The Toba accepted the Spanish-speaking missionaries’ religion many years ago. Today, the majority consider themselves Christians. But if there’s an untimely death or a serious illness, people return to their old religion. They seek out shamans to find the cause and prescribe a sacrifice, hoping for a remedy.

Why would they do any differently? Most Toba speakers have very little formal education and don’t understand the Spanish in their Bibles and their churches. Oral Bible storytelling offers a culturally relevant medium for Scripture in this society where literacy is not highly valued. Translating 40 Bible stories and two Gospels into their mother tongue will help Toba speakers quickly understand the power, authority and character of the God of the Bible.

Church leaders hope this project could motivate the Toba to abandon spirit worship entirely and embrace the life of Christ. And it will provide more effective tools for the local church’s efforts to help believers mature spiritually in their walk with God.