Chiang Mai Orality Network

I was teaching a Bible class in the evenings in Phuket, South Thailand. I had extra time during the day and so would frequent a Roti shop run by a young Muslim man. This man impressed me because he had a large Koran set out prominently on the table. I told him I enjoyed telling the stories concerning the various Nabi (prophets) of the Bible. I started by sharing the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22. He then asked me if I knew any story about Joseph and so I told him Genesis 39:16-28 (encounter with Potiphar’s wife). Next he wondered about Solomon, so I told him 1 Kings 3:16-28 (two prostitutes and a baby). After that he began to give me free rotis in exchange for a story like that of the flood of Noah. Do pray that the church in Phuket will follow up on this young man so that he might truly come to know Isa Al-Masih.

I was asked to preach on Thanksgiving/Harvest Sunday in a mainly tribal church in Chiang Mai called “Beulah Church”. It was impressive to see a huge mound of fruit pilled up at the pulpit that morning (Thailand is known for its abundance and variety of fruits – 28 varieties of Bananas!). I did not inform the pastor of my sermon topic, but since it was Thanksgiving I decided on Luke 17:11-19, the 10 Lepers Story. You can imagine my surprise when I entered the church and saw a huge poster of a scene from that exact story which had just been put up! I could have chosen a number of passages from various parts of the Bible that day to expand on a thanksgiving theme, but amazingly was led to this one. It was gratifying to have a few of the tribals come up to me after the sermon expressing an appreciation for presenting the story in a more oral/dramatic way. Do pray for communicators of the gospel in Thailand, that they would be able to incorporate drama, dance, music, proverbs and Biblical story telling into their presentations in such a way that it will really resonate with their listeners … Christmas is especially a good time of the year to use all of these approaches.

Before making a one day visa run to Bangkok, I prayed that I would have an opportunity to share Bible stories with the Thai I encountered that day. The first was a retired civil engineer in his early 50s who was going on vacation. The story I told to him was the Tower of Babel with an emphasis on the shoddy construction materials they used and the scattering of the nations.

The next was on the way to the Labour Department with a taxi driver who had never heard about the resurrection of Christ and so I told him both the crucifixion and resurrection account. The return trip gave me an opportunity to share with my 64 year old chauffeur. As often happens when they hear me speak Thai they say, “Oh, so you must have a Thai wife”. I revealed to him that I am a widower and have lived in Thailand for 30 years, and he inexplicably replied, “I had a wife, with also 3 minor wives in the past … but now I’m down to just one.” I ended up telling him the story of David and Bathsheba with all the repercussions that flowed into David’s life afterwards.

Finally, I sat next to a tall 27 year old Chinese/Thai business man named “Boat.” Boat grew up in Bangkok but had studied in China and now ran an export business to China. He showed me pictures of his beautiful Korean girlfriend who he has visited four times a year for the past seven years (he said they communicate in Mandarin). I asked him why he hadn’t gone ahead and married her and went on to show him pictures of my family and a bit about how my children had found their mates. I decided to tell Boat the story of Isaac and Rebecca, because it seems to be the clearest story in the Bible about the “dating” process.

In each meeting with these men, I handed out a gospel tract and encouraged them to pursue more stories and information from the Bible. Some had Christian friends and I urged them to talk directly with those who were believers.

My basic approach is to seek to start a winsome conversation and then insert a Bible story that fits their felt need or situation. Of course, in an hour long conversation we end of talking about lots of things and I am sometimes led to use a more apologetic approach. But mostly I go through my database of Bible stories and ask God for the one that fits best. My goal is not to force the entire gospel message into the conversation, but to at least present the Word of God accurately (which will not come back void…my own words do not have that same guarantee).

Then I pray that the gospel tract I leave with them will be read and they will follow up on my admonition to talk with a Christian they might know, search for information on the internet or attend a church. If I sense genuine interest then I may try to arrange another meeting with those that live near me.

There are many unreached people in Thailand. Telling Bible stories is one way for Thai Buddhists to learn who Jesus is and turn to him in repentance and faith. Many who hear the gospel in story and song then go on to tell others.

For a week I had been teaching orality at a conference and whilst going home on the last night I passed a couple on the side of the road. Feeling convicted that I should help them, I stopped and then reversed back to them. Their motorcycle had broken down and they needed a ride. The young man was a 19 year old Shan from Myanmar who had been in Thailand for 10 years. I asked if the girl with him was his younger sister and he said, “No, this is my 16 year old wife of one month.”  They both worked on a coffee plantation outside of Chiangmai.  I was able to tell this couple ‘The Good Samaritan’ story and was pleased when the young man answered my questions about why the two religious people walked by without helping. This couple thanked us profusely when they left our car.

The next day I caught a taxi in front of my condo.  A tourist was sitting in the back and I sat up front with the driver. The first thing the driver asked me was, “Why did that foreigner in the back give 1000 baht to a stranger?” as he had seen this transaction in his rear view mirror. When we dropped off the tourist and he paid the fare I said, “This driver is curious as to why you gave 1,000 baht to that Thai.”  The tourist simply said, “He needed it.”  This prompted a discussion with the driver about giving generously and freely to people who might not be that deserving.

I chose then to tell the driver of when Jesus was having dinner in the house of Simon the Leper and a notorious woman anointed Jesus’ feet.  In that story Jesus uses an illustration of a creditor forgiving a large debt out of simple generosity. I asked the driver a few questions about the story and then compared it to the “works” orientation of all world religions, including Buddhism.  When we got to the airport I tried to give him a tip; at first he refused and in the end would only let me give him a smaller amount.  I am praying he will read the tract I gave him and realize that his human works will never attain the righteousness that God requires and that the only way to experience true peace is by receiving the free gift of salvation through Jesus.

Photo source: ptownsend@flickr.com

This issue of Mission Round Table addresses the place of story in our lives and our proclamation of the gospel.
What is it about stories that we find so gripping? In part, it is their description of the human condition. Whether based on a historical incident or entirely composed in the mind of the teller, a good story speaks to our basic needs as humans. This explains why our self-understanding is often grounded in stories and why they supply the foundations for our ethical and religious ideas. It also explains why story is such a valuable means of sharing the gospel and nurturing people in the life of faith. There is a sense in which telling the old, old story again and again enables both tellers and listeners to have their thought lives and their actions penetrated and guided by the one grand story of Jesus and his love. The more we rightly encounter the story, the more it informs our worldview and unites us with the God of the story.

As some of the following articles make clear, it is essential that we tell this story in a way that is understandable to our listeners. And though the words of the biblical story do not change, the way our listeners hear the words can vary greatly.

Contents

Textuality and orality in the Bible – Jerry Hwang

Resources for Gospel Storytelling

Orality Praxis in Discipleship and Church Planting – Larry Dinkins

Orality, Preaching, and the Gospel – Desmond Soh

A Journey Worth Taking – Christine Dillon

Mini-Bibles – David Eastwood

Story Telling – Martin Goldsmith

“Hymns of the Everlasting Hills: The Written Word in an Oral Culture in Southwest China,” PhD dissertation by Aminta Arrington – Reviewed by Walter McConnell

In 1975 I was a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Dan Bacon (DTS grad and OMF director at the time) was the chapel speaker and asked us students whether we were praying for any specific missionary.  At the end of his talk, Dr. Bacon handed out a little blue commitment card which I filled out. Within days I received information concerning Dr. Henry Breidenthal, a graduate of DTS as well as a medical doctor and linguist. After six years of tribal and medical ministry, Dr. Henry moved to Bangkok and in 1971 started the Bangkok Bible College. I set about lifting Dr. Henry up to God daily, even though my knowledge was limited to a card with his picture on it.  In God’s timing I began to attend an OMF monthly prayer meeting as a way to further my growing interest in Asia. At one memorable meeting I poured out my heart to God for Dr. Breidenthal, mentioning the problems I imagined that he and his wife and children were encountering in that Buddhist stronghold. It was then that a veteran missionary pulled me aside and gently whispered in my ear, “Larry, Dr. Henry is single.”

I continued to pray for Dr. Henry over the next five years and had the thrill of meeting him personally in 1980 during my Thai language study in Bangkok. After six years of up-country church planting experience I joined Dr. Henry in ministry at the Bangkok Bible Seminary to then be installed as dean in his place when Henry left for home assignment.

In 2001 Dr Henry and I were able to jointly start the Chiang Mai Theological Seminary. Last month there was a special chapel service to honour Dr Henry Briedenthal’s 51 years of service in Thailand.  Henry has a passionate discipline for the Word, prayer and evangelism and handed out wristbands with his famous motto – no Bible, no breakfast!

I don’t know of any single male missionary in OMF who has maintained such a consistent walk and ministry on the field for over 50 years. Dr. Henry is not just finishing the race; he is sprinting as fast as his nearly 84 year old legs will carry him. Like the apostle Paul, he is gearing up for a strong finish.

Every Sunday, for probably 40 years, Dr. Henry has handed out gospel tracts in a local park. Henry has never owned a vehicle and so peddles to the park on his ancient bicycle. I see a crouched figure, bent over the handlebars with a first year Bible student/disciple peddling behind trying to stay up with him. I thought to myself, “When I grow up, I want to be Dr. Henry Breidenthal!”

After a 3 day bible story training in Mae Sot, North Thailand, Kennedy Paizs and I were making the five hour trek back to Chiang Mai. I noticed an elderly monk hitch hiking by the side of the road. I stopped and asked his situation, being careful to use the proper vocabulary for monks. He was visiting a sick monk in the next city and needed a lift to the hospital. We sat him in the front seat and what proceeded was a 90 minute extended story session.

During that time we told him the story of Jesus crucifixion, the two thieves killed alongside Jesus, the burial and resurrection of Jesus and his parable of the prodigal son.  The monk’s background was initially catholic, he had heard these stories before and in characteristic fashion said that he respected Jesus and saw no problem in holding to both religions.

As we pulled into a filling station for gas, he mentioned that he felt thirsty and needed some water. I entered the 7-11 store and reached for a couple of 15 cent water bottles. He indicated that those were “no good” and instead placed a couple of 70 cent mineral water bottles in my hand. Since I had not eaten lunch, I began to pick up some treats to eat on the way. As I placed my items at the register, he told the clerk to add a pack of cigarettes to the bill.  After I had paid, I reached down to pick up my items, but the monk had already confiscated the bag!  As a monk, he was used to people giving him free stuff to make merit and thought I was buying the whole bag for him! He had just explained to us a number of Thai words, one of which was “graeng jai” (difficult to translate, but basically means “to defer” to someone).  I realized I was too “graeng jai” to ask for my items back and so we continued our trip.

Our conversation then rambled on about Thai politics, Buddhist animist beliefs, life in at the temple and even Hollywood movies (he had seen 10 James Bond films). As we dropped him off at the hospital, he accepted a tract and gave us his contact information. Kennedy and I then paused in the car and prayed for our unexpected guest. We are now making plans to visit him on our next trip to Mae Sot.

Our monk friend openly shared how he had lost both his wife and baby when he was 27 years old and after working manual labour for 30 years had finally gotten too feeble to work and with no family to support him, entered the monkhood. The sad fact is that there are thousands of similar scenarios taking place all around us here in Thailand. The Thai people’s greatest need is to hear the life-giving stories of the gospel, so that they may understand the message clearly and thus see the uniqueness and power of Jesus.