“But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.” At this point, I express the howling of wind and the crashing of waves in sounds and movement.
I am recounting to a Greek Cypriot woman the story of Jesus calming the storm on the lake as told in Mark 4:35-41. She is listening and watching intently as I act out the story in the middle of her gift shop, surrounded by wooden geese on sale that are wearing colourful striped swimsuits!
Over the past few weeks I have been regularly visiting this lovely lady here in a town in Cyprus. She teaches me some Greek and I teach her a little English. We have become friends, and increasingly, at her initiation, she has spoken about how she wants to draw closer to God, but doesn’t know how to.
As a Greek Cypriot, she goes to an Orthodox Church. She has never read the Bible, and is horrified at the idea that she can talk to Jesus Christ in prayer directly rather than through the saints or through the priest.
On this particular day, we were sitting having a coffee together in her shop, when she asked what I was going to do later in the week. So I told her that I was going to share a Bible story with some asylum seekers. She asked if I would tell her the story, which is why I am sharing it with her now.
She seems mesmerised as I go on to describe Jesus sleeping in this storm-tossed boat and the terror of the disciples as they shout to wake him up. “Teacher! Don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” And then their fear as he silences the storm with just one command. “Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?” they ask each other.
As I finish the story, my friend is silent for a while. She then rubs her arms and says, “I have goosebumps! Jesus has such authority! No matter what happens in my life, Jesus has the power to help me.”
Two days later, I’m telling the same story to the group of asylum seekers who attend English classes run by a couple that lead a local church plant. Before me are about twelve women and men, most of whom are Muslims.
It’s initially chaos, with babies crying and children knocking over cups of orange juice. But as I begin the story, the room grows quieter and I can see I have the full attention of some of those present. I simplify the language I use, but the drama helps to convey what is being expressed.
At the end of the story, I ask how it has made them feel. “Very good!” says one man in broken English. “Jesus is strong. That make me feel good.”
With over 80% of the world’s population being oral preference learners, Bible Storying is a great way of engaging people with the Bible in a way that is dynamic, and draws them into the incredible story of God and humankind and his mission to restore all things.
With the help of our friends at Share the Story, (www.biblicalstorying.com) the Unreached Network has created a series of teaching videos on Bible Storying that are available on the Broadcast Multiplying the Mission website. If you would like to find out more about Bible Storying and how you can more vibrantly share God’s Big Story with those in your context, follow this link:(www.biblicalstorying.com)
Susie Howe is author of the book 'Resistance Fighter: God's Heart for the Broken'. She has worked cross-culturally in countries such as Zimbabwe, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Part of her work has included mobilising others to fight injustice against the poorest of the world's poor: those with HIV, orphans, street children, and persecuted 'child witches'.
