I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling. The affect it can have on the human soul. Pretty soon this blog is going to look different. As I go into 11 countries it is going to begin to be filled with stories, faces, and names of people and places.
“Story is where we came from. Story is where we’re going. Story is what connects us and binds us to each other. It is in the story of humanity, amongst love and fear and failure, that we make meaning of our lives.
Story is what defines us and sets us apart. It’s what allows us to connect with one another, to truly know and be known.
Story is powerful.
Story is grossly misunderstood.
A good story has conflict, but ultimately resolves. A story is messy and full of confusion, but there is meaning and completeness to it. A story is about people and places, not ideas and concepts.
Stories are concrete, absolute, and certain. Yet, they are mysterious. Stories have natural momentum to them, fueling our passion to find out more from the teller.”
It is with great excitement and gratitude to share that at training camp I had been asked by leadership and given the opportunity to have a storyteller role in my team of 7 (introduction blog post coming VERY soon). I will learn more about this when we launch in October. It’s such an incredibly important role and the fact that they saw something in me, I’m really just honestly extremely humbled. I will essentially be the point person on my team to help guide and encourage my teammates in their storytelling process throughout our journey whether that be through blogs or songs; vlogs (video blogs); photoblogs; interviews with locals; highlighting key things God is teaching us or refining in us; and highlighting other cultures and their daily realities, etc. I am anxious to see how God is going to use me in this role as my heart has always had a passion to convey stories in such a way to move and touch the lives of the reader or the person I’m sitting across the table from.
So my role will be to remind my team to pause and reflect on what God is doing, and I, myself, share how God is moving and act on that and create a safe space for them to tell their stories. I mean, how amazing, right?
Thank you Jesus for the gift of story, for giving me this opportunity to come behind my incredible team as we all come together and are given unique opportunities to tell stories boldly and courageously and with great care and respect as these stories have been entrusted to us. It’s an honor to share the stories of others, and what God is showing us and doing in our own lives as we live out his kingdom here on earth this next year on the mission field.
“The world is shaped by two things- The stories told and the memories they leave behind.”
