story4all

The story4all podcast where we take an informed layman's look at the world of oral culture. We bring you discussion, interviews and information from around the world to show how Bible storytelling can make disciples of those who can't, won't or don't read. Join us now by subscribing to the show and online at www.story4all.com, where you will find resources, training opportunities, a calendar of events worldwide, forums and more. It's all here at story4all, where we believe Bible stories are not just for Sunday School! www.story4all.com

enBryan Thompson / Simply The Story637 Episodes

Episodes (637)

HPP0001 - When God Closes One Door, He Opens Another

Heart Pocket Podcast is "live"!

Check out the Heart Pocket Podcast
recommended successor to story4all!

A new iTunes feed to follow soon.

Meantime click the Play button above to hear their first show or go to and bookmark their Show Notes page here.

enOctober 02, 2018

Another Podcast is on its way!

Another podcast is brewing!

Stay subscribed to story4all's feed for news of a brand new podcast with new hosts and cool now content!

We shall be announcing here the new feed, expected in October so keep an eye on this page, on our Twitter feed or on our Facebook page.

Announcements about the new show coming very soon!

story4all

enSeptember 04, 2018

s4a636 - Over and Out!

Today's show:

End of an era
May 2006 until August 2018
story4all is transitioning

Bryan announces his closing of story4all as it is currently known. This has been a difficult decision, but due to the role change for his family, Bryan records his last show today, as he has discovered it will not be possible to maintain a show of quality in his future mobile and global role with Simply the Story and which involves his being without a permanent home and office.

Our initial 2006 goal of informing, mobilising and resourcing the Body of Christ into using oral communication as a ministry tool, and in particular, storytelling with discussion, has been reached.

Please keep an eye on this page and on the following links for further announcement towards a transition of the podcast in the future:

enAugust 28, 2018

s4a635 - Silesian Youth

Today's show:

Two Czech teens tell how story has impacted their lives
Trained in STS and now training others
Trained in Silesia and going nationwide and further afield

In the Czech Republic this week Bryan interviews two young people he trained last year in storytelling skills and hears how things have been going ever since. From Czech Republic to Switzerland teaching others how to tell God’s Story.

Links ... Simply the Story ... Wycliffe

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enAugust 14, 2018

s4a634 - Lovejoy on Orality Part 5

Today's show:

The way you tell it is interpretive
Emphasising orality for a reason ...
Is story discussion like "Chinese whispers"?

As part of our Classic Shows on story4all and as something of a throwback to our Summer Sessions habit we are going back in time to hear Grant Lovejoy teach on and introduce others to Orality.

Links ... This talk was first given in 2007 in the Int'l Orality Network conference ... Don't miss joining the ION gathering in September!

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enAugust 07, 2018

s4a633 - Lovejoy on Orality Part 4

Today's show:

Teaching people something without telling them what!
Experience your learning
Communicating without a putdown

As part of our Classic Shows on story4all and as something of a throwback to our Summer Sessions habit we are going back in time to hear Grant Lovejoy teach on and introduce others to Orality.

Links ... This talk was first given in 2007 in the Int'l Orality Network conference ... Don't miss joining the ION gathering in September!

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJuly 31, 2018

s4a632 - Lovejoy on Orality Part 3

Today's show:

Grant Lovejoy on orality
Understanding your audience without demeaning them
How far is the reach of orality in today's world?

As part of our Classic Shows on story4all and as something of a throwback to our Summer Sessions habit we are going back in time to hear Grant Lovejoy teach on and introduce others to Orality.

Links ... This talk was first given in 2007 in the Int'l Orality Network conference ... Don't miss joining the ION gathering in September!

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJuly 24, 2018

s4a631 - Lovejoy on Orality Part 2

Today's show:

a very long poem!
lion hunters are not stupid
how the lack of a term can be a negative problem

As part of our Classic Shows on story4all and as something of a throwback to our Summer Sessions habit we are going back in time to hear Grant Lovejoy teach on and introduce others to Orality.

Links ... This talk was first given in 2007 in the Int'l Orality Network conference ... Don't miss joining the ION gathering in September!

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJuly 17, 2018

s4a630 - Lovejoy on Orality Part 1

Today's show:

A classic show
Grant Lovejoy teaches on orality
A wide and paced introduction to this important subject

As part of our Classic Shows on story4all and as something of a throwback to our Summer Sessions habit we are going back in time to hear Grant Lovejoy teach on and introduce others to Orality.

Links ... This talk was first given in 2007 in the Int'l Orality Network conference ... Don't miss joining the ION gathering in September!

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJuly 10, 2018

s4a629 Learning Without Reading

Today's show:

An apology
ION conference is coming up!
An insightful article by Grant Lovejoy

With the International Orality Network conference coming up in September (17-19) in Orlando in Florida, time is running out to get that early bird discount on your registration. Follow the link below to snap up that discount today!

Grant Lovejoy, director of Orality Strategies in the Int'l Mission Board, wrote a great article on the IMB web site and we share that today.

Links ... ION conference registration ... IMB site ... Grant's article

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJuly 03, 2018

s4a628 - From Children to Pastors

Today's show:

Stories with children, youth and in home groups
How a pastor changed the way he asked questions
STS instructor gives some stories about storytelling

Bryan catches up with Carolyn Bailey, who has been on the podcast before. She led the Greystones STS workshop in Ireland last week and spent some time telling Bryan about it and also telling how she has used story in her home church to great effect.

Links ... STS ... Upcoming training events ... Beaverton workshop details

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJune 26, 2018

s4a627 - Honey, I’d love to hear a story!

Today's show:

A pastor discovers the power of story to heal
Life changing stories of the use of Bible storytelling
Giving a tip by telling a story!

Bryan, currently running a storytelling workshop in England, interviews one of the visiting instructors about his discovery and use of storytelling and how God is changing lives through it.

Links ... STS ... A workshop in Oregon this autumn

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJune 19, 2018

s4a626 - Training for Multiplication

Today's show:

A story4all classics show
Dorothy Miller shares some 'nuggets'
The beginnings of a training movement

In another trip back in time, we travel to an episode in our story4all classics series which is an interview with Dorothy Miller, the founder of Simply the Story, describing how God was beginning to use this fledgling ministry powerfully in the nations.

Links ... STS training ... Hosting an STS

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJune 12, 2018

s4a625 - Including the children

Today's show:

What are the dangers of separating children off during church?
How do we engage children as we minister?
How children are learning how to minister with story too

Bryan interviews, Andrea, the Executive Director of The God's Story Project and Simply the Story, about the phenomenon we are seeing of children being impacted by story ministry in STS training events and also how children are stepping up to be storytellers too!

Links ... Simply the Story training opportunities ... Jon Melin's By Design Visuals (flannelgraphs)

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enJune 05, 2018

s4a624 - Thankas Part 2

Today's show:

A sequel to the story in last week's show!
A lamini (female priest) and others meet Christ
Modern-day thanka ministry

Bryan continues in a sequel show from the archives about a marvellous story following on from last week's show.

Some links to other ministries using thankas in ministry:

Indigenous Jesus - modern-day thanka ministry use
An artist's escape from the Wheel of Life
The Jesus Question - Jesus' life in a thanka

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enMay 29, 2018

s4a623 - Thankas

Today's show:

A story4all classic show
Remarkable fruitful ministry through stories and art in Asia
How people are believing just by seeing the story art

Bryan, in this episode from our archives, takes us back in time to a marvellous series of testimonies as Roger in Asia reaches out to local Buddhist people through one of their art forms ... Thankas.

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enMay 22, 2018

s4a622 - Bonnie Scotland

Today's show:

A Scottish professional storyteller tells her story
The passion to tell God’s story
How God’s story is a different (powerful) kind of storytelling!

Bryan on location in Wales is joined this week by a Scottish friend and colleague to help train others in Bible storytelling. We hear about her story and journey into using Simply the Story to share God’s Word and what happens when she does that.

Links ... STS

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enMay 15, 2018

s4a621 - Coaching Story

Today's show:

Coaching stories
Helping storytellers grow in skills
When God surprises us with works of grace

Bryan tells some stories about how coaching in the training events he runs have turned out to be moments of not only gaining storytelling skills, but also moments when God surprises us with His touch and healing.

Links ... STS

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enMay 08, 2018

s4a620 - A Story Stops the Excuses

Today's show:

Pastors and evangelists had given up on him as a lost cause
His own son gets storytelling training
Tells him a story over the phone and leads him to Christ

Lucky Ademola is man who fasted, prayed and witnessed to his family for years and especially to his father who had endless reasons why he was better than other Christians and he did not need to go to church. Lucky comes across Simply the Story and gets trained. Within a few months he has an unbelievable and life-changing phone call with his Dad. All on this week’s show.

Links ... STS

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enMay 01, 2018

s4a619 - A Samaritan Moment

Today's show:

Jesus and the woman of Samaria
Doing the unexpected and going against cultural norms
And what happened as a result

Bryan, out on assignment with his wife leading storytelling training, speaks today about some fun thoughts that came out this past week in a conversation about the Jesus and the Woman at the Well story. How the prompt or decision of Jesus to several times do what was not expected of Him led to a move of God in not just one woman, but a whole group of people in her city.

We hope you enjoy the show. Click on the (direct download) link immediately below to start hearing this show NOW!

enApril 24, 2018