Stories That Speak: The Vaaimoli Bible Programme in Malaysia
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
Crafting the Bible in Everyday Tamil
By Kalene Lua, Wycliffe Singapore
For the past two years, Wycliffe Malaysia has been facilitating the Vaaimoli Bible Programme, a project with a big dream: to craft oral Bible stories that speak directly to the hearts of Malaysia’s Tamil speakers. These stories are told in the vernacular Malaysian Tamil that people use every day, making them easy to understand, relatable, and deeply compelling.
The hope? That these stories will not only reach Tamil speakers across Malaysia but also disciple new believers in a way that feels natural and authentic.
A Team Rooted in Faith and Partnership
Under the mentorship of two veteran Wycliffe Malaysia members in oral Bible storying, sisters Diana and Kanaga stepped up as full-time interns to form the project team. Their journey has been supported by the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia and Wycliffe Singapore, showing the beauty of churches, agencies, and global partners working hand-in-hand to make God’s Word accessible.
Storying Fellowship Groups: Listening, Retelling, Living the Word
Another exciting part of the programme is raising awareness of Storying Fellowship Groups. These groups gather to listen, retell, and reflect on Bible stories together. It’s a simple yet powerful method that helps participants remember the stories more vividly and connect with them emotionally.
The Final Review: May 11–14 at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia
As the project nears completion, the team organised a Final Review at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, Seremban. By then, the team had already completed 34 oral Bible stories and conducted 24 Storying Fellowship Groups across Malaysia.
The goal of the review was to ensure the stories meet four key elements of oral storytelling: cohesion, coverage, cultural relevance, and chronology. The turnout was nothing short of inspiring. While the team had hoped for at least three Tamil speakers, 19 participants showed up—many drawn simply by word of mouth. Among them were Tamil Christians with deep knowledge of the language and active ministry experience, enriching the discussions with their insights.
Over four days, participants listened to audio recordings, debated word choices, and explored how listeners might engage with the stories. Even subtle differences—like choosing between “power” and “authority,” or “seat” and “throne”—were carefully weighed for cultural resonance.
Experiencing Storytelling Firsthand
Each morning began with devotions using the Storying Fellowship Group method: listening to a story, watching a dramatisation, retelling it and reflecting together. Many participants were struck by how memorable and impactful this approach was, with some eager to adopt it in their own small groups.
Diana’s Story: From Shelter to Storyteller
One of the most moving moments came when Diana, now 22, shared her testimony. Growing up in an underprivileged, marginalised family of six siblings, Diana and her siblings spent their childhood moving between shelters. At one point, the siblings were separated when the family was asked to leave a shelter. Diana went on to complete up to Form 5 of her secondary school education, but Kanaga and her younger siblings had to stop their education prematurely.
At a young age, Diana became a Christian, and through her Anglican church, learned about the Vaaimoli Bible project. With prayerful courage, she joined the team—and even brought her sister Kanaga along. Through the project, both sisters have grown in confidence, strengthened their Tamil and English, and discovered a new purpose in bringing God’s Word to others.
Reflecting on the impact of the project, Diana shared: “If I have not joined this project, I think my life will become no different from others. My life will look mundane. In these two years, I have become more independent and learned how to manage my life spiritually, emotionally and financially. I also learned to relate to others, communicate with confidence and began to think for my family and my future.”
The project had provided Kanaga with valuable experience. She explained, “I learned a lot about the stories in the Bible, their cultural and geographical background and other useful information. This project has also given me many first time experiences: first time holding the microphone and speaking in front of many people, telling Bible stories, facilitating the retelling practice and reflection. The Storying Fellowship Groups method itself is a highlight to me. Unlike other Bible study methods, Storying Fellowship Groups allow us to learn the Bible deeply, even without opening the Bible itself. Being able to facilitate these and see people learning through the process is a joy to me too.”
Fellowship and Partnership
By the end of the review, participants who had arrived as strangers left as friends. Beyond the hard work of reviewing stories, they enjoyed fellowship as Tamil speakers united by faith. Representatives from Wycliffe Malaysia, Wycliffe Singapore, the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia and volunteers also joined, showing the Tamil community that they are not alone—others are standing with them in this mission.
What’s Next?
With 34 stories reviewed, the team is now revising them based on feedback. Soon, they’ll be published on the Vaaimoli Bible Programme website, social media channels, and a dedicated app. Looking ahead, the team hopes to recruit new members for the next phase, which will focus on spreading the stories and growing the Storying Fellowship Groups.
For more information, please visit the following websites:
Storying Fellowship Group
Vaaimoli Bible Programme
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