Strategic Digital Outreach

Storytelling

I am very interested in storytelling as a method of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. I suppose that is true because I have sensed the power there is when people tell their own stories - of their life experiences, interests, etc., often intertwined with elements of their faith journey. Unlike our traditional evangelistic efforts (tracts, surveys, crusades, etc.), these tidbits of how their faith has impacted their experiences don’t seem forced or manipulative to me.

And so I was intrigued this morning by a quote I read on the Wanderer of the North blog from Anthony de Mello’s book One Minute Wisdom (I actually found this more complete quote at Patti’s Favorite Storytelling Quotes, but I started with Wanderer of the North):

The master gave his teaching in parables and stories, which his disciples listended to with pleasure - and occasional frustration, for they longed for something deeper. The master was unmoved. To all their objections he would say, You have yet to understand that the shortest distance between a human being and the Truth is a story.

This peaked my interest a bit and so I did a search at Google on “storytelling” and “evangelism”. One of the results was an article entitled Storyvangelism by Dennis Dewey. I think the entire article is worth a read, but here is a thought-provoking excerpt:

The earliest Christians told their stories with passion and conviction. They told of what the Lord had done in their lives. People could see that they were different. People wanted to know more; they wanted to know the story.

When people visit our websites, do they learn what the Lord has done in our lives? Can they see that we are different by reading our stories? Do they want to know more as a result of visiting our websites? Do they want to know more of our story?

The simple act of telling our stories is:

  1. one of the most powerful ways in which our websites can be effectively used to intrigue the lost: and,
  2. unfortunately, one of the most-absent features of Christian websites today.

Do you know of websites that tell the stories of believers? I’m not talking about testimonies here (in which the obvious emphasis is on persuasion), but about life stories in which a person’s faith is inextricably bound with their experiences and interests.

Posted by on 12/20 at 09:50 AM
The Collective Voice!
Mark continues the discussion:

Frank: This is a powerful and important point.

Many years ago, I read a book by a father and son team, called, “Inductive Preaching.” It pointed out that Jesus’ characteristic method of teaching and preaching was stories. I figured that if it was good enough for Jesus, it was good enough for me. My development as a storyteller has been fitful, but ultimately rewarding. People love stories. Stories have a way of lodging what would otherwise seem stale and inaccessible propositions in the hearts of listeners.

Even before reading that book on preaching, I was involved in a class called, “Word and Witness,” designed to help people become active witnesses for their faith. It said that witnessing happened at the confluence of three different circles. The first circle represented our story, the second that of the other person, and the third, that of God. I believe that’s true.

Witnessing is a lot more like winemaking than it is like microwaving a frozen dinner. It takes time for all the stories to come together, for the contact between Jesus and unbelievers God empowers us to make to happen. That slow process requires patience. But it is worth it.

Thank you for your blog, Frank.

Have a great Christmas and a happy 2005!

Mark

contributed on 12/21 at 08:48 PM
continues the discussion:

Thanks Mark - I really appreciate your comment, especially the last part about patience. So often when we hear teaching about personal evangelism (or read books, watch videos, etc.), the emphasis seems to be on instantaneous results.

The truth, however, is that there is most often a tapestry of events, comments, experiences, conversations, etc. in an unbeliever’s life which finally bring him/her to conversion. One plants, one waters, etc.

I wonder if it makes sense to look at evangelistic websites in the same way - one website might serve a planting function, while another might serve a watering function, etc.

Thanks again!
Frank

contributed on 12/22 at 07:20 AM
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