Desperate Need

 

According to IMB research, today, 61.7% of the population in Latin America possesses an oral communication learning preference and lifestyle. Herbert V. Klem, author and international authority on primary oral communicators says that, “Perhaps as much as 70% of the world’s population is not likely to take an interest in the Bible if we take a literary approach to teaching.

 

Storying is the method that oral cultures use to communicate their most important information.

 

Additionally, over 80% of all Pastors, leaders and emerging leaders within the Church throughout Latin America have had little or no practical training to carry out the task of structuring a healthy local church and being the “beacon of light” in their communities that the Word of God commands. As a result, there is a desperate need for some sort of non-formal training that will promote healthy, balanced, churches that are driven with purpose.

 

Consequently, there is an urgent need for appropriate Biblically based equipping resources within oral cultures that support the process of Discipling Nations with a holistic approach including pre-evangelism, evangelism, discipleship, leadership training and church establishment.

 

Therefore, in order for a ministry to be effective and make a lasting impact, their equipping resources will have to be designed for a storying culture in the language they understand. That means carefully taking into account the worldview of the target people group, and identifying their appropriate bridges, barriers and gaps to a Biblical worldview. This communication method will have to be both practical and culturally sensitive. Our communication must also be designed for the listener to be able to pass on the training to others in the community, thereby encouraging the process of reproduction.

 

The Solution

 

In order to launch a movement to disciple oral learners in Latin America, Enlace de Comunicación Oravisual (ECO) is now engaged in strengthening the local church by equipping pastors, leaders and emerging leaders within target communities to effectively communicate Biblical truth to oral learners. A practical way being used is through live seminars and the publishing and use of existing digital media training courses (DVD, CD-ROM, and Video). Additionally, in order to exponentially increase and reach the widest number of oral learners ECO is now incorporating radio and video broadcasts to this strategy.

 

ECO has put together a team of experts with outstanding credentials and diverse areas of training and field experience in Latin America to ensure that every piece of digital training curricula will be a resource that can be used by every segment of the Body of Christ in Latin America, regardless of denominational affiliation.

 

Furthermore, to carry out its mission and vision, ECO is establishing contacts to partner with a global network of church and para-church ministries.