly insignificant people group. Before they were discovered in 1991, the only hope they thought they had was to worship evil spirits. Today they don’t fear spirits in the trees, rocks or rivers as they get to know the power and love of Jesus.

Enjoy the complete photo story at seedcompany.exposure.co/now-i-understand.

Photos by Mark ElliottYef man in village

By Andrew, ago

Chicago Area OneStory Workshops May 2017

Step into the Story

May 12-13, 2017

This event is for people interested in communicating God’s Word any and everywhere through Biblically accurate, naturally told stories.

These participatory sessions include:

  • Orally learning, telling, and discussing stories in a group setting.
  • Learning about orality
  • Using Biblical stories in sharing the Gospel.
  • Becoming familiar with other storying approaches
  • Learning about opportunities for further participation in OneStory.
By Jeremy M, ago

Advanced Storying Workshop: Toulouse, France

OneStory Logo

Advanced Storying Workshop                     Toulouse, France              November 7-16, 2016

This workshop is for anyone who has completed the Introduction to Orality and Storying and is ready to begin a OneStory Project crafting a redemptive panorama of oral Bible stories in a particular language. Participants will receive the hands-on training needed to begin crafting an exploratory set.

For more information, please email:

Global Orality Email

By Jeremy M, ago