English PLUS Case Study 15.11.

04

Using parables to reach Non-

Non-Christians: English PLUS Case Study

Introduction to English PLUS

• English PLUS is a bilingual program developed to teach English sayings,

especially sayings from the Bible, with the scripts available for further study.
Due to our Christian heritage, many English sayings come from the Bible.
This is a non-threatening way of broadcasting God’s Word on-air and off-air by
integrating the program based on the spoken and written word.

• The challenge for CVC’s Indonesian broadcast has been how to reach a
predominantly Indonesian Muslim audience with the gospel. Muslims are
difficult to reach because they believe in God and the Prophets, including
Jesus the Messiah, but do not acknowledge him as the Son of God.

• Because I believed that God called me to this work, I prayed that He would
show me the way. God answered by speaking to me through His Word,
specifically, through Jesus’ parables. Thus, I give Him the credit for giving me
this broadcast strategy and response development methodology.

• Jesus’ audience were not dissimilar to the vast majority of Muslims today: they
believe in God and the Prophets, including Jesus the Messiah, but do not
acknowledge him as the Son of God.

Scriptural basis for English PLUS

• The scriptural basis for English PLUS and the many other segments
developed (Parables, Miracles, Proverbs, Truth, Prayers, Prophecies,
Transformations, Meditation) is Jesus’ parables and the methods he used to
reach the crowds [as opposed to the Teachers of the Law].

• Jesus’ teaching method has validity today given it is a testiment to fulfilled

prophecy. Mathew (13:34-35) confirms that Jesus’ speaking through parables
verifies Asaph’s prophecy about the Messiah teaching through parables
(Psalm 49:4, 78:2). Jesus’ mention of the Kingdom of God in relation to
parables lends weight to this spiritual truth.

• Interestingly, the use of the Greek word “parabole” in Scripture extends its
meaning beyond teaching using illustrations, to include proverbs, riddles and
even songs to get the message across. This understanding gives weight to
the strong emphasis on music, parables and proverbs in CVC’s Indonesian
language broadcasts.

• In Mark 4:33-34, a parallel passage to Mathew 13:34-35, Mark focuses on the

practical rather than prophetic focus of Matthew by explaining how Jesus

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taught. “With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them,
them as much
as they could understand.
understand He did not say anything to them without using a
parable, but when he was alone with his own disciples he explained
everything.”
everything This is the key verse for teaching through parables.

Rationale for integrated programs

• My rationale for using an integrated program, which I define as an on-air

program that can be read off-air, is based on three key phrases in Mark 4:33-
34:
1) With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them…
2) as much as they could understand…
3) but when he was alone with his own disciples he explained everything…

• At CVC I have tried to use a similar methodology. Our on-air broadcasts tend
to be pre-evangelistic, designed to touch lives and start a friendship. The aim
is to use parables that the audience understand and can relate to. The
challenge is to know our audience well enough to use this method.

• Off-air we continue the relationship with the aim of encouraging them to

become true followers of Christ. By having scripts of on-air programs
designed for listeners to read off-air, there is a strong integration between
broadcasting and response development. This synergy unites us as a team,
enables us to communicate interactivley and helps us build relationships with
our listeners.

• A full study of Mark 4 reveals great spiritual currency in the sense that the
crowd spoken of are similar to our audience. The term disciples actually refer
to followers, not just the 12. In the Indonesian Bible translation (2002), the
phrase “explained everything” adds ‘little by little’ to denote discipleship as the
final phase of the methodology. This is the challenge of a truly integrated
program.

Broadcast strategy

• The broadcast strategy for English PLUS is bilingual and fun, where the
spelling and pronunciation of the English saying is explained and examples
are given of its origins and current use. The on-air program is separated into
two ‘shows’ once a week. First is the presentation and discussion of five
English sayings (three secular and two spiritual per week). Second, is a
review of the previous weeks’ sayings and answering of listener questions
about particular sayings.

• To integrate the on-air and off-air aspects of English PLUS, scripts are
advertised in each program and segments of the sayings are produced to
rotate through other broadcasts to promote English PLUS, remind listeners of

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the sayings discussed that week and prompt listeners to contact CVC to
obtain the scripts.

Response development method

• The Response Development strategy for English PLUS is to cross promote

the on-air program off-air via mail and email, including the English PLUS
booklet which is posted on the CVC webpage, via email and printed out to
send with letters.

• The aim of this integrated approach is to reinforce the synergy between the
broadcasters and the response development team, which helps make
listeners more open and accepting of written material, such as excerpts from
the Word [Bible], because they are directly associated with a program.

• For speakers of English as a second language (CVC’s Audience, especially

International English), being able to read what is heard on-air helps reinforce
the message and the audience’s understanding of that message. This is a
key teaching principle of second language learning.

Listener comments: a case study

• Whether English PLUS, as the flagship for the parabolic segments is effective
in terms of CVC’s mission is a key question. Thus, I let the listeners speak for
themselves:
1) Hairul Anwar,
Anwar a Muslim Head Master of Junior High School in Muara Padang,
South Sumatra. “I always listen to and follow the English lessons in English
Plus from CVC together with 300 of my students. Please send me the scripts
and lesson plans so we can study them together in class”.
2) Ensi,
Ensi a female student living in a dormitory with mainly young Muslim women
testifies to how effective English PLUS has been in getting an audience.
“Every time English PLUS comes on, we gather around the radio and listen to
Paul and Joe. Having the English PLUS book allows us to read the sayings
and explanations while we listen to the program—then study the sayings again
afterwards.
3) Anak Rantau,
Rantau an Indonesian maid working in Saudi Arabia writes that English
PLUS helps explain English to her, making it fun to learn. She adds that
English PLUS has given her more confidence to learn English and other new
things. She likes the fact that she can read what she hears on air.

Concluding remarks

• We can have confidence in using Parables as means of reaching Non-

Christians, particularly Muslims, because Jesus used this method more
often than any other to reach his audience.

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• This method is scriptural because it represents fulfilled prophecy and is

referred to in two of the gospels (Matthew and Mark) as Jesus teaching
method. (Note how often the term “Kingdom of God” is used with parables
in the Bible.)

• Parables are relevant, given the similarities between Jesus’ audience and
CVC’s [Indonesian] audience i.e. belief in God and the Prophets, including
Jesus the Messiah, but not acknowledging him as the Son of God.

• For English as a second language speakers, being able to read what is

heard on-air helps reinforce the message and the audience’s
understanding of that message. This can apply to all programs based on a
simple readable outline posted on the web and sent via mail and email.

• A program integrating on and off-air media gives continuity to the

relationship a listener first has with an on-air broadcast, followed by their
off-air relationship with the response development team.

APPENDIX

Outline of the English PLUS program

• Objective: To present gospel truths through English sayings, particularly those

which are Christian or Biblical in origin, to introduce our audience to CVC’s
mission.

• Rationale: Learning English is a universal interest of most non-English

speakers and is a medium where Christian and Biblical principles can be
presented in a non-threatening way as part of the program.

• Focus: Teach listeners how to use English sayings by studying their origin and
current usage. Then, encourage listeners to compare how these sayings are
expressed in their own language.

• Method: Bilingual or Special English delivery based on English sayings with

the interactive component being questions from listeners about English
sayings and comparisons by listeners of an English saying which is similar to
sayings in their national or first language.

• Participants: Presenters are CVC staff, with visitors if necessary. Strong

audience participation is encouraged by promoting interactive segments.

• Promotion: Promote program by offering scripts of weekly English sayings to

listeners who participate in the program with prizes and give-aways.

• Extens
Extension: Provide further information about English sayings (particularly
those from the Bible) for participants to better understand context and usage.

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This program is being extended further by using an English PLUS Listeners

Club in the field.

Examples
Examples of the segment

Intro: a) You say what? What are you saying? What do you mean? I don’t get it!
(Foreign accent hook) b) A saying is a word or phrase that people us use
e to explain a
specific concept ((S i.d.).
Segment i.d. ). c) Here is an English saying to help you learn
English…
Content:
d) Secular: “Beat around the bush (Heading)” e) This saying comes from hunting.
The beaters beat or hit the bushes so that the prey run or fly out for the hunters to
catch. The beaters never catch the prey, always the hunters (Origin). f) [To[ “beat
around the bush” means that someone says something indirectly (Definition of
saying). g) In every day language, you can say, “Don’t beat around the bush, just tell
me the truth! (Practical example)” h) In other words, “Don’t be indirect, just tell me
what you really mean (Explanation or translation)!” Outro: i) How would you say this
saying in your language? Sayings help us to understand each othersothers’’ culture. j) To
saying--
get a copy of this saying --and
-- sayingss you can learn
and many, many more saying learn,, contact us
us::
www.CVC
www. CVC.com.au
CVC .com.au.. Or, write to us: (address, email, SMS, fax). k) Oh, now I get it.
.com.au
So that is what you mean! OK. Now I get itit!! (Foreign accent conclusion)!

Scriptural: “Rise and shine.” This saying comes from the Bible and is found in the
book of Isaiah: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises
upon you”. Originally this verse tells of God’s promised blessing upon people who
will turn from darkness to God’s light. Now “rise and shine” is used as a saying used
to get people up in the morning. In every day language, you can say, “Come on, rise
and shine!” In other words, “Come on, it is time to get up!”

Content template:
1) “… (Heading)”
2) This saying comes from…(Origin).
3) To “…” means that (Definition of saying).
4) In every day language, you can say, “(Practical example)”
5) In other words, “(Explanation or translation)”

“…” This saying comes from… To “…” means that… In every day language, you can
say, “…” In other words, “…”

For more information about English PLUS, comments and critiques of this case
study, and your experiences of using similar programs, please contact me via email
PaulRattray@CVC.tv or by mail: Paul Rattray CVC International Ltd Killick Street
Kunda Park Qld 4556 Australia.

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