The Power of a Great Story
Go, Dog. Go! has got to be one of the most fabulous books EVER. What is not to love about dogs, and hats, and a DOG PARTY?
Not only this but a great plot, great dialogue, and even a driving lesson. While I dreaded reading some of the books the kids chose, I loved it when they picked Go, Dog. Go!I would snuggle with the kids, read the text, voice the dialogue, and move my finger along with the words. Soon the kids would move their fingers along with the words. And before they were reading, they learned there was connection between the words on the page and the story they were hearing. As a result, my kids learn well through reading and writing. They are literate learners.But 70% of the the world's children are oral learners. Through story, heritage is shared, traditions are passed, and information is processed. The people, children and adults, in these story-centric cultures learn best through stories.Up to now, no one has harnessed the power of a good story to teach orphan caregivers.Here’s where we come in. Recently, I've become the Associate Director for RiverCross, a new ministry of TransWorld Radio.
With RiverCross, we are using great stories to equip orphan caregivers to become a bridge for healing and hope.Would you like to hear? Take a few minutes, 23:25 in fact, and listen to Episode 1 of Holding Esther, the series we're developing to equip orphan caregivers to help children heal from the trauma of sexual exploitation. I do need to warn you. If you have "littles," get them busy doing something else. When you start listening, it will sound like an Adventures in Odyssey. You and your kids will be so engaged. But due to the purpose of the project, the content isn't appropriate for children.
If you liked Episode 1, here's the link for Episodes 2 and 3. You may even want to see if you can identify a learning objective or two. ;)I would love to hear what you think. Leave a comment, or join me on Facebook. And, if you're as excited about this project as I am, please share with your friends on your social media.This week, I am highlighting the cause of the orphan. Not in a way that brings despair. But in a way that brings hope and invites you to join me in the work I’m doing to bring healing and hope to the world's most vulnerable children by equipping their caregivers through the power of a great story.
Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. Matthew 13:34