Heart Pocket Podcast

While preparing for her dissertation, Jennifer Jagerson learned about the history and impact of the narrative, or story, on people's worldview. In this podcast, we discuss these changes that occurred to the Christian worldview as a result of the Gutenberg press, the enlightenment period, and secular explanations.   Jennifer uses this understanding to help explain why STS Oral Bible Schools impact...

Jon Melin, founder and President of By Design Visuals, loves the Word of God and wants all people to know Jesus. His passion for the Bible and desire for accuracy shows through the beautifully designed flannelgraphs. Jon shares where these sets are being used and the results. Artistically gifted, Jon even does chalk talks too (see links below in this podcast).   Today's show: Flannelgraph for a ne...

Womba and a group of wonderful ladies in the Middle East have an incredible ministry to ladies in the prisons, but it didn't start this way. Hear about the challenging circumstances in their ministry. Then, by God's divine mercy and using His Bible stories, a radical change occurred among the prisoners as well as the ministry team.   Today's show: Middle east prison ministry Zoom Cells Growing in...

Barbie Enterline of Calvary Curriculum describes how she struggled for 40 years to memorize scripture. After attending an STS training she realized that she was not a failure. Learn how she's applied this to helping other people who struggle with the same. Today's show: Calvary Curriculum Biblical accuracy with children Memorizing scripture easily Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … Go...

Even though God has opened up exciting opportunities for online ministry, there are many people in Latin America who do not have access to online tools. Andrew recounts the sacrifices people make to come to in-person training under challenging circumstances. He looks into future plans for STS in this region. Today's show: STS in Mexico Online storytelling Stories in challenging places Links … Simp...

In Part 1, Andrew and Sheryl Conrad describe their storytelling ministry in Mexico.  They relate how the COVID shut-down forced them to expand into a successful online ministry despite poor bandwidth in Latin America. Today's show: STS in Mexico Online storytelling Developing relationships online Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …   Moment for...

When Covid closed many doors, Darlene, who has been teaching children for 49 years, opened her doors and started a children's club in the park. She shares amazing stories of children conquering fear, leading family members to Christ, learning the attributes of God and more. Anyone interested in teaching the Bible to children will enjoy hearing this gifted woman.   Today's show: Conquering Fear Chi...

One of the biggest thing people seek in life is peace. People want freedom from their shame but don't know how to find this peace. Even Christians struggle with past pains. Jesse and Angela Hernandez, leaders of the oral style Go In Peace retreats describe what they do to train leaders and how they are expanding.   Today's show: Go In Peace Retreats From Brokenness to Freedom Oral Style Healing Mi...

Jesse and Angela Hernandez, leaders of the Go In Peace, oral version, retreats share how they took a wonderful healing ministry and made it oral. What started as a post abortion healing ministry is impacting men and women who are hurting in multiple ways. Learn how this ministry evolved to now include men and women's retreat where people find peace.   Today's show: Go In Peace Retreats From Broken...

Andrea discusses exciting developments in adding STS online workshops opportunities, and  shares how STS works to keep their core values in these workshops.  She reveals plans for various kinds of future online training.    Today's show: STS online workshops Advanced training   Creative solutions Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …   Moment for...

Butch and Andrea continue their discussion about how STS has adapted to COVID. Butch shares tips for choosing technology that will help to keep online and blended meetings as personal as possible.  He helps meeting coordinators to carefully think through all aspects of their set-up. Today's show: Planning online meetings Choosing technology Creative solutions Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming wo...

Butch and Andrea discuss how the restrictions imposed by COVID actually created an opportunity to focus on the STS core values, and pushed them into innovations which have increased opportunities for ministry.    Today's show: Identifying core values New technology Communication skills for online Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …   Moment for...

Teresa shares future plans for STS in South Sudan, including working with indigenous ministries and new radio opportunities.  She shares how their work in humanitarian aid has opened doors for sharing 5-minute Bible stories.   Today's show: Indigenous ministries Christian radio Teresa's books   Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …   Moment for Et...

News reports coming out of South Sudan often paint a challenging picture at best. Listen as Teresa describes the spiritual situation in South Sudan, and relates how oral Bible stories are making a difference in the lives of the people there.   Today's show: Spiritual history of South Sudan Using STS to teach English Starting Oral Bible Schools  Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's...

When people in Africa work through the impact of Covid-19, it involves their community more than we know. In Awa's case, it allowed the family extra time in God's Word, revealing assumptions of what her children know and exposing what they have learned in school. When training refugees in the north, it clarifies why a gap exists between the church and the refugees.   Today's show: Planning ahead i...

Imagine wanting to know the true living God and yet there is no Scripture in your language?  Awa, our leader in Burkina Faso describes working with the Kulango and Vige people in Core d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. These people finally have the first Scripture in their language in God's Story: From Creation to Eternity . She shares a little about their traditional beliefs and the impact God's Story ha...

In a recent podcast,  Larry Dinkins issued a challenge to memorize Scripture.  This week he shares several techniques to efficiently add large amounts of Scripture to your "heart pocket."   Today's show: Why memorize scripture? How to choose stories How to learn difficult passages   Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …   Moment for Eternity - Tra...

Covid-19 impacted Simply The Story in-person workshops and even challenged multiple ministries. These challenges became opportunities.  Listen and rejoice in how God has opened doors to expand both STS and God's Story in exciting new ways.     Today's show: God's Story around the world Online STS training What's coming up in the future? Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story:...

Thankfulness is a popular topic during  the current  holiday season.  Butch Vernon shares a story that shows how to maintain that attitude of thankfulness throughout the year and reminds us of Thanksgiving markers in the Bible..   Today's show: Thanksgiving Abraham and Issac Creating markers to remember God's provision   Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to...

Does storytelling have any basis in history, or is it just some new fad?  In Part 2, Bill Bjoraker connects modern storytelling to the long history of storytelling in the Hebrew culture, and clarifies the differences between character, narrative, and systematic theology.   Today's show: History of storytelling Character theology The Return to Oral Hermeneutics Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming w...

Oral what?? Professor Bill Bjoraker gives an introduction to his fascinating new book with Tom Steffen, The Return to Oral Hermeneutics. Learn what this theological field encompasses, as well as the difference between the lecture and discussion methods of instruction.   Today's show: Explanation of oral hermeneutics Lecture vs. discussion styles of teaching How is this method received in academic...

Have you struggled to memorize Scripture? Do you believe stories are just for children?  Find answers to these questions and more as Bill Bjoraker and Larry Dinkins share their experiences using STS Bible style discussions with all ages. Larry will challenge all of us to easily memorize as much as 100 verses over one year. Today's show: Adapting oral methods to existing ministries Bible verse memo...

In Part 2, Bill and Larry discuss the impact STS has had on their ministries, the importance of accuracy, and how STS has been used in amazingly varied situations around the world, including fostering solid Biblical oral hermeneutics.   Today's show: The importance of accuracy STS in Academia Oral Hermeneutics   Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity...

Bill Bjoraker and Larry Dinkins discuss their ministries, how STS cemented their friendship, and then tell a parable about the what happens when Story and Truth work together. Today's show: STS in academia Story and Truth Multiple uses for storying Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity …  Simply The Story Facebook …  Moment for Eternity - Training f...

Chris and JoAn Mayes continue to share the many ways they use Simply The Story. Listen and find out what happens when an unruly child encounters God's Word presented STS-style! We pray that you will be encouraged by this conversation.    Today's show:  Children's Ministry  Camp Ministry  STS Bible Studies     Links … Simply the Story … Upcoming workshops … God's Story: From Creation to Eternity … ...