Recently, Deidox.com wrote to us to let us know about their film project. They make incredibly moving short clips telling the stories of everyday people God is using, and then churches can buy and use the clips. It’s a fascinating idea that’s brilliantly executed, and it speaks to something much larger.
Several conversations in my life lately have been revolving around this idea: Stories matter. I don’t simply mean that they interest people or that they can be funny. I mean stories change the world. When people hear a story, it connects with their imagination, and they can place themselves in that story. When they hear someone in your church is serving the poor and making a difference, they imagine what their life would be like if they were playing the lead in that movie. When they hear that people are helping orphans rise from a hopeless life, they feel the dirt of an African village crackling beneath their own feet.
In our world, stories aren’t just orally transmitted like in the days of old. They aren’t just Jesus telling his disciples about a metaphorical farmer. It’s not a bad idea, and sometimes this is a great option. But in our world, stories can take you so close to a different life that you can feel it.
Maybe one great storyteller can relay the story of how they made a difference. Or perhaps you can use realistic audio, stirring photography and moving videos to tell a story.
However you tell it, it’s important that you prioritize these stories so people can understand and believe that as humans, we’re capable of so much. Perhaps you need to use a story from Deidox or the ever-popular Nooma. Or it could be that you need the pastor to interview a member of your congregation about their time at the soup kitchen.
Whatever it is, find a way to let the people of the church share their stories to show that God is alive, real and working in the world.
Marc
February 9, 2009
I remember reading in the Tipping Point about some child development research. Researchers found that children understand their world primarily through narrative. Before falling asleep, children told themselves stories with all the people & events in their life. It makes me wonder if adults really are that different in how they organize information.
church outreach ideas
August 18, 2009
I think it is amazing how a story can move us. It is why people go to the movies! I remember we used to have good stories on the big screen. Now blood is all we see.
What do you think of christian movies? I think the stories sometimes are really lacking and the story telling is bad. I have seen a couple I liked… but few.