Great tool for teaching the Biblical drama

John Woods reviews The Rescuer by Jonathan Norgate with two:nineteen Teach to Reach.

The book is part of a growing set of resources produced by 2:19 Teach to Reach. These attractively produced resources are written for people who do not have English as their first language. They are designed to be used in connection with English language courses and include substantial photocopiable workbooks on general English learning and more specifically Bible-based resources that use the Old and New Testament stories to teach English.

The Rescuer is written in simple English, but effectively manages to tell something of the big story of the Bible through some of the little stories from Creation to David. Author Jonathan Norgate combines clear writing skills, theological sophistication, cultural intelligence and a faithful imagination. This ensures that this simple book is never simplistic or patronising.

The book begins with help on how to use the book and a helpful list of further resources.

Each of the ten chapters include an explanation of the Biblical story and a worldview focus from a Christian perspective before comparing this to five prevailing worldviews: Islamic Cultures; Traditional Chinese Belief Cultures; Buddhist Cultures; Hindu Cultures; and Scientific Materialist Cultures.

These sections are brilliantly succinct summaries of how these cultures view different aspects of the Biblical story and how the message of the Scripture addresses those differences.

The book is accompanied by a set of ten brief animations that simply and clearly tell the Biblical stories related to the ten sections of The Rescuer. These animations have been brilliantly narrated by Marina Swainston-Harrison, who is the ESL (English as a Second Language) Lead Specialist for 2:19. With skilful use of repetition, these stories gradually lead to the big story of what God has accomplished for us in Christ. Each section of the book concludes with a guidance on how to use the animations with a group of learners.

Each chapter contains practical help on how to prepare the listeners before, while and after watching the animations.

This is a well-thought-through resource that with the animations is a good option for churches teaching English as a foreign language. It is a way of being gently intentional about introducing gospel conversations.

The resource would be useful for any Christian who wanted to learn how to be creative in telling the gospel story to our generation. It is also a helpful little primer for understanding where the Biblical message sits in relation to other worldviews that we might encounter in our witness. It was particularly helpful to be reminded of the presuppositions of the scientific materialist, which is a worldview shared by many in British culture. One of the ways that we can prepare to serve people evangelistically is to endeavour to understand how they think and what they believe.

I can imagine that used creatively this resource will widen the evangelistic reach of many churches, especially those who are situated in areas where people of other faiths are present in significant numbers.

THE RESCUER: The Bible Through Storytelling in Simple English
By Jonathan Norgate
2:19 Teach to Reach. 69 pages. £15
Available at www.twonineteen.org.uk