It seems that everyone loves a good story. In fact, storytelling is such an effective teaching tool that Jesus used it over and over.
So it would make sense that instructing people on storytelling would help them to convey to others the truths of the Bible. And that is just what Jack and Doris Day have spent nearly three decades doing.
The couple, missionaries to Brazil for 32 years through the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, began developing the Bible storytelling Project about five years ago. Publication of the materials, which include games and other aids, commenced three years ago. The final installment on the series was recently printed.
“We wrote the materials in Portuguese, and they were translated into Spanish for use in other countries, such as Uruguay and Paraguay,” Doris said.
Now on stateside assignment, the Days have felt the prodding of the Holy Spirit to go in a new direction with the project. “We’re planning to translate our materials into English,” Doris said.
So that is what the First Baptist Church, Ashville, members are now doing, with plans to retire in Ashville next March. The story-telling series precedes in chronological order from Genesis through the book of Acts. It also includes stories related to the coming of Jesus Christ, Jack explained.
“The series is useful in training people who may have little education, to be spiritual leaders,” he said. People with limited reading abilities tend to be effective storytellers and to have good memories. The story-telling project employs those skills. It also offers pictures, created by a Brazilian artist to depict the stories.
The Days have offered work-shops and clinics to teach people how to use Bible storytelling in evangelism, sermons and church planting.
As a regional Bible story-telling trainer in a portion of South America, Jack Day gives instruction on using the series in sermons or in work with adults and youth. Doris teaches children’s workers as well as school teachers who may not have been evangelicals. “A lot of Doris’ materials are being used in public and private schools [in Brazil] to teach the Bible,” Jack said.
The Bible Storytelling Project in Spanish offers many possibilities in the Unites States, the couple pointed out. Jack noted that the series would be useful in Spanish-speaking churches.
Actually, the opportunities abound for using Bible storytelling in many nations. Promotional material for the series and workshops hails the project as being appropriate for numerous settings, such as Sunday School, Bible study, discipleship, deaf ministries, camp, religious education in schools, children’s church and outreaches to prisons, the homeless, migrants and addicts.
Reached remote areas
In South America, the Days have traveled by boat to reach remote areas and gone into deserts, jungles, large cities and to seminaries to teach Bible storytelling techniques.
“We are excited to see the results taking place,” Doris said.
Churches are also being started with the help of the project.
In one instance, two teens in the Amazon region began using the materials to teach children. Within six months, there were 50 children in each of the Bible meetings, Doris reported.
On the missions field in Brazil, the Days worked to help start, or plant, churches and to train leaders. During their tenure, they assisted in planting six churches. Though that number may seem smaller than expected, the Days explained that they were targeting the upper class, a group that wasn’t being reached.
Had the days focused on the lower class, the number of church plantings would have been much greater, they stated.
When Brazilian people of a lower socio-economic level get involved in church and become Christians, something that could cost them their jobs, the couple said.
Nonetheless, there is a great openness and tremendous opportunity to spread the gospel in Brazil, the Days said.
“There is freedom in Brazil to worship as you please,” Doris said. “Actually, they’re more open than the (United) States are.”
In addition, there is a fervency among churches to reach out, they explained, adding that a majority of churches in Brazil establish mission churches.
And though Southern Baptists number among the stronger evangelical churches, the Pentecostals would be the largest group. However Brazil is still predominantly Catholic.
While the Christians of Brazil worship in much the same way as their brothers and sisters in the United States, there are aspects of church responsibilities and services that differ.
For one, churches in the United States promote programs and activities for the youth. In Brazil, the youth are working. “Young people are very prominent in leadership and speaking up in business meetings,” Jack said.
Another difference is time. In worship, “time is not as important,” he said, explaining that the services may last 90 minutes to two hours. Jack went on to explain that a larger crowd gathers for the night service, which usually lasts from 8 until 10 p.m. In these services, onlookers would find more singing and outward expression that in the United States.
Because there aren’t many songbooks, churches might use overhead projectors to display the words. And finally, for many, the only mode of transportation for getting to church would be on foot, he observed.
“Brazilians are eager to learn ,” Doris said, adding, “They have a thirst for knowledge.”
The Days, who have three sons and are grandparents, say they have felt privileged being called to do their life’s work. They expressed gratitude for all those who helped them serve on the missions field.
“We appreciate those who give so we could go and those who pray for us,” Doris said.
They said their sons—John, Tim and Sam—also count it a privilege to serve. In fact, Sam is working in missions now. At the time of this interview, he had just moved to Vancouver, Canada to plant a church targeting descendants of immigrants.
Jack and Doris Days may be contacted at P.O. Box 1248, Ashville, AL 35953
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