Friday, May 25, 2007
Paul Eshleman on the Visual Story Network
We must go beyond “preach” and “print”…to “portray.” The kingdom is ripe for a revolution in the way we communicate the Gospel and disciple new believers. Visual story must penetrate everything we do in Christian missions. It is far more powerful than what we have known. It is the future of the Church. The success of the expansion of the Church will hinge on how well we personally demonstrate and visually portray who Jesus is and what impact He can have in our lives.
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4 comments:
What a powerful verb, "Portray." I think this is such a key word. And it's what story does best.
I love the word as well. So profound, so obvious.
I love the word "Portray" - it is rich. It captures the theology of truth and action. Faith and service. The right things, the right way. Though I certainly don't disagree with the Apostle Paul -that the gospel is the power of God for salvation - I see the "preaching" of it - the telling, the demonstration of it beyond just the words or ideas as much more central to the actual "message" of life of the Christ. Story was so central to his way. I can't help but think that so much more goodnews is out there than we hear or see in the media. So many redemptive acts. So many of Jesus' modern (or should I say postmodern) disciples being what Jesus is all about without neglecting the truth he came to demonstrate in a godly lifestyle. I have a very GodSpellish type view of how Jesus told his stories. I can't help but think they were interactive, demonstrational. I can easily see him grabbing people out of the front rows and having them play the parts he was describing. His very life was a visual story - nothing more visual that mangers and shepherds, stars, storming seas, fish and bread, water and wine, the blood, the cross, the resurrection, the ascension.
We need "Assignment America" for the church, Assignment World - how can we "portray" the qualites of God in a series of short videos, how can we capture the stages of faith, the disciplines of discipleship. How can we chronicle what God is doing in communities, neighborhoods, in regions where He is demonstrating His character? How do we capture the real life stories of people whose lives are being changed by the power of God? How can we develop a You Tube for these stories to be shared not only in the "Christian world", but have great effect and penetration into the world at large? These are some of my wonderings.
So glad to hear Paul is enthused about where you are headed. I pray the transition for your move will go well and that God's grace adn resources will be poured out on you and your family, and your ministry. May the Lord bless and keep you.
Allan Gorman
Thoughts on the Visual Story Network & Clyde's leadership
Story is the foundational way that information is passed on in every culture of the world as evidenced by the fact that around the world parents and grandparents tell their children stories. Films are visual stories in sight and sound. Studies indicate that the majority of people in the world come to faith before they are out of their teens and that films, TV, internet and music are the primary influencers of youth in our day. In the western world the average young person is watching 120 films per year. They are making their life decisions and choices based on what they see in films. Research further indicates that the world is rapidly becoming younger with some populations as high as 70% under the age of 30. In order to influence this generation it is necessary to communicate God’s love and forgiveness through visual stories using the appropriate technologies that will reach them.
My vision for the Visual Story Network is to bring together a collation of Kingdom strategists and creative visual story tellers to intentionally work together to create, find and disseminate the visual stories necessary to help build God’s Kingdom. It is evident that there is great convergence taking place and that God is raising up creative people in the film industry, many of whom have a desire to help build the Kingdom of God. At the same time there are many mission strategists who see the need for using visual story to touch this generation. The Kingdom strategists need the expertise of the creative film makers and the creative film makers need the expertise of Kingdom strategists in order to effectively touch this generation and help to build God’s Kingdom.
I believe the Visual Story Network has the potential to impact the whole world with the greatest story every told, God’s story through the powerful medium of sight and sound, Visual Stories. As Kingdom strategists work together intentionally with creative film makers, people in ever nation will be impacted with God’s story through visual stories that will result in transformed lives in every place so that everyone will know someone who truly follows Jesus. Millions of believers around the world will be equipped to lift up Jesus and make Him known leading to transformed lives who are truly following Jesus as a way of life.
I am so excited that God has so obviously touched Clyde Taber to give leadership to the Visual Story Network. One day as a group of us were discussing the Visual Story Network, God clearly impressed me, to the point of tears, that Clyde should be the one to give leadership to it. I am so grateful to God that in His time He confirmed this calling to Clyde personally. I believe that God has his hand on Clyde and that He has created him, wired him and prepared him for this task. In addition to his giftedness in networking, partnering, speaking, vision and serving as a spokes person for this initiative, what gives me most joy is Clyde’s close walk and dependence on God. In my several years of working closely with Clyde I have found him to be a man of God who truly seeks God and His will in everything he does. I believe that God has raised him up for such a time as this. I can confidently recommend him to you for your prayers and support. I believe that this initiative will impact the whole world for Christ and His Kingdom.
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