What About Orality? Jonathan Worthington Answers

Oral cultures don’t have to be beyond the reach of the text of Scripture.

As Christians, we hold the Bible in the highest esteem. But what happens when the people we are trying to reach have a primarily oral culture—how do we ensure that the message of Scripture is accurately transmitted and understood in cultures where literacy is not the norm? In this podcast interview with Jonathan Worthington, Ph.D., Director of Research at Training Leaders International, we explore the fascinating topic of orality in missions. We discuss the challenges and opportunities of engaging with oral learners, the role of stories and proverbs in communicating the gospel, and how to strike a balance between contextualization and biblical truth. Whether you’re a seasoned missionary or simply interested in the intersection of orality and Scripture, this conversation is not to be missed. Read full show notes….

The Missions Podcast exists to equip missionaries and mobilize the church. By supporting this ministry, you help goers think and thinkers go.

Follow for More

Follow, rate, and review The Missions Podcast in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite app to help others discover more rich, biblical conversations on missions.

Alex Kocman & Scott Dunford

Alex Kocman is the Director of Communications and Engagement for ABWE. He serves as general editor for Message Magazine and co-hosts The Missions Podcast. After earning his M.A. in Communication and B.S. in Biblical Studies, he served as an online apologetics instructor with Liberty University and a youth pastor in Pennsylvania, where he now resides with his wife and three children. Read his blog or follow him on X/Twitter.

Scott Dunford is the pastor of Western Hills Church in San Mateo, Calif. Previously, Scott served as Vice President of Mobilization and Communications for ABWE and as a missionary in East Asia. Scott graduated from Northland International University (B.A. in Pastoral Studies), earned his M.A. in biblical studies from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, his M.B.A. from Cornerstone University, and is currently enrolled in Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s D.Min. program with an emphasis on missions.