Alliance international workers Craig and Marilyn Hanscome lead orality training in the Africa region. Recently, they taught orality storytelling principles to staff at West Africa Alliance Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Marilyn shares here a storytelling adventure she experienced that week.
It was nearly sundown. My husband and I were taking a brisk walk after the training classes at FATEAC and passed an open lot. We noticed a small building toward the back of the property.
A young woman sweeping the large open space with an African broom greeted us warmly as we passed. We greeted her in return but didn’t stop, not wanting to lose momentum.
I thought I’d like to return and tell her a story!
She Agreed to Listen
A couple of days later I set out to find her. Mary* was in the small building we’d passed, sitting on a stool and braiding a young girl’s hair. She greeted me and seemed delighted that I had come to visit.
Hair products rested on a small wooden table next to her. I could see that this was her salon, her “shop.”
After a short chat, I told her I had a story I wanted to tell her. She agreed to listen. And I shared the account of Jesus calming the storm (Matthew 8:23–27).
A Great Story!
I asked some of the questions we use in follow-up to storying. Mary was excited and kept talking about what a great story it was!
When we had some time alone after her customer left, I learned more about this young woman. Mary had been raised in the local majority religion, but she recounted to me how she had occasionally attended church when someone would invite her.
When I asked if she had ever asked Jesus into her life, she said, “No, I haven’t.”
I sensed her openness, so I shared with her about God’s love and how he sent Jesus for us. I then asked her if she would like to invite Him into her life.
“Yes!” she replied.
We Must Have Faith
We bowed our heads to pray, and the moment we lifted them a young couple arrived with their beautiful baby girl. Since the young mom wanted her hair done, I got up to leave so my new friend could work.
“Don’t go—they need to hear a story too!” Mary exclaimed. So I proceeded to tell Mary and the family the story of the demon-possessed man (Mark 5:1–20).
Mary was delighted. I also noticed that the young father had listened intently. When I asked, “What touched you about the story?” he responded, “We must have faith.”
In the days following our initial time together in her shop, I visited Mary to encourage her. She also went to church with us on Sunday and wept when it was time for us to return home.
I told her that the love she sensed from us was Jesus’ love—He was still with her. This seemed to cheer her.
We have since heard from our FATEAC friends that Mary seems to be doing well. She is building up her hair-braiding business and faithfully attending church. When we call her, she says, “I am living in grace—I am living in joy!”
We are grateful to the Father to be walking this road of orality, training others to share the Word with power and clarity, and for His leading us to people like Mary who need to hear His story.
*Name changed
Learn More
Read “God Sent You,” an article about the power of storytelling among the Vili people in Congo.