Sarah kneels on the sand with her hands raised to her face beside a box of small wooden figures, while three people sit close around her on plastic chairs and look at the figures; more flat wooden figures stand in the sand in front of them, with a tree and a sunset sky behind.

Training

College of
Bible Engagement

The URstory Sandbox Bible course is an immersive training program designed to transform how leaders facilitate scripture engagement.

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See upcoming dates

Upcoming training.

15 to 19

February 2027

In person

Facilitator training week (EXAMPLE – replace with real dates)

Still Bay, South Africa

Example only: a week of SandBoxBible facilitator training in Still Bay. Edit or delete this event under Training events.

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Tell us who you are and which training interests you. We will email you a confirmation. Questions? Write to URstorysbb@gmail.com.

Prefer WhatsApp? +27 60 717 0429

The course.

Participants master a multi-modal approach that integrates bible reading, Lectio Divina contemplative prayer, Sandplay therapy, and Transformation Prayer Ministry (TPM) emotional processing. Through hands-on practice with sand trays, figures, and symbolic objects, facilitators learn to translate complex biblical texts into visual, three-dimensional narrative spaces. The curriculum emphasizes non-directive facilitation techniques, teaching leaders to help individuals trace emotional triggers back to root lie-based beliefs, externalize unseen spiritual struggles, and receive Christ’s truth directly. Designed to transcend language, age, and cultural barriers, this course equips facilitators to cultivate safe, reflective environments where participants transition smoothly from intellectual study into deep, experiential spiritual growth and lasting personal transformation.

Who it’s for.

Anyone leading a Bible study group
Sunday school teachers
Church planting leaders

A scene built from flat painted wooden figures standing in pale sand against a black backdrop: blue waves and a boat with a yellow sail, green mountains, an olive tree with two figures beside it, a figure in a white cloak with a lion on its back, and a wooden cross, with a hen and a lamb in the sand.

The five steps.

Telling of Bible Passage
Lectio Divina Integration
TPM & Immanuel Protocol
Sandplay Assessment
Synthesis Conversation

Why the course exists.

The purpose of this course is to equip leaders to facilitate deeper spiritual engagement and emotional processing through tactile biblical storytelling. By moving beyond traditional lectures, the method encourages participants to connect personally with Scripture, using visual placement to examine their emotions, discern truth, and listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Ultimately, the course empowers facilitators to bridge language and cultural barriers, especially important for where YWAM is at going after unreached nations where there are no bibles, fostering meaningful faith dialogue, personal transformation, and spiritual reflection within their communities.

What you will be equipped to do.

To equip any person leading a bible study group, Sunday school teachers and church planting leaders to facilitate interactive, tactile bible storytelling using sand trays (or rice bowls in Asia) and wooden figures, guiding participants to process emotions, (emotions leads to what you actually believe) and engage deeply with Scripture, and experience personal spiritual transformation.

Part of the University of the Nations.

The SandBoxBible facilitator training counts as part of a credit for students pursuing degrees with the University of the Nations. Sarah is on the Team for Bible Engagement Faculty.

The University of the Nations seal: a round badge with a shield showing a Bible, a dove, bread and praying hands, YWAM above the shield and the words To know God and to make Him known, inside a ring reading University of the Nations.

A gold shield-shaped badge reading BLE above a thin line and UofN.

A world map covered in clusters of green, orange, yellow and blue circles, densest across North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia and sparse across the Americas.

Where the Word is needed most.

Oral communication is the primary, and often sole, form of communication for up to 80% of people worldwide. More than 1,200 language groups have never had one passage of the Bible in their mother tongue: over 100 million people without access to God’s Word.

“…how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” Romans 10:14

Skills you will build.

Multi-Modal Integration

Seamlessly blending the Bible, contemplative prayer (Lectio Divina), non-verbal projection (Sandplay), and emotional processing (TPM and Immanuel prayer) into a single facilitation flow.

Tactile Storytelling & Visual Layout

Arranging physical figures, symbols, and sand trays to accurately and dynamically depict Biblical narratives.

Active Emotional Facilitation

Guiding participants through targeted reflection prompts to identify feelings, unpack underlying beliefs, and process personal reactions to Scripture.

Cross-Cultural Communication

Adapting narrative symbols and facilitation styles to bridge language, age, and cultural barriers effectively. The SandBoxBible’s wooden pieces is excellent for this.

Spiritual Discernment & Listening

Creating space for participants to distinguish core truth from personal assumptions while encouraging openness to the Holy Spirit.

Interactive Group Dynamics

Leading non-judgmental, participatory discussions that maintain narrative flow and keep diverse groups safely engaged.

Non-Directive Emotional Tracing

Guiding participants along emotional pathways to uncover underlying lie-based beliefs without offering answers, directing outcomes, or imposing personal interpretations.

Contemplative Atmosphere Hold

Managing group energy, silence, and pacing to transition participants fluidly from intellectual observation into prayerful listening and emotional vulnerability.

The heart of a facilitator.

Empathy

Listening deeply to participants’ emotional responses without judgment as they interact with the sand tray.

Humility

Stepping back as a facilitator to let the Holy Spirit and the story take center stage rather than driving the narrative oneself.

Patience

Allowing space for silence, slow reflection, and personal discovery as participants process feelings and Scripture at their own pace.

Authenticity

Engaging transparently with one’s own faith and emotional reactions, creating a safe environment for others to do the same.

Cultural Receptivity

Approach diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and symbols with honor, respect, and adaptability.

Recorded replays.

Replays of online sessions will appear here after each event.

Take your place
in the story.