AN INDIGENOUS LITERATE LEADERSHIP FOR AN ORAL LEARNING COMMUNITY

Abstract

Pastor Dinanath of India converted from Hinduism to Christianity through the witness of a foreign missionary in 1995. A year later, he was sent to a Bible college by the missionary to study for two years. Dinanath returned and tried teaching his people what he had learned while in school, but very few accepted Christ. In 1999, Dinanath went to a seminar where he learned how to teach using oral methods instead of through lectures and books as he had been doing. By telling stories to the people and using indigenous forms of songs about the gospel, Dinanath saw a greater response to Christ and many people were baptized. In a period of five years, 74 more churches were started with 1350 baptized believers.