Bible Storying Conference, FINAL day

Nudge to prayer from those planning/ leading this training for 40 participants representing eight languages – 7 languages that are Bibleless and one main market language – in the Mbandaka region of the DRC: 

“Teams have been polishing the stories & we're prepping them for the homework between workshops… Workshop finishes today with a Story Celebration. Each participant will tell one of the stories in their language & the teams will share any songs created.”

Last week as this first training of an Orality and Bible Storying project began, you prayed for unity on all teams and among the group at large and that all involved be ready to do the hard work necessary to learn God's story well and share it well with others.” THANK YOU for praying – your prayers have been and are being answered!

SPECIAL THANKS also to The Seed Company for helping to make this project happen.

--Facebook post by Bert Yates

Bible Storying Conference, Day 10

Thanks for your ongoing prayer support for this training for 40 participants representing eight languages – 7 languages that are Bibleless and one main market language – in the Mbandaka region of the DRC. The answered prayer for finding the missing file of a New Testament is just one example of how your prayers are being answered for the immediate needs at the training!

Report which has just arrived from the DRC (a few minutes after the original posting of today's Prayer Nudge): "We praise God that 141 people heard the story of Jesus Heals Jairus’ Daughter in their own languages as participants went out sharing last night."

Yesterday’s nudges to prayer from those planning/ leading this training:

“Amazing to see the most uneducated group in this training be the best storytellers. And to watch them blossom as they gain confidence.”

“One Congolese consultant pulled aside a young man today who lacks patience with his teammates. He challenged him and encouraged him to grow in this area. So beautiful to see! Another example of God exceeding our own objectives.”

Tomorrow is the last day of this first training in this long-term Orality and Bible Storying project in the DRC. Pray for strength today for all as participants continue being equipped to TELL God’s story, TELL it often, and TELL it well in their heart languages.

--Facebook post by Bert Yates

Bible Storying Conference, Day 9

After hearing the story of the Bleeding Woman, one listener said, “We must have such faith in Jesus.”

Another listener told a participant out sharing a story that he must come back often and share such stories in his mother tongue. “You must come, come, come,” he said.

Other nudges to prayer from those planning/ leading this training for 40 participants representing eight languages – 7 languages that are Bibleless and one main market language – in the Mbandaka region of the DRC:

“As we watch racial barriers fall and a timid young Pygmie woman sits and eats for the first time in her life with other Africans who are not Pygmie, we realize that God has more objectives for this training than just telling stories from His Word. He wants to see His word lived out in the lives of participants.”

"What is wonderful to see happening in this small body of Christ is not only languages mix but ethnicities mix as well, it’s amazing to hear the quality of storytellers in this training… the power of their storytelling brings tears to my eyes as I watch and listen to them tell stories from God's Word in their own heart languages."

Thank you once again for praying for comfort and strength for those grieving for the couple killed in last week’s road accident and for your prayers for those injured. Doctors in South Africa are amazed by the healing of the two IMB missionaries who were sent there for more treatment. Please keep praying for the long road of healing of this couple and for the Congolese national who has been released from the hospital in Kinshasa.

-- Facebook post by Bert Yates

Bible Storying Conference, Day 8

“Why don’t you start your own church so you can tell the people these things.” – Another response from a listener when a participant went out to share the stories in his heart language.

“You must put these stories in our language so we can hear them in our own mother tongue.” – Response of another listener, who spoke the Libinza language which is not a language of this project.

“Oh dear friends, our prayers are producing fruit." "An amazing thing to see God Most High so clearly at work!” – Reactions of a leader of this Orality and Bible Storying project in the Mbandaka region of the DRC.

Thank you for all your prayers for this project and for praying yesterday for two of those who were injured in last week's accident. Surgeries went well, but prayers are still needed for healing. More nudges to prayer can be found at this article released yesterday by the IMB - https://www.imb.org/2018/03/19/arnetts/.

--Facebook post by Bert Yates

Bible Storying Conference, Day 7

Thank you for continuing to pray for this last half of the training for 40 participants representing eight languages – 7 languages that are Bibleless and one main market language – in the Mbandaka region of the DRC. Will you pray that the men and women receiving this training will share the heart and passion of CM and desire to TELL God’s story, TELL it often, and TELL it well especially in their heart languages among their people without God’s word in print? 

Pray for renewed physical, mental and spiritual strength for all those at this training. Pray for peace as they are away from home and their families for so many days. Pray for wisdom as they continue seeking to learn more of God’s word and how to apply this to sharing the greatest Story ever told with their people. 

Please continue joining those in the training in praying for comfort for those grieving for the missionary couple killed in last week’s road accident as they traveled to another training of God's word. Pray for the surgeries taking place today for two of those who were injured in the accident.

--Facebook post by Bert Yates

URGENT prayer request from Kathy

Bible Storying Conference, Day 6

“Yes, yes, this God's Word. We want to handle it carefully.” (Shared yesterday by a participant in the training)

“This is so exciting!” (Response of a leader of this Project)

Special Nudge to Prayer for those reading this post on this REST DAY at the training for 40 participants representing eight languages – 7 languages that are Bibleless and one main market language – in the Mbandaka region of the DRC:

When did you last thank God for his word and commit yourself to handling it properly? 

Pray that today will be a true day of rest and restoration for all at the workshop as they worship and have opportunities to TELL God’s story, TELL it often, and TELL it well in their heart language and in other languages they speak.

Thank you for your prayers for this project and for those working out the myriad of details related to the deaths and injuries of those in the car crash last week. Please continue praying for comfort for those grieving and in shock and for healing for those injured. Will you join one of those in the hospital in praying that this tragedy will indeed lead to greater work for the Kingdom?

Project leaders also ask that you join them in offering thanks to The Seed Company for helping to make this project happen.

--Facebook post by Bert Yates