Workshops were held in Riobamba and Quito, Ecuador, to help leaders understand how to tell Bible stories not just from their heads but from their hearts as well. 

The presenters were Stéphane Tibi, education coordinator for the Eurasia Region, and Angel Sigui, a Master Story Teller for the Tell THE Story program. 

The workshops, held 5-7 December, taught attendees four different steps used in telling the story. One step encouraged them to put themselves in the story and discern what God was trying to show them through the story.

“The training taught participants to be invested storytellers in order to communicate biblical truth in the same way that Christ did,” said Lindsay Eckart, a participant at the workshop. “Not only were we learning stories that would be impactful for those around us, but we were reminded to let ourselves be moved by the story as well.”

As the participants read through the stories, retold them, and put themselves into the stories, they learned that knowing the story and feeling the story from their heart offered a different perspective on the story that was more meaningful to them. 

After completing the exercise, Tibi would ask, “How did that make you feel?” many were overcome with tears and responded, “peace, comfort, and God loves me.”

“There were countless instances throughout the training when a story affected someone in an incredibly personal way,” Eckart said. “In my own small group, retelling the story of the blind beggar from Luke 18:35 brought many of us to tears.”

The workshops were not only about sharing the stories, but Tibi also shared techniques for memorizing scripture, references of the Gospels, and Bible story locations through images. He also shared how to memorize the Articles of Faith through study maps. 

One of the pastors was so excited that he shared about the training with his church congregation the next morning.  

--Church of the Nazarene South America Region