Next week (Aug. 16th) I will be leading a storying workshop for Southbrook Church. This will be my first workshop that is primarily with children’s ministry leaders. Since I am not an expert in ministry to children, I invited one – my friend Amy Dolan from LemonLime Kids! I am really excited to be co-leading with Amy. Youth ministry workers and pastors from the area will also be a part of the day-long event. If you are interested in joining us, let me know!
UPDATE: The workshop will be from 10:30pm to 4:30pm at the Franklin Public Library, 9229 W. Loomis Road Franklin, WI. 53132.  If you would like to be a part, contact Donna.

It’d be nice if the Bible read like a novel from cover to cover. But it’s not a novel. It’s a series of books that have been grouped together—and many of them are out of chronological order.

In technological terminology, a mashup is a Web application that combines data from
more than one source into a single integrated tool. The Bible is like this—a mashup of different writings from different authors inspired to tell the unified Story of God and his love for people.

In a recent talk, author Scot McKnight suggested we look at the Bible as a “Wikistory,” in which there is “ongoing reworking of the biblical story by new authors who each tell the story in their own way.” McKnight continued, “None [of the books of the Bible] is exhaustive, comprehensive or absolute…they are different stories of THE Story. We don’t have to harmonize them or try to reconcile them. They’re just doing their own versions of the Story, and each has a place in the larger picture.”

Let’s face it—the Bible is often difficult to read and to teach. We’ve got our work cut out for us if we wish to give our students a sense of its overarching story. That’s why storying is the best way I’ve found to give people, young and old alike, a Bible overview with context to all future Bible learning.

(Excerpted from my forthcoming book, Shaped by the Story)

One of the defining words for this digital era is interactive. We’re becoming accustomed to being able to access and create our own media at a moment’s notice. We desire to contribute to our own learning and entertainment like we would any conversation. We now yearn to be a part of shared experience.

This shift in values has significant implications for the way we approach education. Places where we’ve traditionally accessed information—schools, libraries, and museums—have identified this shift and moved to making their learning opportunities more interactive. There is a new set of standards for how we teach others. We are moving away from one-dimensional education with the teachers being the experts who hold the key to information.

Students already have instant access to most information. They’re becoming accustomed to being able to change, interact, and create while they learn.

We teachers and leaders then become guides to help students explore information and use it in the right context. This requires a new vision for our roles as educators. We become “experience architects,” creating environments that help participants dive deeper and explore further into the things of God. This new role requires a significant investment of energy into creativity.

Bible Storying helps us to explore our new roles as experience architects. The storying process encourages us to experiment with all kinds of creative exercises that will foster learning and formation in our students.

(Excepted from my forthcoming book Shaped by the Story: Helping Students Encounter God in a New Way)

Last week I had the privilege to lead a workshop with some of the faculty from Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville, New York. I lead them through a storying experience and training in the morning, and my brother Mark lead the afternoon.

Mark is co-owner of Imago Media, and has developed interactive training that he has  used to help ministries for a number of years. He focused on the major communication shifts taking place in our culture, and how we must now connect with people through teaching that is interactive, collaborative, image-driven, and story-centered.
Really good stuff!

We were so encouraged by the faculty at “LuHi”, especially Ron Gothberg who hosted us. Ron is the campus pastor and a teacher at the school. He is a wonderful person and deep thinker who is helping students to embrace new forms of worship and spiritual practice. It was great to connect with Ron and see his heart for students!

Ron also took Mark and me to the Yankees game… we had to see a game in the old stadium before they tear it down this fall!

It’d be nice if the Bible read like a novel from cover to cover. But it’s not a novel. It’s a series of books that have been grouped together—and many of them are out of chronological order.

In technological terminology, a mashup is a Web application that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool. The Bible is like this—a mashup of different writings from different authors inspired to tell the unified Story of God and his love for people.

Let’s face it—the Bible is often difficult to read and to teach. We’ve got our work cut out for us if we wish to give our students a sense of its overarching story. That’s why storying is the best way I’ve found to give people, young and old alike, a Bible overview with context to all future Bible learning.

(Excepted from my forthcoming book Shaped by the Story: Helping Students Encounter God in a New Way)

The past few days at the SHIFT conference were a wonderful time of connecting with new and old friends. I had several meaningful conversations with youth leaders were I could identify with their passion and struggle to help students walk in the ways of Jesus. (yes… that is root beer that we are drinking!)

Teaching a workshop on storying is always challenging… the challenges this time were trying to fit with in the time and expectations. I felt really crunched, and that caused me to rush through some things that needed to be given a slower pace. I did not allow enough space for feedback and questions. I also had a few brief interactions with youth leaders who shared that they expected something else from the session. This made me feel bad… or made me hope that I had frames up the session better. But it was still an energizing experience, and I feel privileged to help youth workers in this way.

I had a terrific conversation with two youth leaders… Gerald from Indiana and Jose from Texas. As we talked about our lives, ministries and stories, I could sense their sincerity – it was one of those conversations were you feel like you are talking with old friends even though you just met. I am grateful for this connection and the encouragement that came from it.

I also had the chance to connect with an old friend named John Witte. If you have ever heard me talk about storying, you have heard me talk about John – he is the missionary that inspired Caesar and I to explore and develop this process. John is a joy to be around – animated and funny, and of course a brilliant storyteller! John was attended the SHIFT conference with Chad and C.J., youth ministers from his church in Texas. I had many opportunities to spend time with them and hear about their lives and ministries. John even shared a few of his experiences with storying in Africa in my training session. It was captivating! We also recorded a podcast with John that I hope to post on this blog soon… in fact, it will need to be a series of podcasts!

If you were a part of my training session at the SHIFT conference, please let me know you thoughts (good and bad!) I am always trying to improve the ways that I help youth leaders embrace story in their ministry. Send me an email!

This week I will be doing an extended Storying training for youth workers at the SHIFT Conference. I will also lead a couple of “Cups of Coffee” discussion groups – one on Learner-Focused Ministry and another on Story-Centered Ministry. I am really looking forward to it! I will let you know how it goes soon!

If you have never experienced a Seder, you are missing out! I developed a booklet called a Haggadah (which means “telling”) for Christians to use in leading a Seder that includes a how to guide in the back. This Haggadah ties together the stories of the Exodus and last supper.

I have used this guide in a variety of adult and student groups, and these have been some of the most rich and meaningful encounters with God we have ever had. You can purchase a six pack of Haggadahs directly from me for $33, plus shipping, just click here to purchase!

Fall was packed with many fun and rewarding opportunities to lead workshops for local ministries. This spring is also starting to get busy, but I would still love to come and lead a workshop for you and your team of 6 or more. Bible Storying is a very challenging process, and we have found that it requires training for leaders to grasp it and be effective. Click HERE for more information on hosting a workshop for your group.

The Willow Creek Association is completely refocusing on relevance in ministry rather than on a seeker model, and the Shift Conference is a huge step towards that goal. I am teaching a 3.5 hour point leaders track on Storying at the conference and hosting some “Cups of Coffee” to discuss story and learner-centered teaching.

I would love for you to consider coming to the conference. In fact, I can help you get a $50 discount off registration by entering my code when you register: SMC8EMN (does not apply to Student/Faculty Rate). I do not get any money or credit for this, I just think this conference is going to be great!

On a another note… don’t forget to subscribe to this blog by clicking on Entries RSS under subscribe (upper right). The more folks reading, the more motivation it is for me to post good stuff daily!