WHEN YOU CROSS CULTURES - World Evangelical Alliance

DOING THE MINISTRY
concepts point by point and step by step is considered normal. In many crosscultural
situations, telling stories is far more appropriate and effective. In some
village situations, presenting dramas and plays have proven to be most effective.
A good number of people have limited education and respond through visual
means or through hearing the message.
There are many groups committed to making disciples of “oral learners”
– discipling those who are partially or totally illiterate. “Two thirds of all people
in the world are oral communicators – those who can’t, don’t, or won’t learn
through literate means” 9 . In this electronic age, resources like CDs and DVDs
are available to communicate the good news. Radio programmes (by Christian
ministries such as TWR, FEBC, and HCJB) 10 are also helpful when reaching out
to oral learners.
Speaking of communicating the Gospel to “oral learners”, a unique
situation comes to mind.
AUNTY SAY BAY’S STORY
Almost 40 years ago, I was asked by missionary Warren Myers whether
those who were illiterate could be effectively discipled. Without hesitation, I
responded, “Of course, they can!” I had not given much thought at that time
about this matter. I replied in the affirmative simply because the Great
Commission includes all peoples.
Around that time, there was a lady in Myanmar. Naw Say Bay was led to
begin a ministry among Sea Gypsies, a group called the Moken. This particular
people group of between 2,000 and 3,000 did not have the Scriptures in their
language, and neither were they literate. “Aunty” Say Bay (as her spiritual
children would call her), responded to the call of God seriously. She decided to
make disciples of this unreached people.
Though naturally a timid person, “Aunty” Say Bay overcame great
obstacles to live among this people. She made her home on an island for three
decades. Here was a woman of tremendous faith. She had to learn about the
Moken sea gypsies by literally “incarnating” herself in order to learn their
language. The Moken did not have the Scriptures, so “Aunty” began the
painstaking work of Bible translation. Her story is a “must-read” for pioneers
called to this lifelong task of discipling peoples. 11
After spending 30 years among the Moken, Naw Say Bay completed
translating the New Testament. Two years ago, when “Aunty” showed me a
published copy, I could share her tears of joy. What an amazing accomplishment!
Today, on the island, there is a school that Aunty began, a church with dedicated
workers, and many believing Sea Gypsies. Some have sailed to other islands to
9 The Lausanne website has a helpful overview on Oral Learners.
10 Their websites < www.twr.org >, < www.febc.org >, < www.hcjb.org >
11 Angeline Koh (2007), How the Moken Sea Gypsies Got Their Book, NavMedia Singapore.
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