Meet Our NARION 2021 Speakers and Partners!
Scroll down to read each person's story.
Anne Alexander
Semiliterate in Mandarin since kindergarten in Taiwan, red-headed Anne grew up hyper-literate in English. After 18 years training and teaching inductive Bible studies, she saw few local Taiwanese learners rising up as leaders. Worse, even seminary students were proclaiming the method “too Western.”
Ministry crisis led Anne to Thailand, where a John D. Walsh’s Christian Storytelling Conference changed her worldview and focus to Bible storytelling. At last she recognized that Taiwan has a largely oral culture.
John, founder of BibleTelling.org and ChristianStorytelling.com, came to Taiwan in 2009 and 2010 to lead workshops in Bible storytelling. Enthusiastic and joyful attendees participated in impromptu group Bible story performances using drama, music, poetry and visual arts.
Cross-cultural Bible storytelling was Anne’s doctoral study focus, completed in 2019. Her dissertation analyzed 57 impromptu Bible story performance videos from 2009, 2010 and 2012-2013 trainings and classes.
In 2014, Anne relocated to Bloomington, Illinois, where she continues to serve with OMF in mobilizing future missionaries, with BibleTelling as a volunteer, and recently with Urbana Theological Seminary in teaching missions.
Semiliterate in Mandarin since kindergarten in Taiwan, red-headed Anne grew up hyper-literate in English. After 18 years training and teaching inductive Bible studies, she saw few local Taiwanese learners rising up as leaders. Worse, even seminary students were proclaiming the method “too Western.”
Ministry crisis led Anne to Thailand, where a John D. Walsh’s Christian Storytelling Conference changed her worldview and focus to Bible storytelling. At last she recognized that Taiwan has a largely oral culture.
John, founder of BibleTelling.org and ChristianStorytelling.com, came to Taiwan in 2009 and 2010 to lead workshops in Bible storytelling. Enthusiastic and joyful attendees participated in impromptu group Bible story performances using drama, music, poetry and visual arts.
Cross-cultural Bible storytelling was Anne’s doctoral study focus, completed in 2019. Her dissertation analyzed 57 impromptu Bible story performance videos from 2009, 2010 and 2012-2013 trainings and classes.
In 2014, Anne relocated to Bloomington, Illinois, where she continues to serve with OMF in mobilizing future missionaries, with BibleTelling as a volunteer, and recently with Urbana Theological Seminary in teaching missions.
Sarah Beth Baca
Sarah Beth Baca’s first painting class as a college freshman sparked a passion for art within her. A Houston-based painter, she has worked with acrylic, oil, collage, and mixed media illustrations. Her current series brings together watercolor and ink work to brightly illustrate imaginative half portraits-each piece evokes deep meaning and symbolism as it reimagines the lives of women whose stories have been overlooked or misunderstood. Her studies in theology, gender equality, racial reconciliation, and community development have influenced the themes of her paintings. Her work as an artist often intersects with her work at Attack Poverty, a nonprofit that empowers people in under-resourced communities. Elevating themes of diversity, equality, renewal, unity, and empowerment, Sarah Beth loves to collaborate with other artists and provoke conversation and thought through art.
Sarah Beth has engaged churches and faith organizations with her art throughout her career. From her launch pad at Houston Baptist University (where she graduated with a BA in Art and Marketing in 2000), she has gone on to paint on church stages, organize group art exhibits in churches, and collaborate on community art projects. Her work has been published in Christians for Bible Equality’s (CBE) Mutuality Magazine, Fuller Seminary’s leadership journal, A Seat at the Table, Voyage Houston, The Fort Bend Herald, and other local publications. Her portraits of women of the Bible are used frequently around the world to illustrate sermons and Bible studies, and her art is collected worldwide.
Sarah Beth will continue telling stories through art, and she’s already looking ahead to the next series. Her goal is to shed light through beautiful imagery, offering a fresh perspective and shaping culture in the Church.
Sarah Beth Baca’s first painting class as a college freshman sparked a passion for art within her. A Houston-based painter, she has worked with acrylic, oil, collage, and mixed media illustrations. Her current series brings together watercolor and ink work to brightly illustrate imaginative half portraits-each piece evokes deep meaning and symbolism as it reimagines the lives of women whose stories have been overlooked or misunderstood. Her studies in theology, gender equality, racial reconciliation, and community development have influenced the themes of her paintings. Her work as an artist often intersects with her work at Attack Poverty, a nonprofit that empowers people in under-resourced communities. Elevating themes of diversity, equality, renewal, unity, and empowerment, Sarah Beth loves to collaborate with other artists and provoke conversation and thought through art.
Sarah Beth has engaged churches and faith organizations with her art throughout her career. From her launch pad at Houston Baptist University (where she graduated with a BA in Art and Marketing in 2000), she has gone on to paint on church stages, organize group art exhibits in churches, and collaborate on community art projects. Her work has been published in Christians for Bible Equality’s (CBE) Mutuality Magazine, Fuller Seminary’s leadership journal, A Seat at the Table, Voyage Houston, The Fort Bend Herald, and other local publications. Her portraits of women of the Bible are used frequently around the world to illustrate sermons and Bible studies, and her art is collected worldwide.
Sarah Beth will continue telling stories through art, and she’s already looking ahead to the next series. Her goal is to shed light through beautiful imagery, offering a fresh perspective and shaping culture in the Church.
Joanna Beske
As a young girl, I LOVED story-time at school, especially when we would go outside and sit on blankets under a high shade tree. I often dreamed of a world where I could do that but share Bible stories with my friends. I grew up travelling to foreign lands, learning new languages and cultures, and discovering exciting new ways to communicate. One day, many years later, God sent me to West Africa, where I discovered a whole caste of people whose role in society was telling the stories of their history. Joy rose up in my heart as I knew I had found my people. It didn’t hurt that these same people enjoyed expressive dance. For the next twenty years, I often found myself sitting on mats sharing God’s stories from His holy books, with my friends who did not yet know Jesus. I also desired for my Christian sisters to rise up and share these stories with others too, but they didn’t think they could because they were illiterate and unschooled. God had other plans though, and they began meeting together and learning the stories, only to discover God’s call for them to become Christian storytellers to their own people. Today, I help encourage and empower these women as well as helping train others who desire to share God’s stories among unreached peoples.
Joanna has served as a Biblical storyteller in West Africa with Pioneers. Currently, she serves on their Encountering the World of Islam team, equipping the body of Christ to minister with His heart among refugee peoples. Joanna recently earned her doctorate for equipping oral preference learners as Biblical storytellers.
As a young girl, I LOVED story-time at school, especially when we would go outside and sit on blankets under a high shade tree. I often dreamed of a world where I could do that but share Bible stories with my friends. I grew up travelling to foreign lands, learning new languages and cultures, and discovering exciting new ways to communicate. One day, many years later, God sent me to West Africa, where I discovered a whole caste of people whose role in society was telling the stories of their history. Joy rose up in my heart as I knew I had found my people. It didn’t hurt that these same people enjoyed expressive dance. For the next twenty years, I often found myself sitting on mats sharing God’s stories from His holy books, with my friends who did not yet know Jesus. I also desired for my Christian sisters to rise up and share these stories with others too, but they didn’t think they could because they were illiterate and unschooled. God had other plans though, and they began meeting together and learning the stories, only to discover God’s call for them to become Christian storytellers to their own people. Today, I help encourage and empower these women as well as helping train others who desire to share God’s stories among unreached peoples.
Joanna has served as a Biblical storyteller in West Africa with Pioneers. Currently, she serves on their Encountering the World of Islam team, equipping the body of Christ to minister with His heart among refugee peoples. Joanna recently earned her doctorate for equipping oral preference learners as Biblical storytellers.
Chesed Dent
Chesed heard the knock on the door and smiled. Her friend L was here to talk about God’s story. For months they had been meeting regularly to practice language through studying stories. It started out as a much larger group but now it was just L who showed up. They had slowly been learning stories in the Torah, stories that both Chesed and L believed were true even though they were from different religions and different cultures. Chesed invited L in and they sat down on the green plasticky couch. It might not be the most comfortable piece of furniture, but it made for easier cleaning with the humidity and temperatures of Southeast Asia. They were about to begin their next story when L looked at Chesed and spoke up.
“The last story is about Jesus isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I want to hear that story today.”
“Ok.”
Chesed’s friend was being drawn into the Kingdom of God through His stories. These are the same stories that Chesed heard her parents tell growing up in Southeast Asia as they traveled to villages and islands and invested in their local community. But they were not just stories told by her parents. These were the stories that God used to walk her through transition into college life in the United States. And they were the stories and Story that brought her back to this island, to a friend named L. Watching L’s life change through the smaller stories that make up God’s great story deepened Chesed’s passion for their telling. It is this passion that God would continue to develop and use in Chesed over the next 15 years as He brought her back to the US and eventually to Liberty University where she now disciples, teaches, and trains students through story. It might seem like a far cry from her days in Southeast Asia hanging out with L, but it’s not so different. She still smiles when someone walks through the door to talk about God’s story.
Chesed heard the knock on the door and smiled. Her friend L was here to talk about God’s story. For months they had been meeting regularly to practice language through studying stories. It started out as a much larger group but now it was just L who showed up. They had slowly been learning stories in the Torah, stories that both Chesed and L believed were true even though they were from different religions and different cultures. Chesed invited L in and they sat down on the green plasticky couch. It might not be the most comfortable piece of furniture, but it made for easier cleaning with the humidity and temperatures of Southeast Asia. They were about to begin their next story when L looked at Chesed and spoke up.
“The last story is about Jesus isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“I want to hear that story today.”
“Ok.”
Chesed’s friend was being drawn into the Kingdom of God through His stories. These are the same stories that Chesed heard her parents tell growing up in Southeast Asia as they traveled to villages and islands and invested in their local community. But they were not just stories told by her parents. These were the stories that God used to walk her through transition into college life in the United States. And they were the stories and Story that brought her back to this island, to a friend named L. Watching L’s life change through the smaller stories that make up God’s great story deepened Chesed’s passion for their telling. It is this passion that God would continue to develop and use in Chesed over the next 15 years as He brought her back to the US and eventually to Liberty University where she now disciples, teaches, and trains students through story. It might seem like a far cry from her days in Southeast Asia hanging out with L, but it’s not so different. She still smiles when someone walks through the door to talk about God’s story.
Corey Garrett
Corey and his wife Katie were fortunate to be mentored into orality by another missionary family from their earliest days in Senegal. They have continued to use the principles of orality in different ways through the years in order to become the communicators that their audience needs. Their work includes storying, audio scriptures, mobile and desktop apps, books and booklets in local language using Arabic script, websites and social media, and videos.
Corey and his wife Katie were fortunate to be mentored into orality by another missionary family from their earliest days in Senegal. They have continued to use the principles of orality in different ways through the years in order to become the communicators that their audience needs. Their work includes storying, audio scriptures, mobile and desktop apps, books and booklets in local language using Arabic script, websites and social media, and videos.
Dr. Robin Harris
Dr. Robin Harris has experienced more cold weather than normal people. She grew up in Alaska and served for decades in northern places like Canada, Alaska, and ten years in northern Russia/Siberia. Since all that work in cold weather showed her that she needed to learn more about the arts of northern peoples, she earned MAs in Intercultural Studies and Ethnomusicology and completed her PhD in Music/Ethnomusicology, writing a dissertation on a Siberian epic storytelling tradition. She is now thawing out, living in Dallas and serving as Chair of Dallas International University’s Center for Excellence in World Arts. She also serves as the President of the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) and President of the Global Ethnodoxology Network (GEN), a global network for arts and mission workers that she helped to launch in 2003. Her publications include co-editing Worship and Mission for the Global Church: An Ethnodoxology Handbook (William Carey Library, 2013) and Storytelling in Siberia: The Olonkho Epic in a Changing World (University of Illinois Press, 2017).
Dr. Robin Harris has experienced more cold weather than normal people. She grew up in Alaska and served for decades in northern places like Canada, Alaska, and ten years in northern Russia/Siberia. Since all that work in cold weather showed her that she needed to learn more about the arts of northern peoples, she earned MAs in Intercultural Studies and Ethnomusicology and completed her PhD in Music/Ethnomusicology, writing a dissertation on a Siberian epic storytelling tradition. She is now thawing out, living in Dallas and serving as Chair of Dallas International University’s Center for Excellence in World Arts. She also serves as the President of the Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) and President of the Global Ethnodoxology Network (GEN), a global network for arts and mission workers that she helped to launch in 2003. Her publications include co-editing Worship and Mission for the Global Church: An Ethnodoxology Handbook (William Carey Library, 2013) and Storytelling in Siberia: The Olonkho Epic in a Changing World (University of Illinois Press, 2017).
Zerrie Hines
I accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of 6. I cannot explain it except to say as far back as I can remember I always wanted to be two things – a Christian and an ice-cream man (I thought that way I could eat as much as I wanted). I might tell you I loved ice cream, but the truth is I still want to be an ice-cream man.
I was very blessed as a child to have been birthed into a Christian family that was very strict when it came to living for the Lord. My family, local church and community surroundings was always promoting devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. I guess you could say it was, and remains, an ever-present passion in my life.
I have been a Bible teacher for more than 37 years, having begun in earnest at the age of 25. It seems I have been teaching most of my life. I taught engineering mathematics in the early eighties, and legal studies in the mid to late nineties. Through it all I confess a love-affair with the Word of the Lord.
Presently, I am a Sunday School Bible Group Teacher at the Brentwood Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. I am so thrilled that we have incorporated numerous methods of study, instruction, and discussion into the orality format for in so doing the class is never a bore, neither is it lacking in serious revelation of God. Through the use of orality we are continually growing to new heights in our commitment and dedication to self-sacrifice and the service of the Lord.
I am so grateful to God-Almighty for having exposed me to and directed me toward the use of orality in my self-study, witness, and instruction. Each of these are now so much easier in which to engage others. To God be the glory for bringing this into my pathway.
I accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of 6. I cannot explain it except to say as far back as I can remember I always wanted to be two things – a Christian and an ice-cream man (I thought that way I could eat as much as I wanted). I might tell you I loved ice cream, but the truth is I still want to be an ice-cream man.
I was very blessed as a child to have been birthed into a Christian family that was very strict when it came to living for the Lord. My family, local church and community surroundings was always promoting devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. I guess you could say it was, and remains, an ever-present passion in my life.
I have been a Bible teacher for more than 37 years, having begun in earnest at the age of 25. It seems I have been teaching most of my life. I taught engineering mathematics in the early eighties, and legal studies in the mid to late nineties. Through it all I confess a love-affair with the Word of the Lord.
Presently, I am a Sunday School Bible Group Teacher at the Brentwood Baptist Church of Houston, Texas. I am so thrilled that we have incorporated numerous methods of study, instruction, and discussion into the orality format for in so doing the class is never a bore, neither is it lacking in serious revelation of God. Through the use of orality we are continually growing to new heights in our commitment and dedication to self-sacrifice and the service of the Lord.
I am so grateful to God-Almighty for having exposed me to and directed me toward the use of orality in my self-study, witness, and instruction. Each of these are now so much easier in which to engage others. To God be the glory for bringing this into my pathway.
Phyllis Hostmeyer
Phyllis lives in Frogtown, Illinois, with her husband and a mangy dog named Max. Phyllis spends her days cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry. One day she was invited to travel to Israel to tell stories. Not wanting to look foolish, Phyllis practiced her stories in many places: prisons, schools, churches, friends’ homes. She discovered she had a knack for telling stories. Phyllis returned to Frogtown a changed person. Not only does she now travel the world to tell stories, but also began teaching others how to tell stories, how to write poems about stories, how to dialogue about stories in small groups. She even began writing books. Phyllis loves her simple life in Frogtown, but her heart leaps with excitement when someone asks, “Would you come tell stories?” And without hesitation she says, “Yes, where?” Contact Phyllis at [email protected] or www.phylsquill.com.
Phyllis lives in Frogtown, Illinois, with her husband and a mangy dog named Max. Phyllis spends her days cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry. One day she was invited to travel to Israel to tell stories. Not wanting to look foolish, Phyllis practiced her stories in many places: prisons, schools, churches, friends’ homes. She discovered she had a knack for telling stories. Phyllis returned to Frogtown a changed person. Not only does she now travel the world to tell stories, but also began teaching others how to tell stories, how to write poems about stories, how to dialogue about stories in small groups. She even began writing books. Phyllis loves her simple life in Frogtown, but her heart leaps with excitement when someone asks, “Would you come tell stories?” And without hesitation she says, “Yes, where?” Contact Phyllis at [email protected] or www.phylsquill.com.
Jackie Kirksey
As a young girl, I loved to play school and share my joy of learning with the other kids on the block in my parent’s garage. Of course, I was the teacher since my dad painted a chalkboard on the garage wall! This heart’s desire to learn and share continues to drive my relationships and interactions.
While participating in school activities and church ministries, I was always searching for a better way to understand the information presented. This thirst for creative ways to discover meaning propelled me into a career as an educator.
Initially, I was unaware of the Holy Spirit’s constant guidance and direction in my career which included teaching in an open-concept school where instruction was learner-centered driven. Wow! This was an opportunity to utilize a variety of approaches to reach each student in their preferred learning style! After a few years, I was blessed to be the Enrichment Magnet Coordinator of the same school.
Eventually, the Lord began to place me in various leadership positions within the school district to mentor and coach other professionals. One such position was, Magnet/Vanguard (Gifted & Talented) Coordinator of an affluent elementary campus grounded in traditional teaching method. For ten years, I observed students enjoying learning in innovative ways, working with enthusiastic teachers willing to make learning fun and attainable, and experienced the support of parents. However, in changing the status-quo, I was labeled “a renegade” by some and “a trailblazer” by others! Of course, I favored the latter and to this day realize that my journey is molding me to fulfill the Lord’s divine plan!
Among my many blessings is a wonderful husband of fifty years, three children, and four grandsons who share my love for Christ Jesus! The responsibility of sharing God’s Word with them and others in my circle of influence encouraged me to work as diligently with my church family as I did in my profession. Therefore, I utilized Orality methods while serving in various leadership capacities, and Sunday School Teacher for the Brentwood Baptist Church of Houston, Texas.
As a lifelong learner and on occasion, a “lead learner”, I currently facilitate the use of Orality methods to lead others to discover the truths of God’s Word. What better story to tell than God’s Story which brings about spiritual transformation! To God be the Glory for allowing me to engage others in the study of His Word through Orality.
As a young girl, I loved to play school and share my joy of learning with the other kids on the block in my parent’s garage. Of course, I was the teacher since my dad painted a chalkboard on the garage wall! This heart’s desire to learn and share continues to drive my relationships and interactions.
While participating in school activities and church ministries, I was always searching for a better way to understand the information presented. This thirst for creative ways to discover meaning propelled me into a career as an educator.
Initially, I was unaware of the Holy Spirit’s constant guidance and direction in my career which included teaching in an open-concept school where instruction was learner-centered driven. Wow! This was an opportunity to utilize a variety of approaches to reach each student in their preferred learning style! After a few years, I was blessed to be the Enrichment Magnet Coordinator of the same school.
Eventually, the Lord began to place me in various leadership positions within the school district to mentor and coach other professionals. One such position was, Magnet/Vanguard (Gifted & Talented) Coordinator of an affluent elementary campus grounded in traditional teaching method. For ten years, I observed students enjoying learning in innovative ways, working with enthusiastic teachers willing to make learning fun and attainable, and experienced the support of parents. However, in changing the status-quo, I was labeled “a renegade” by some and “a trailblazer” by others! Of course, I favored the latter and to this day realize that my journey is molding me to fulfill the Lord’s divine plan!
Among my many blessings is a wonderful husband of fifty years, three children, and four grandsons who share my love for Christ Jesus! The responsibility of sharing God’s Word with them and others in my circle of influence encouraged me to work as diligently with my church family as I did in my profession. Therefore, I utilized Orality methods while serving in various leadership capacities, and Sunday School Teacher for the Brentwood Baptist Church of Houston, Texas.
As a lifelong learner and on occasion, a “lead learner”, I currently facilitate the use of Orality methods to lead others to discover the truths of God’s Word. What better story to tell than God’s Story which brings about spiritual transformation! To God be the Glory for allowing me to engage others in the study of His Word through Orality.
Janet Maxim
Janet Maxim, her husband, and son moved to Ohio with dreams of implementing No Place Left strategies. We brought trainers to Columbus in 2017 to catalyze a movement. We are not in professional ministry - just regular folks who desperately want "the news of his arrival to spread quickly throughout the whole area." (Mt 14:35). We love how it is spreading as we unite with people from other churches here in central Ohio, labor together in the harvest and pray to make disciples who make disciples.
Janet Maxim, her husband, and son moved to Ohio with dreams of implementing No Place Left strategies. We brought trainers to Columbus in 2017 to catalyze a movement. We are not in professional ministry - just regular folks who desperately want "the news of his arrival to spread quickly throughout the whole area." (Mt 14:35). We love how it is spreading as we unite with people from other churches here in central Ohio, labor together in the harvest and pray to make disciples who make disciples.
Jason McKinney
Jason McKinney moved into downtown Cincinnati as a NAMB church planter. While engaging leaders in other cities, he learned of No Place Left and began to investigate how to apply it to his city. Simultaneously, Mark Snowden brought NPL trainers to Cincinnati. Jason found its multiplication and discipleship strategies highly effective in a region that showed no interest in the traditional church. He has since seen over a dozen new studies and churches started in and beyond the city.
Jason McKinney moved into downtown Cincinnati as a NAMB church planter. While engaging leaders in other cities, he learned of No Place Left and began to investigate how to apply it to his city. Simultaneously, Mark Snowden brought NPL trainers to Cincinnati. Jason found its multiplication and discipleship strategies highly effective in a region that showed no interest in the traditional church. He has since seen over a dozen new studies and churches started in and beyond the city.
Matthew Meng
Matthew was just a typical kid who loved playing sports and loved to listen to and tell stories. But, as he got older, Matt began to realize he wasn’t called to just a normal life. The nations tugged at his heart and everywhere he went he could see what Jesus said “Behold, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Matthew wanted to see that change, to see more harvesters being sent out, but he didn’t know what he had to offer.
Matthew felt like a dumb jock who only knew a bunch of kids stories. So, at first, he tried to be like all the other missionaries he saw. He didn’t play sports anymore because he wanted to do serious ministry. He stopped telling stories because he wanted to equip adults to “really study the Word”. Before long, he felt a bit like David trying to walk around using Saul’s armor. He thought to himself, “God, is it really supposed to be this hard”?
He wanted to give up, but then someone introduced Matt to the idea of orality. Suddenly, telling stories wasn’t just “kid stuff”, it was vital for reaching the least reached! Matthew found new passion for ministry. Before long someone else began showing Matthew how people all around the world were using sport, play, and fitness as a catalyst for making disciples. From that point forward, nothing would be the same.
It was like David dropping Saul’s armor, Matthew felt free to be himself again! In fact, the more he traveled and the more he served the more he found that he was exactly who God wanted him to be. Now, Matthew spends his time helping sports people, like himself, to use the sports they love and the Bible stories they know to bring the gospel to their communities all around the world. At the end of the day, he is still just that ordinary, sport loving, storytelling kid, but he has been blessed to be living a rather extraordinary life.
Matthew was just a typical kid who loved playing sports and loved to listen to and tell stories. But, as he got older, Matt began to realize he wasn’t called to just a normal life. The nations tugged at his heart and everywhere he went he could see what Jesus said “Behold, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Matthew wanted to see that change, to see more harvesters being sent out, but he didn’t know what he had to offer.
Matthew felt like a dumb jock who only knew a bunch of kids stories. So, at first, he tried to be like all the other missionaries he saw. He didn’t play sports anymore because he wanted to do serious ministry. He stopped telling stories because he wanted to equip adults to “really study the Word”. Before long, he felt a bit like David trying to walk around using Saul’s armor. He thought to himself, “God, is it really supposed to be this hard”?
He wanted to give up, but then someone introduced Matt to the idea of orality. Suddenly, telling stories wasn’t just “kid stuff”, it was vital for reaching the least reached! Matthew found new passion for ministry. Before long someone else began showing Matthew how people all around the world were using sport, play, and fitness as a catalyst for making disciples. From that point forward, nothing would be the same.
It was like David dropping Saul’s armor, Matthew felt free to be himself again! In fact, the more he traveled and the more he served the more he found that he was exactly who God wanted him to be. Now, Matthew spends his time helping sports people, like himself, to use the sports they love and the Bible stories they know to bring the gospel to their communities all around the world. At the end of the day, he is still just that ordinary, sport loving, storytelling kid, but he has been blessed to be living a rather extraordinary life.
Dr. Ray Neu
Pausing on the way into a classroom at the University of Singapore, the double PhD professor said to Ray, "I'm not sure this is going to work. These kids are all doctoral candidates and VERY intelligent." Ray responded, "Sure, that's okay, we'll just give it a try and see what happens."
The plan was simple, tell a Bible story and discuss it. No lecture, just questions.
A rapid, energized, fascinatingly insightful hour and a half later, the story of Zacchaeus had come alive in such amazing ways that several students trailed after the pair as they left the academic hall. They wanted more...
That's the beauty of what Ray does. He tells Bible stories and asks open ended questions. The story, the Spirit and the group do the rest.
One of the most common statements after one of these sessions, "I never imagined there was SO MUCH in that story!"
Pausing on the way into a classroom at the University of Singapore, the double PhD professor said to Ray, "I'm not sure this is going to work. These kids are all doctoral candidates and VERY intelligent." Ray responded, "Sure, that's okay, we'll just give it a try and see what happens."
The plan was simple, tell a Bible story and discuss it. No lecture, just questions.
A rapid, energized, fascinatingly insightful hour and a half later, the story of Zacchaeus had come alive in such amazing ways that several students trailed after the pair as they left the academic hall. They wanted more...
That's the beauty of what Ray does. He tells Bible stories and asks open ended questions. The story, the Spirit and the group do the rest.
One of the most common statements after one of these sessions, "I never imagined there was SO MUCH in that story!"
Dave Revnak
Having served 8 years in catalytic church planting in South Asia, Dave has served the past two years as an outreach pastor in Northwest Ohio. He serving the vision to see teams pursuing movement in every county in Ohio until there is #NoPlaceLeft.
Having served 8 years in catalytic church planting in South Asia, Dave has served the past two years as an outreach pastor in Northwest Ohio. He serving the vision to see teams pursuing movement in every county in Ohio until there is #NoPlaceLeft.
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt first got involved in orality when he was working in Niger where he did evangelism and discipleship among the Tuareg people. This nomadic camel herding group are classic oral learners. Mike realized that these people drew deep spiritual truths from stories that he had only seen through the epistles. Mike has been telling Bible stories ever since. In 2012, Mike moved back to Omaha to teach in the intercultural studies department at Grace University. It was here that he met Tara Rye and helped her start an orality program at the school. In 2018, Grace University closed, at which time Mike started to work with international students in Omaha. Mike has just accepted the position of director and professor of Intercultural studies at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. Mike and his wife LaRae will be moving to Canada in the summer of 2021. They have two grown children. Mitchell is a doctor in Rapid City, SD, and Ariana is project manager for Samaritan's Purse in northern Iraq.
Mike Schmidt first got involved in orality when he was working in Niger where he did evangelism and discipleship among the Tuareg people. This nomadic camel herding group are classic oral learners. Mike realized that these people drew deep spiritual truths from stories that he had only seen through the epistles. Mike has been telling Bible stories ever since. In 2012, Mike moved back to Omaha to teach in the intercultural studies department at Grace University. It was here that he met Tara Rye and helped her start an orality program at the school. In 2018, Grace University closed, at which time Mike started to work with international students in Omaha. Mike has just accepted the position of director and professor of Intercultural studies at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. Mike and his wife LaRae will be moving to Canada in the summer of 2021. They have two grown children. Mitchell is a doctor in Rapid City, SD, and Ariana is project manager for Samaritan's Purse in northern Iraq.
Mark Snowden
Mark Snowden was among the first in the U.S trained in oral methods. He and the late Avery Willis wrote Truth That Sticks and he served as editor and one of the writers for "Orality in America." Then, in 2018, he attended a conference and was introduced to No Place Left. Mark brought it back to Cincinnati and learned there was a great interest in NPL training. The methods are proving highly reproducible. Mark helped start ION and has served as a program chairman. He served as convener for this panel.
Mark Snowden was among the first in the U.S trained in oral methods. He and the late Avery Willis wrote Truth That Sticks and he served as editor and one of the writers for "Orality in America." Then, in 2018, he attended a conference and was introduced to No Place Left. Mark brought it back to Cincinnati and learned there was a great interest in NPL training. The methods are proving highly reproducible. Mark helped start ION and has served as a program chairman. He served as convener for this panel.
Tom Steffen
Our family headed to the Philippines to start a holistic church planting movement among the Ifugao in central Luzon. That journey half-way around the world began other journeys in church planting, orality, business as mission, and consulting. Our Philippine experience later launched a professorship at the Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University, where I was able to teach, write, and consult on these topics. Now as professor emeritus, I continue to do the same.
Our family headed to the Philippines to start a holistic church planting movement among the Ifugao in central Luzon. That journey half-way around the world began other journeys in church planting, orality, business as mission, and consulting. Our Philippine experience later launched a professorship at the Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University, where I was able to teach, write, and consult on these topics. Now as professor emeritus, I continue to do the same.
Debby Topliff
After encountering the living God at L’Abri in 1970, Debby Topliff earned an MA at TEDS. Since then she has devoted herself to exploring ways to make Scripture come alive to people—through songs, novels, and most recently paintings. Though not a trained artist, she developed a process of visual lectio divina for discovering and remembering a passage by simply sketching all its details.
Her theological passion to “see” the big picture in God’s Word led to in-depth study and then large paintings of entire books and chapters, including Mark, Acts, Revelation, John, the Life of Abraham, and Isaiah. She coaches others in her techniques through classes and in her book And the Word Became Color.
Her simple child-like images appeal across cultures and age groups. Fabric reproductions are being used to reach non-textual learners in Papua New Guinea, and with refugees. Visit www.debbytopliff.com.
After encountering the living God at L’Abri in 1970, Debby Topliff earned an MA at TEDS. Since then she has devoted herself to exploring ways to make Scripture come alive to people—through songs, novels, and most recently paintings. Though not a trained artist, she developed a process of visual lectio divina for discovering and remembering a passage by simply sketching all its details.
Her theological passion to “see” the big picture in God’s Word led to in-depth study and then large paintings of entire books and chapters, including Mark, Acts, Revelation, John, the Life of Abraham, and Isaiah. She coaches others in her techniques through classes and in her book And the Word Became Color.
Her simple child-like images appeal across cultures and age groups. Fabric reproductions are being used to reach non-textual learners in Papua New Guinea, and with refugees. Visit www.debbytopliff.com.
Tre9
There once was a white boy from the Northside inner-city streets of Houston, TX who fell in love with Hip Hop culture at 11 years of age. Throughout his junior high and high school years, he wrote and recorded explicit raps with the hopes of making it big as a rapper someday. A year after graduating high school, Bobby Herring (a.k.a. Tre9) found himself a saved man with a new mission, to rap for Jesus. From 1996-2008, he rapped in schools, prisons, church youth groups, at overseas mission trips, and in many inner city streets amongst the most under-served people groups. By 2008, he launched out as an urban/hip hop missionary and began focusing on discipleship and church planting in an urban context, while keeping the orality ministry of rapping to win souls at the forefront. There's nothing that excites him more than to help someone come out of the streets and into the Disciple the Streets brotherhood and sisterhood, which he formed in 2016. Now he spends his days and nights planning hip hop block parties to reach those far from God, discipling the people in their communities, planting backyard missionaries in Houston hoods, connecting people to spiritual mentors, and launching simple organic churches in their homes and apartment club houses. Although he is no longer producing his own rap records, he is very involved in mentoring rap artists who are seeking to be on mission for God. When artists ask Tre9 if he can drop a feature on their song, his response is simple, "Send me the beat, and I got ya!" It's obvious the love for rap music is still a big part of his evangelism to save souls.
Contact Tre here:
Facebook: TreTothenine
Instagram/Twitter: @Tre9online
Youtube: Hip Hop Hope Missions (Channel)
Website: www.EyesOnMeInc.com
There once was a white boy from the Northside inner-city streets of Houston, TX who fell in love with Hip Hop culture at 11 years of age. Throughout his junior high and high school years, he wrote and recorded explicit raps with the hopes of making it big as a rapper someday. A year after graduating high school, Bobby Herring (a.k.a. Tre9) found himself a saved man with a new mission, to rap for Jesus. From 1996-2008, he rapped in schools, prisons, church youth groups, at overseas mission trips, and in many inner city streets amongst the most under-served people groups. By 2008, he launched out as an urban/hip hop missionary and began focusing on discipleship and church planting in an urban context, while keeping the orality ministry of rapping to win souls at the forefront. There's nothing that excites him more than to help someone come out of the streets and into the Disciple the Streets brotherhood and sisterhood, which he formed in 2016. Now he spends his days and nights planning hip hop block parties to reach those far from God, discipling the people in their communities, planting backyard missionaries in Houston hoods, connecting people to spiritual mentors, and launching simple organic churches in their homes and apartment club houses. Although he is no longer producing his own rap records, he is very involved in mentoring rap artists who are seeking to be on mission for God. When artists ask Tre9 if he can drop a feature on their song, his response is simple, "Send me the beat, and I got ya!" It's obvious the love for rap music is still a big part of his evangelism to save souls.
Contact Tre here:
Facebook: TreTothenine
Instagram/Twitter: @Tre9online
Youtube: Hip Hop Hope Missions (Channel)
Website: www.EyesOnMeInc.com
Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson passionately communicates the glorious gospel to audiences of all ages in the U.S. and internationally. As a global ambassador and staff member of Cru®, she has ministered in 77 countries, proclaiming the love of God and the truth that sets people free. As an author and speaker, she equips others through conferences, retreats and evangelism training. Nancy holds a Masters in Communication and Leadership
Nancy Wilson passionately communicates the glorious gospel to audiences of all ages in the U.S. and internationally. As a global ambassador and staff member of Cru®, she has ministered in 77 countries, proclaiming the love of God and the truth that sets people free. As an author and speaker, she equips others through conferences, retreats and evangelism training. Nancy holds a Masters in Communication and Leadership