Fruitful Practices #6- The Art of Storytelling
This is Part 6 of the “Fruitful Practices” series. If you have missed former articles, we encourage you to follow the links at the bottom of the page to check them out! The methods highlighted in this series are, by no means, the only way to do ministry among Muslims, but have been found by Kingdom workers to be effective strategies in many Muslim contexts.
The Storyteller’s Bazaar
Everyone loves a good story! Years ago, in Peshawar, Pakistan– a major city on one of the ancient crossroads of Asia– I heard about and visited a market called the “Storyteller’s Bazaar.” I asked the local shopkeepers about this unique name. “Tradition has it,” they told me, “that before there were movies, videos, TV, radio, and even books, travelers would make their way to this market and tell tales of things that were happening in other countries and cities that they had recently visited. In addition, the accounts of local storytellers acted as a sort of collective memory for the community.
These local storytellers continuously incorporated new stories into their collections, and repeated them to others as often as possible.
A History of Stories
The love of stories extends far beyond Central Asia. In the middle ages, traveling bards entranced audiences with songs and tales, some true and some fictional. In Europe, legends of King Arthur captivated the crowds; in the Middle East, stories about Arabian Nights spread like fire; and in North America, tall tale stories of Johnny Appleseed or Paul Bunyan and his blue ox entertained the common folk. What we can learn from these famous tales is that if stories are captivating and well told, then they will hold the attention of listeners, possibly for generations. If captivating fictional tales can spread so quickly and so wide with their influence, how might God use the telling of true stories from His Word among the unreached?
The Impact and Benefit of Stories
When seeking to engage the unreached with the Gospel, it is good for us to remember that the Bible was given to us largely in narrative format
. There are several key benefits to sharing the Gospel through stories:
Most people remember a story much longer and more easily than facts, lectures, or teachings
. Though I cannot remember a word from many college-level lectures and classes, I can still remember specific lessons that I learned about Jesus through stories told in Sunday School as a child.
Storytelling, or oral communication, is the common learning preference in most Muslim cultures.
Fruitful Practices researchers state: “The reason storytelling is so powerful, is that it intersects with the learning pattern of most people in the Muslim world. Orality is a basic learning preference of many non-western peoples. This does not mean they are illiterate; it means they prefer to acquire important lessons about life in oral, not literary patterns. In many cultures, literary patterns of thought are associated with technical knowledge, but moral or religious thought is associated with oral patterns.”
Storytelling is a natural and non-confrontational way to impart truth in the context of daily life.
Field studies have shown that Kingdom workers among Muslims- who employ a heavy use of stories, poetry, and proverbs throughout their daily interactions- demonstrate fruitful effectiveness in their work, build trust, and gain listening ears. Though it is easy to disagree and argue with doctrinal teachings or lectures, it is hard to debate a story. Arguing Christian doctrines can lead to division and defensive walls. On the other hand, stories create conversation and dialogue, and begin building bridges of trust.
Jesus used stories.
Many Kingdom workers systematically and chronologically tell the stories of the Bible, leading up to the story of Jesus. Many also follow Jesus’ example by using Bible stories in the context of real-life situations to illustrate specific spiritual lessons or truths. Jesus used stories to answer questions; he used stories to elicit questions. He used stories to challenge his critics; he used stories to disciple his followers. Some of Jesus’ stories made his listeners think outside the box. Some were to remind them of God’s faithfulness throughout history. Jesus used stories to break down barriers among the lost and to encourage growth in those who already knew and followed Him. Jesus instructed his followers to use their own stories of God’s faithfulness to reach others (Luke 8:39). Sharing God’s story, along with our own life stories, is a powerful and effective way to spread the Good News.
Therefore, let us together “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people.” Psalm 96:3
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
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