Using the Arts

Music: a bridge to literacy

Mary E Saurman (1993)

"Learning takes place when the activity is (1) receptor-oriented, (2) context-oriented, (3) repetitive, and (4) participatory… Indigenous music embraces all four of these learning components. Not only are the words in the people’s spoken language, but the music is also…

RichardMay 13, 2010

Bible Storytelling Music and Worship Orality

Scripture in an Oral Culture: the Yali of Irian Jaya

John D Wilson (1999)

"The occasion in Yali culture which became the natural opportunity for initial and continued transmission of Scripture — basically in the form of Bible stories — was in the evening hours which traditionally were given to nunung and dindil ale…

RichardMay 3, 2010

Visual Arts

Foundation Matters – Bible Pictures

"We often see the 'greatest message' presented in the 'poorest way'. This project is all about seeking to present the Bible in the best possible way for children." Over 100 beautifully illustrated Bible picture sets, available in PowerPoint format to…

RichardMarch 10, 2010

Audio Drama

Advice for Scripture and Drama Recording

A guide for narrators and actors

Mark Datson (2005)

"Make a big effort to understand the full meaning of the text... Try to put yourself in the shoes of your character. Think of their character, their temperament, their behaviour. What do they like? What don’t they like?" This is…

RichardDecember 7, 2009

Visual Arts

The Life of Jesus Mafa

A set of African illustrations of the Gospel

Vie de Jesus Mafa (Life of Jesus Mafa) was an initiative undertaken in the 1970s to help teach the gospel in Northern Cameroon. French Catholic missionary François Vidil worked with Mafa Christian communities in Cameroon to create an enormous catalogue…

RichardOctober 28, 2009

Audio Digital Film and Video Literacy Orality Visual Arts

Scripture in an Accessible Form

The Most Common Avenue to Increased Scripture Engagement

T. Wayne Dye (2009)

The choice of medium can make a difference, and better artistic quality enhances any communication. However, the most important quality is how relevant the message seems to be to the lives of its hearers. If a hearer (or reader or…

RichardOctober 3, 2009

Drama Memorising Scripture

Dramatic reading of Mark – Max McLean

In this video, Max McLean gives a powerful presentation from Mark's Gospel. In what ways could members of local language communities put on a dramatic presentation of passages from the translated Scriptures? Are there gifted actors who would be willing…

RichardJune 10, 2009

Audio Bible Storytelling Drama Memorising Scripture Music and Worship Orality

How to Make Oral Communication More Effective

Communicating effectively to non-readers

Rick Brown (2004)

In seeking to free ourselves from the biases of a print-oriented culture, we need to consider, not only the kinds of media and discourse genre (e.g. narrative) that are most appropriate for oral cultures, but also the most effective ways…

RichardFebruary 24, 2009

Culture Evangelism Music and Worship

The concept of limited good and the spread of the gospel

Eunice Pike (1982)

...to ensure the Mazatecs understood a bit of doctrine, we needed to put it in a hymn. The concept of “limited good” means there is only so much good (including knowledge and love) to go around, so someone’s advantage implies…

RichardDecember 14, 2008

Audio Drama

Drama productions for Scripture Use

Joyce Prettol (1989)

The cassette dramas were very effective and listened to repeatedly. The Ese Ejjas are a nomadic river people group of Bolivia. Joyce Prettol describes how no one was able to read Scripture with expression, as reading is a personal skill…

RichardDecember 11, 2008