Our methodology of taking training to oral-culture learners doesn’t just have application for the MT4 device.  One of our partners in Samburu, Pastor Wilfred, has discovered another way to put orality into play in his ministry.  A bit of background information would probably be helpful.

Our Kenyan pastors, much like their American counterparts, have certain preachers they like and emulate.  However, the typical literate, lecture-based model of preaching runs into certain roadblocks when used in an African context.  Imagine trying to preach to a congregation that has no Bibles, and even if they did have them, could not read them.  Our friend Wilfred is a T.D. Jakes fan, but as he learned, it’s hard to do T.D. better than T.D. does T.D.

In the course of developing the content for our Samburu project, Wilfred decided to try the blend of indigenous stories, songs, proverbs and retelling the Bible story in his weekly preaching responsibilities.  It was tweaked a bit, in order to include the application of the Word to the lives of the congregation.  The results have been stunning: Wilfred (Big Willy) now preaches in a Samburu manner to the Samburu.  The gathered congregation is engaged, and participates in the preaching event.  People stop him during the week to ask further questions about what they heard on Sunday.  Oral-culture Samburus are hearing the Word in a powerful way.

Wilfred called this the “T4 Style” of preaching.  We have, however, compromised.  It is more than just a style – it is a model of preaching that builds cultural bridges, lets the Word do the heavy lifting, and is authentically African.  One of our indigenous leaders pioneered this method, hence, the T (4)- (Big) Willy preaching model.