“We are lonesome animals. We spend all of our life trying to be less lonesome. One of our ancient methods is to tell a story begging the listener to say-and to feel- ‘Yes, that is the way it is, or at least that is the way I feel it.’ You’re not as alone as you thought.” John Steinbeck

My top post for December 2010 was a discussion about the life changing potential of story and visual media.

I have joined others who believe that storytelling is going to play an important role in the future of communication strategies for churches, nonprofits and Christian organizations.

As Native Americans have shown, storytelling in various media forms can serve as a historical record and a way to pass cultural heritage from generation to generation.

The Web and interactive storytelling have introduced the tradition to the YouTube generation. New storytelling networks connect people to one another and with the larger community.

The United States Army is experimenting with storytelling techniques.

“Army Strong Stories” is an online community where soldiers and others can post comments, stories, questions, and reflections as well as photos and other media.These authentic soldier stories serve as a resource to connect soldiers with their friends and family as well as for people considering enlisting to communicate with soldiers in their fields of interest.

Lieutenant General Benjamin Freakley introduces the program in this video:

Army Strong Stories looks more like a social network than a traditional military marketing campaign or recruiting tool. Intentional no doubt.

NewSpring Church is also building a storytelling network to show God has been moving within the congregation of 5 campuses and 20,000 attenders.

I see five benefits of developing a storytelling network for Christian ministry.

1. A strategy for sharing what it means in practice to be a Christian, to coincide with approaches for online evangelism. ("Love must be sincere." Romans 12:9-21)

2. Encourages anyone (church members, constituents, members of the community) to share from their faith experiences, or on a particular topic by submitting a video or written story. ("Always be prepared to give an answer...with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15)

3. Makes it possible to take truth into the world online where today’s youth are. ("This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. My words will never pass away." Matthew 24:34-35)

4. Opens connections with the unchurched. ("While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples." Matthew 9:10)

5. Provides a social environment to remove communication barriers not only between people but between other similar organizations. ("For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility." Ephesians 2:14)

Credible stories

In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies. Nehemiah 9:27

In the video General Freakley said, “On this site you will find our soldiers telling their story which establishes not only their credentials, but the credentials for our Army and our nation.”

God can and does work through inspired men and women. The Army and NewSpring Church are proving that using new media tools to tell personal stories is a powerful form of communication.

I hope more entities will follow their example and create storytelling networks. Your step of faith will get the ball rolling. You will enable Christian soldiers to tell credible stories about the most incredible story ever told. You will be creating a new media platform for getting the Word out for our God and His kingdom.

My thanks to Mark Howell for helping the topic of story-driven visual media gain traction on his blog.