OneStory

YMP3 is dedicated to the evangelism and discipleship of people groups throughout Papua. However, what if the majority of people in a language group cannot yet read and write? What if their language does not yet have a writing system? Do they have to wait till there is Bible in their own language? OneStory helps to bridge that gap.

OneStory is a program where a set of key Bible stories is orally translated into a receptor language. The stories are carefully chosen to reveal a redemptive theme from the Bible that resonates with the unique culture of that particular people group. After being translated, the stories are repeatedly tested with mother tongue speakers and checked by a consultant to ensure that they are accurate, clear, natural and retellable.

Once the stories are consultant approved they are used in a variety of ways such as loaded onto mp3 players or cell phones, played over the radio or just shared person-to-person. The primary method of using the stories, however, is in a small story fellowship group, where the participants hear, learn, and discuss the story. The stories are told chronologically and cover all the major Christian teachings.

YMP3 members are involved in training, mentoring, and providing consultation for national facilitators of OneStory projects. This effort is part of a larger partnership with other organizations and churches.

YMP3 is excited to have OneStory as one of its newest ministries and has already seen great results. One particular group has already finished a core set of stories and has begun using them in the villages, while continuing to add more stories.

Here is an example story from the Yetfa OneStory set:

Itao-itao melai la tola nam nel nesse namya nes nadi te ninano setlo nam. Inel nda metle Abraham.

Selano Awasal no Abraham te tao,  “Pa me tiano laso, nyao taolo premaiyao tem. Selano nadi premaiyao nomsel, nyao wena yetkam pa nam la towarkelfo. Selano pa met nomsel, nyao wena yetkena laano dupun salfo. Selano pefte teka kafti yetre nam nyao teka kafti yetfo. Selkena pefte toar tem yetlo nelle nyao toar tem yetfo. Selano po nofakos kefan nam nenesmla me nam nyao no kafti faol yetfo”

Selano Abraham nes Sara nda namya ko nyonme Awasal ndo tao do premaiyao tem set. Selano laano ferawelle. Selano Abraham ndo ino la ludut.

Selano Awasal no Abraham te tao, “Si premai yao de, nyao pefte ninano set do nam te nilo premai yao.”

Selano Abraham ino nadi mete dutano Awasal ma yet.

And here is the back translation:

   Many years after the man and the woman, from their descendants there was a man named Abraham.

God said to Abraham, “Leave your place and go to the land that I will tell you. In that land, I will make your descendants become many. Your name I will also make great and well known. I will do good to people who do good to you, and I will do bad to the person who does bad to you. Then through you, I will do good to all people, people in various places.”

Then Abraham and Sarah, his wife, and his nephew went to the land God said. They traveled and arrived. Then Abraham walked around the land.

Then God said to Abraham, “This is the land that I give to your descendants.”

Then Abraham lived there and worshiped God.