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Accord Network Announcement

  • Posted on: 27 October 2015
  • By: admin

We are pleased to announce partnership with Accord, “a network for learning, collaboration and building unity around the shared vision of eliminating poverty.”

We at ION are looking forward to collaborating with Accord Network in integral mission among oral preference learners. Many of the worlds’ poor are also oral preference learners. We believe that the combined strengths of both networks can increase the effectiveness of our service as we learn from and strengthen one another.

To learn more about Accord Network, go to: accordnetwork.org

 

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Update from David Swarr

  • Posted on: 20 October 2015
  • By: admin

For ION the past months have been a time of transition and preparation for a new season of great opportunity. We look forward to building on the amazing foundations that have been laid in ION for over more than 10 years of history. Yet although what has already been accomplished is truly remarkable, as we look at the fields ready for harvest, there is still a huge amount to be done.

How can we prepare the way for the next wave of global missions where orality will be a major focus, as over 80 percent of the world are oral learners?  We recognize that this will only be accomplished through cooperative effort between those who are able to generate and supply resources and those who are closest to the need and can communicate in local languages.  Our objective is therefore to influence the body of Christ to make disciples of oral learners by becoming truly global as a network.

We are excited to share new stories and updates with you soon, and being more connected to the ministries and services in which you are involved!

Dr. David Swarr
Executive Director, ION

 
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India Update - Serampore College, September 2015

  • Posted on: 20 October 2015
  • By: admin

Dr. David Swarr recently visited Serampore College near Calcutta, India to explore potential collaborative initiatives between the college's theology department and ION. Serampore was established by William Carey, the Father of Modern Missionary Movement, along with Joshua Marshman and William Ward in 1818. Since then the College has gained worldwide reputation as a unique educational institution.

William Carey laid a foundation for orality by working among oral populations using oral methodologies in his lifetime. Building on that, Serampore is now launching degree programs that will include training in orality principles and practices. In the past month, Dr. Swarr met with the leadership of the leadership of the institution to discuss the possibility of hosting an ION Orality Consultation and Forum, and tentative dates have been set for January 2017. We are excited about this emerging collaboration. More will be announced soon!

Dr David Swarr with team at Serampore College | International Orality Network Dr David Swarr with Orality Materials at Serampore College | International Orality Network

 
 

Making the Best Use of our Time

  • Posted on: 12 January 2015
  • By: admin

By Joe Handley

As we entered 2015 a few weeks ago, I found it interesting that the Lord spoke into my life at least three different times, from three different sources unbeknownst to one another, and all saying essentially the same thing. The picture you see here was the final incident as I was watching the film, “The Fellowship of the Rings” from Tolkein’s masterpiece trilogy, The Lord of the Rings:

‘All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.’ – Gandalf the Grey

Not long before watching this film, I met with a well known Chinese Leader (an Asian Access alumnus) who said: "Thank you for your and A2's great influence on our country. You have played an important role for the Church of China and I ask that you would leverage your influence to further this impact."

Just a few days prior, Samuel Chiang from the International Orality Network and A2 reference council member shared a similar concept. He essentially suggested that my and A2's influence is now such that we have gained a 'statesman's like' stature and we need to be judicious in how we use it.

How humbling all of this was to hear!

As I thought further about the task the Lord has given to Asian Access and to me, I'm reminded about how important it is for us to prayerfully seek the Lord's face as we move into this new year and into the next several years. The Lord has given A2 great favor: from the tsunami that swept through S and SE Asia in 2004, to the triple disaster that hit Japan in 2011, and to the influence we now seem to garner from many corners of the world. Even Charity Navigator has taken notice as their CEO mentioned we are one of only 7% of charities that has received their four star rating 4 years in a row and thus our effectiveness is top tier.

Given this favor, it’s important to take heed to these words of wisdom and live into God’s calling to leverage our influence and make the best use of our time. Reflect for yourself on the following verses and their surrounding contexts and discern how the Lord might be speaking to you as the new year begins!

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." - Ephesians 5:15-17

"from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do." - 1 Chronicles 12:32

"David had served God’s purpose in his own generation…" Acts 13:36

My Journey in Bible Storytelling

  • Posted on: 8 January 2015
  • By: admin

By Paul Trinh
For years, I had been struggling in witnessing. Although I could tell people the Bible many concerns pulled me back from witnessing. These concerns included (1) people might not be interested in my witness, (2) repeating the same gospel presentation to the same person, and (3) the available witnessing time was so short.

Seventeen years ago, I learned about the Chronological Bible Storying during my missionary career orientation. Nevertheless, its requirement to complete a worldview study of the non-believers before telling Bible stories hindered me from storytelling. Then throughout my first term, my mission agency kept promoting and training missionaries, including my wife and me, to storying the Bible.

In my second term missionary career, my wife and I began planting new churches among the Cantonese in the Dominican Republic. One day, I told an individual Bible story to an unbeliever. To my surprise, he listened attentively. Thus, I initiated my journey in Bible storytelling.

In the mission field, I told Bible stories at various settings. First, I told Bible stories in shop-to-shop visitation. During business hours, I spoke Bible stories to workers as they were working. They listened. While we returned to the same shops, we were often asked, “What story are you going to tell me today?” It opened the door for us to keep telling different Bible stories. In a few occasions, shop owners were even listening to Bible story instead of responding to their customers.

Second, I engaged Bible stories at break time of the language classes for newly immigrants. Since the new Cantonese immigrants encountered difficulty in learning Spanish, our new Chinese church started Spanish classes for them. At the break time, my wife taught them gospel songs, and I told them a series of stories of Abraham. Sometimes they were listening, but they made small talks at other times. At the end of the semester, I reviewed the life of Abraham by asking these new immigrants questions. Amazingly, they could answer every question.

Third, my wife and I employed Bible stories at the new church in Dominican Republic. I told Bible stories as my “sermons” and people paid attention. Once I trained two new leaders to tell Bible stories. One of them spoke eloquently and had no problem to retell the stories. Another leader spoke stutteringly and hesitated at the beginning. He could tell stories as well after our resilient encouragement and his repeated effort. After we left the field, they kept leading the church.

Therefore, my reluctance in witnessing disappeared. Now I am not concerned about the interest of people, for I am sure that every person loves story. I am not concerned about repeating the same gospel presentation to the same person. I know that more than five hundred Bible stories could be told. I am also not concerned about not having enough time to witness, because telling a Bible story usually only takes two minutes. Consequently, I am eager to employ Bible storying as my witnessing strategy—to lead people to follow Jesus Christ.

Returning to the United States, my wife and I began teaching believers to tell Bible stories. I met many believers sitting on the pews for years but not being able to tell a Bible story. Also many misconceive that story is for children only. Thus, we are making effort to overcome these hindrances. As a result, some believers have become excited about telling Bible stories. They are actually telling people the Bible.

Today, I tell Bible stories to both non-believers and believers. Following the examples of storytellers in the Bible, I recount Bible stories wherever I go. At the same time, I train my church members and other believers, in the States and overseas, to tell Bible stories. I know that I am actually telling people the Bible.

Tour the ION Website

  • Posted on: 2 May 2013
  • By: admin

Welcome to International Orality Network's new website – orality.net. All of ION’s information from previous websites and other networks, like Community, including your log-in and password, have been migrated to orality.net.

Here’s What’s New

The first thing you’ll notice is ION has a new logo. In order to successfully represent all of the organizations within ION, a new logo with colors was birthed. Simply click the Resources tab and select ION Global Network logo and colors to understand meanings and representation. If you wish to use the ION Logo and or link with ION's new website, please contact [email protected].

 

The new features this website offers are:

  • The home page, you’re looking at, has relevant information with active links.
  • There is an Audio and Video link on the home page showcasing ION presentations.
  • Under the Prayer tab select Calendar which accommodates ION related events and encourages prayer for that event.
  • You can now make donations to ION through National Christian Foundation. Under the Get Involved tab select Donate.
  • On every page (excluding the home page) you will find a tab titled Refer to Friends. When sending to a friend, simply click and you will have multiple options for sending that page.
  • The new website works across all mobile platforms enabling you to access and interact with resources on-the-go!

 

Coming Soon

We will have a full events registration page.

If you have an article or prayer request to submit or need graphics from the branding guide, go to the Networks tab and select e-mail. Your request will be sent to [email protected] for review.

 

Please enjoy the new tools and improvements that have been made to ION’s website to serve you and the network better. We look forward to your involvement.