Task Forces
The international Orality Network capitalizes on the gifting, skills, and passion of it constituent members. The network has established various task forces to achieve it's vision. If you feel you would like to participate in one of these task forces, please contact the facilitator of the task force initiative which interests you the most.
Pray! The International Orality Network has a very active and vibrant prayer team. Seeking God's direction and heart is core to the purpose and direction of this network. You can join this team by contacting Linda Bemis (IONPrayerTaskForce@gmail.com)
Communications & Awareness
Samuel Chiang (samuelechiang@gmail.com)
We welcome you to join our team which seeks to communicate the importance of utilizing oral-sensitive strategies to churches and mission agencies around the world. We seek to utilize the web, e-newsletters, print, video and audio as tools to communicate the message effectively to these groups externally, as well to help communication within the network. In our group we will discuss: 1) Methods of gathering stories and case studies on successful oral projects. 2) Ways in which we can communicate effectively using the web site. 3) Other ways to communicate the message. 4) How we can get the word out to other parts of the world where these tools are not as widely used as in North America.
Field Training: Multiplying Grassroots Leaders for the Task
Tim Brown (timbrown@t4global.org)
The field training task force exists to assist in equipping leaders and practitioners to disciple and train oral communicators using narrative strategies. Be a part of developing, refining and implementing the cutting edge strategies necessary to disciple the nations. This task force works together to develop solid models of lay leader training that will be effective in the field. The group focuses on how to prepare oral communicators to take leadership roles in churches, how to develop storying mentors from within oral cultures, and how to promote oral strategies among local pastors and denominational leaders. We also emphasize developing and promoting solutions to common barriers faced when training oral communicators through ongoing discussions on foundational training. In addition, we also seek to link people to effective tools and resources.
Secondary Orality: The Inside Story for How to Connect with People’s Hearts
Paul Konstanski (paul.konstanski@ccci.org)
Bible storying is booming as a powerful movement throughout the world and is on the rise in mainstream America. Storytelling is being touted as the next breakthrough in organizational change. Storytelling associations are gaining in popularity. This task force will look at ways to build on this momentum to creatively use stories in churches and other local ministry settings with the audience of those people who can read, but choose not to – the secondary oral learner.
World Consultations
Samuel Chiang (samuelechiang@gmail.com)
Join our task force on World Consultations. Be part of empowering national leaders in regions highly populated by oral communicators. Once nationals hear the message of Orality and gain tools and expertise in oral strategies, their effectiveness to reach their own people rises exponentially. Most places in the world need this message. ION members are already helping link national leaders with those who can train them. You can help. We need mission-minded people with various skills such as, networking, letter writing, organizing, finding resources, mobilizing people skilled in storying and helping arrange supplies of oral tools. We will strategize on ways to help set up world consultations and engage locals who have skills in oral strategies. Most wonderfully ION has been invited to provide information, material and training in 40 world gatherings set for 2008-2010 organized by Call2All.
Theological Education: Classroom Ideals and Field Implementation
Mark Overstreet (mmoverstreet@gmail.com)
Be a part of a group dedicated to incorporating principles of Orality into theological education. This group will work together to identify barriers that theological educators face and take steps to discover solutions for preparing students to communicate the gospel and make disciples in an oral world. Participants will also assist in developing parallel tracks of theological education for oral learners. This is an opportunity to be a part of an ongoing discussion on issues related to theological education and oral communicators.
Music and the Arts
Franl Fortunato (frank.fortunato@usa.om.com)
All the arts – storytelling, singing, dancing, drama, drawing, sculpture, and more – are interrelated ways to tell The Story, especially to oral learners. This task force aims to foster a global movement that will use all the arts in culturally appropriate ways in order to make disciples. Using insights from such disciplines as ethnomusicology, studies of other ethnic arts, missiology, and orality, we promote the arts as important means of expressive communication among oral learners. The task force encourages and equips people who want to use the arts in their ministries by building their vision, by providing practical training, and by linking them with effective resources and tools. Contact the coordinator (Robin Harris) by email at rharris[at]worldofworship[dot]org or visit our group on the web: http://groups.google.com/group/Music-Arts-Task-Force
Discovering Best Practices
Steve Stringer (sastorying@gmail.com)
The focus of this task force is to identify and publish innovative and fruitful practices in Orality and Bible storying around the world. Emphasis is on actual case studies where successes have been recorded, and not just good ideas, processes and general projects. While histories and processes behind the innovations and fruitful practices are addressed, the main feature is on results. These stores are designed to be an encouragement to practitioners around the world. sevans at saedge.org
Children
Jim Rosene (JimR@kidsaroundtheworld.com)
The world is getting younger. The majority of people become believers between the ages of 4 and 18. The Children’s Task Force seeks to build awareness among ministries for the need to develop appropriate tools with an oral methodology for this generation. It also desires to act as a bridge between those in the Orality movement and those in Children’s ministries
Women and Orality
Susie Brown (susiebrown@t4global.org)
God wants all Christian women to be a part of the the Great Commission as stated in Matthew 28:18-20. He has given us, His daughters, a heart to reach unchurched, ethnic women with the freedom of the Good News through a storying medium, i.e. art, dance, drama, chants, proverbs, music and stories. We are excited to be looking into research on storying to women and best practices (curriculum) which will be posted on the website come April, 2010. We look forward to your return visit next April for more information.
