Dánnika
Living in an area of the world known for its ethnic diversity, Dánnika knows first hand the importance of the flexibility of storyweaving that is just at home in one culture and language as in another. Asked what she likes about storyweaving, she says, “I love the ease and naturalness with which a storyweaving conversation can happen and how it can lead to deep conversations that bring us to the Lord. Starting with everyday conversations and ending with biblical truths is gold.”
As with so many other people, receiving training in biblical storyweaving was a turning point in Dánnika’s life. “When I first took Weavers training years ago, I was asked the question, ‘What does it mean for you that Jesus came alive from the dead?’ I was already a believer, but that was a question I had never truly considered. Listening to the Bible story and then discussing it together with my training partner that day, I came to realize the answer. This greatly impacted me, and continues to influence the way I regard the power of the Scriptures to open our eyes to God’s truth. Over and over again, I have experienced how sharing and discussing Bible stories that speak to where a person is at in their spiritual journey, brings the written word to life. We get to know the characters in the stories and can identify with them and be challenged in ways that motivate us to repentance and worship, and letting the Lord transform us from the inside out. That keeps impacting our beliefs, our values, our relationships — everything!”
Dánnika lives in an area where legally there is freedom of religion, but where there is also a history of persecution. “There are many opportunities to share the good news about Jesus, but currently the greatest challenges in our area have been broken families, alcoholism, and drug addiction. Although most people here have heard about Jesus and may even say they have faith in God, that does not necessarily mean that their faith is truly biblical or that is has been life-changing for them. By taking time to share with them from the stories in Scripture, they are able to discover the great love of the Lord and to experience how His Truth sets them free to live a new life.”
“Domestic violence is a common theme in the communities around here,” she says. “So learning how to storyweave with biblical wisdom, tact, and love —along with our own personal vulnerability and stories of what the Lord has done in our life— has been a key element in the growth of the church here. Our church members have been learning to come alongside hurting people in true friendship, to listen well, and to bring the Scriptures into focus in timely and personally relevant ways. This kind of evangelism and discipleship highlights the power of the gospel to heal their inner brokenness and the deep wounds from their broken relationships.”
Dánnika holds a degree in Computer Science, and in addition to actively serving in her local church and being a Weavers training organizer and teacher, she also provides IT consulting and Web design services. She and her husband Isaí are seeking to use their businesses to be bi-vocational missionaries. Storyweavers Global occasionally assists them by providing equipment that is needed for ministry and reimbursing them for major ministry expenses such as for travel to provide biblical storyweaving training in other countries.
For further information about partnering with Dánnika, or to verify her current ministry status, email <info@StoryweaversGlobal.org>.
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