Though his voice is quiet, this East African tailor uses it boldly to share his faith despite the potential for persecution. How does he do it? Sharing oral Bible stories with friends around a pot of coffee.

Where Nupi* lives, many are extremely loyal to traditional religious practices and some have even killed those who proclaim Jesus as Lord. 

But God gave him a passion to see Jesus’ kingdom come to East Africa despite the potential for persecution. Nupi recently worked with StoryRunners and the local Cru ministry to produce a set of oral Bible stories in his language

He was ready to share the stories – but he had to build relationships first, and his tailor’s shop was the perfect place to do that. Every day, people visit to ask Nupi to stitch a tear or make them new clothes.

“When they would come from a far away village to my place, I would arrange for them to come to my home and have a fellowship. It was easy for me to make gatherings at my home instead of going to a church and starting a fellowship.”

He was building rapport and trust with those who believe differently from him. One day when a group of his clients gathered for coffee, he took a risk: he asked if he could tell them a story about God.

“I told them… it doesn’t matter whether they have different religions or any ideologies prior to this; I told them that I would only be telling them stories.”

That day he told them the story of Noah and the Flood. He had worked meticulously during the StoryRunners workshop to make sure the story was biblically faithful and that it used everyday language. He led them in a story group, the oral equivalent of a Bible study. Each person learned to tell the story, and then discussed what the story told them about God and themselves. 

After discussing the story together, he invited his clients, who are now his friends, to learn another Bible story the next week – and they agreed! They now meet every week. 

After starting a group at his own house, he launched two more story groups in other homes. This year he has seen 12 people choose to follow Jesus!

Nupi recently attended an oral church-planting training that StoryRunners hosted in his country. At this training, more than 40 church planters were equipped to go into areas where no churches exist. Nupi has a vision to plant a church in his home village where there are no Christians. 

Your gift today will help people like Nupi become church planters in places where it is dangerous to take Bibles or other Christian materials. 

*Name changed for security purposes