Kanga Story Cloth
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The Story Cloth or "Kanga"
(pronounced CAHN gah) is a new tool that Calvary Road
Ministries is using The idea of the Kanga came to be through the Baptist Maasai Team. Although the Maasai have the Bible written in their language, the very few who are literate are still primarily oral learners. All of their history, culture and traditions are passed from the old to the young through story telling, songs, proverbs, or idiomatic sayings. This is primarily done by the old men or Nyankusi to the younger men, who then share this "oral information" with their wives and children. In Maasai culture, the women and children do almost all of the work that supports every day life. The younger men and boys are responsible for herding the cows, goats, and sheep. This is a very important job in that the Maasai determine their wealth according to the number of cows that a person owns. The older men in Maasai culture really do nothing as far as work is concerned. They sit in groups and pass stories among themselves, sleep and eat. The wisdom and authority of the old men or Nyankusi, however, is supreme. Only the Nyankusi make decisions for their families or Bomas. No one does anything without their knowledge or approval. Knowing, understanding and respecting the Maasai culture is key to unlocking this new approach to reaching the Maasai for Jesus Christ. In the past, our missionaries had reached out to the women and children, because they were accessible. Although they shared the story of Jesus Christ with the Nyankusi, most of them did not really listen to anyone who was not of at least their own age. The Nyankusi tolerated the discipling of the women and children, but never were very interested themselves. Presently, Bob Calvert, along with his wife, Nancy, and their four children are the only career IMB missionaries still working with the Maasai. Previously, David Crane, a former IMB missionary who worked with the Maasai in another area of the country, invited John Shepherd of Calvary Road Ministries (CRM) to come work with them in Kenya. After this mission trip, Crane and Calvert began a partnership with CRM. Crane and Calvert observed how GOD used John and many of the others he brought because they were of similar age or older than many of the Nyankusi. Crane and Calvert had shared the Maasai worldview with John and the rest of CRM people. John Shepherd and CRM missionary volunteers began utilizing the Chronological Bible Storying method with these older men because they were accustomed to this oral approach. As a result of these white Nyankusi from the US, who were speaking in an oral fashion, the Nyankusi welcomed them to their group, and for the first time, began to listen to the message of Jesus Christ. Getting the ear of the Nyankusi meant that not only were they hearing and accepting Jesus Christ, but their families, the younger men, women and children were also being reached because of the structure of the Maasai Culture. As the Nyankusi accepted Jesus Christ, they began to share Jesus Christ within their own families, and many have been saved as a direct result. Now God in his infinite wisdom has once again provided a new tool for reaching the Maasai. Bob Calvert had seen a Storying Cloth designed and produced by Blair Faulk, a fellow IMB missionary serving Muslims in West Africa. This cloth was being distributed by Concord Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN. Calvert corresponded with Mr. Faulk who graciously gave permission to use his original idea for the Maasai 42 picture Story Set that Calvert and Crane had developed based on the Maasai worldview and culture. These 42 stories begin with Creation and end with the Ascension of Jesus Christ. The Maasai learn each of the stories while using the pictures as memory aids. Once they have learned each of the stories, they have a basic knowledge of the Bible or an oral framework of the Bible. The Kanga pictures were originally black lines on a white background. After field study, the Maasai asked if we could make the people darker, thus each of the 42 pictures, representing the stories, has been printed in color on the Kanga, which is approximately 3 feet by 4 feet in size. We were blessed to work with Greg Jackson and Jim Lewis who designed, drew, and colorized the pictures. In printing and distributing this Kanga, it is the deepest prayer of Calvary Road Ministries, and all concerned, that each Maasai Boma in Kenya and Tanzania be given a Kanga and that each family will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The telephone number there is 1-800-999-3113. |