Main YWAM Page, or to YWAM CommunicationsA GROUP OF missionaries went back to school recently to learn new ways of stopping people in their tracks. They were looking to bring new life to the evangelistic outreaches that have taken thousands of Youth With A Mission teams to street corners, parks and town squares around the world over the past three decades.
Drama and music has been used effectively by international evangelism teams to draw crowds of passers-by and present the gospel everywhere from the capitals of Europe to remote South American villages - but it is high time for some new ideas, according to organizers of the Creative Keys to Outreach workshop.
YWAM staff from across the United States and overseas joined with delegates from local churches for the seven-day program at the mission's training center in Salem, Oregon. They learned about creating new open air presentations that use drama, mime, dance, painting and music as part of cross-cultural communication.
"The arts can be used to present the gospel in as powerful way- they touch the emotions - and YWAM has become well known for using the arts in evangelism over the years," said BJ Johnston of YWAM's University of the Nations College of the Arts, who organized the workshop and plans to hold similar courses in other parts of the world.
"But while for years many of the creative things we have done have been effective, there is a danger of us relying on past glories. The world is changing, though, and we need to be looking for new ways to communicate to new generations and new socie
ties." One of the seven teachers at the workshop was Paula Dubill, an American fine artist serving with YWAM who has used painting and drawing to share the gospel with street children in South Africa, refugees in Hong Kong, and villagers in rural China.
Johnston also spoke about the need for research and cultural sensitivity, recognizing that what is acceptable in one part of the world may not be appropriate in another. "For example, to some black is a sign of purity, so having a drama where a devil figure is dressed in black could send a very mixed message.
"You can't just take something that worked here and transplant it to another culture and assume it will have the same meaning or impact. You need to develop cultural propriety and sensitivity by learning about the people. Taking the time to accurately research the people and culture of your host country is essential if you want to effectively communicate truth."
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