Brigette Helling, Author at Walk Thru the Bible southern africa

otLIVE: Unlocking the Bible in rural Bible schools

Sep 23, 2023 | 1. Impact - Feature Frontpage, Impact Stories, Uncategorized

We praise God for the impact that otLIVE is having in rural Bible Schools
in Limpopo – so well summed up in this testimony:

otLIVE has been such a help to me. With excitement, I can now easily explain the Bible to someone!

Hear from Ishmael Mutumwa,

who teaches otLIVE at the Bible schools in villages and on farms

– to pastors, church leaders, and church members:

When I think about why I like teaching otLIVE, I first need to reflect on what otLIVE has done for me personally!

It has literally opened my eyes and unlocked the Bible! Before otLIVE, I was studying the Bible haphazardly. I have been a pastor since 2012 but I couldn’t understand how the stories all fit together. So, it also affected my interpretation and preaching – which can then easily be out of context.

OtLIVE really helped the Bible come alive to me. Now I read and study the Bible with understanding – for the first time knowing how it all fits together. In fact, otLIVE has opened my mind and now, it’s stuck in my head and heart – and I love studying the Word. I can understand what happened chronologically and even visualize a map of the area.

We really need this in our context, with many untrained pastors, it can be difficult for pastors and many of them don’t understand the Word. In fact, otLIVE is a necessity for churches so that pastors can equip their people with this knowledge. This what we need to do for everyone. Now that I am teaching otLIVE at the Bible Schools, pastors, and church leaders are bringing testimonies about it. It’s so important, even to teach in schools because kids need this.

I love that the Bible was unlocked for me. Now, by teaching otLIVE, I unlock it for others. I love seeing people’s eyes light up as they start to understand the Word that was given to us. We will know Him fully in eternity, but we can know Him through His Word now. I want this for people. I want to dispel the confusion that comes from not understanding.

Feedback from some of the attendees at the Bible Schools

Leonard (farm foreman in Moeketsi)

I loved that otLIVE helped me learn in action form.This is now helping me to remember all the events in the Bible in their order. It has given me a vision of what happened where and helped me to understand so much about the Bible!

Lebogang

otLIVE drew such a clear picture of the Bible for me, it feels liberating! It feels like previously I was reading the Bible from a blind point of view. Now, I see the major people and events in the Bible clearly. This is so important in our rural churches. People really need an understanding of what the Bible is all about!

Zondi (from GA-Sekgopo village)

otLIVE has inspired me to read the BIble daily – because now I understand it with ease. It has simplified the Bible for me and helped me to understand how events unfolded. As a retired teacher, I can say that we really need otLIVE in our public schools.

Pauline

otLIVE really broadened my view of the Old Testament. Now the structure of the books of the Bible are easy to understand. I recommend it for every church and family. This is also such an important tool for schools.

otLIVE is Walk Thru the Bible’s Old Testament overview live event
– helping people to learn the big picture of the Bible, and the major people, places and events in just a few hours.

For more information about otLIVE, please click here

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“Making sure that customers are happy is my priority!”

Sep 20, 2023 | Impact - Walk Thru the Bible, Impact Stories

– meet our office assistant Tshepo Morapdi

I have always loved serving people. It brings me joy to help and put a smile on someone’s face. My job is to assist Walk Thru the Bible staff members and customers in various ways – including the preparation and packaging of orders. Making sure that customers are happy when receiving their parcels, is my priority.

I love that Walk Thru the Bible is one of the tools that God is using to take His Word to people. This also fits in with my personal life mission of sharing the good news with everyone – especially with people who have never heard of or experienced God’s love.

How did I come to know Christ as Saviour? I grew up in church from a young age. I took the decision to accept Christ as my personal Saviour when I was 14, when there used to be a pastor holding crusades in our village. I also joined Faith Mission, and have never looked back.

And what do I do for fun? Could it be how every Saturday morning I dress up and go for a jog and then end up strolling around Soweto.

I look forward to seeing you and serving you at the office.

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“Such fun – and just amazing to see how enthusiastic the kids were about doing otLIVE”

Sep 16, 2023 | 1. Impact - Feature Frontpage, Impact Stories, Uncategorized

Hugenoot NGK in Bloemfontein recently hosted a Children’s Holiday Program which included otLIVE. What a great opportunity, for children, at a young age, to learn the big picture of the Bible.

This was also a great time to reach out to children from different cultures and language groups. Crafts and drama added to the fun.

Feedback received

from one of the children

For more information about otLIVE, please click here

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First training of otLIVE instructors from Scripture Union

Sep 12, 2023 | 1. Impact - Feature Frontpage, Impact - Walk Thru the Bible, Impact Stories, Uncategorized

We are delighted to have trained the first instructors from Scripture Union who will be taking otLIVE into the schools where they work.

Through this, we pray that many young people will come to understand the big picture of God’s story – and His gift to us in Christ.

Some of these new otLIVE instructors share their feedback…

It is amazing that you can learn and understand the whole Old Testament in just a few hours! And you never get bored. I love how it shows one story connecting to another. The hand signs also make it easy to understand and remember. I highly recommend otLIVE – even to parents who want to teach the Word of God to their children. ~ Jeffery

otLIVE will be an amazing tool for us as we engage with kids. This can be easily taught to children to help them understand the Bible in a real way and see how it all fits together. The hand signs also help them to really catch on quickly. This will really have an impact in the schools that we are in and add value to what we are doing. Actually, it’s mind-shifting to be able to visualize the Old Testament coming together – and to see where all the bits slot into the big picture! ~ Warren

What I loved about otLIVE, is that I now understand the flow and fit of stories in the Bible. It’s great that by teaching otLIVE to kids, they can understand the big story of the Bible – and if you understand the big story, then you really appreciate what Christ did for us. Also, personally, otLIVE helped me develop an appetite for the Word of God – to really dive deep into the stories. The Word is alive and always speaks to us! ~ Stacey

otLIVE simplified the Old Testament for me to understand. I needed this training! This is an amazing tool to reach young people. otLIVE will change lives.

otLIVE will be so helpful in getting the kids in the schools to understand the Bible better. But actually, it’s not just for kids – otLIVE ignites passion for everyone to read the Bible. I’ll be teaching more young people (and old) to know the Bible with this tool.

otLIVE unpacks the big picture of the Old Testament in an engaging way – helping people to learn and undertand the major people and palces of the Old Testament in just a few hours. For more about otLIVE, please click here.

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A peep behind the scenes

Aug 31, 2023 | Impact - Walk Thru the Bible, Impact Stories

We are delighted for you to meet Sally Stumbles…

One of our team who help to make it all happen in the background

Sally’s role is largely online, as an administrative assistant. She works part-time to help control, monitor, and track various systems and procedures – to help Walk Thru the Bible better meet its commitments and deadlines.

In her words:

This is really about assisting the processes that help to drive the mission of Walk Thru the Bible. This involves helping to ensure efficiency and ongoing communication with various people involved so that those ‘at the front’ can focus on the vision of igniting a passion for God’s word.

With a background as a trained teacher, I have been blessed with many different work opportunities in varied communities. Each of these roles has come with different responsibilities and challenges, which, with God’s guidance, have strengthened and grown me.

I have come to learn the importance of teamwork, organisational skills, and working towards the upliftment of lives in the community. The work I now do at Walk Thru the Bible is allowing me to both build on and use my past experience.

My journey as a Christian

When I was 9 years old, my parents sent me to a Scripture Union camp. At the end of a talk, I raised my hand to say ‘I wanted to follow Jesus’. However, it was only later in my high school years, that I realised what this commitment involved. I met a group of young people on a holiday and learned from them that following Jesus was a daily way of living. A solid Bible-based church and a year in Youth With a Mission also helped to give me a stronger foundation where my faith became more of a reality and lifestyle.

And lastly some fun facts …

I was born in a tiny desert town in Namibia – to this day I am most happy in a place of solitude in the middle of nowhere. My family and I have recently moved to Somerset West. We all love outdoor adventures, specifically hiking, camping, and time in the bush. This is where I am particularly aware of God and His magnificent creation.

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