The 10 Immutable Laws of Storytelling

In your business, your ministry, your filmmaking, and communication in general...memorize these laws of storytelling. Stories are about people. Stories need to be fixed in time and space. Stories don't tell, they show. For the rest, go to www.visualstory.org/10laws.

Mobile Ministry Consultation - Site is Live

We’re very excited about the second Mobile Ministry Consultation taking place December 11-13, 2011 at the JAARS headquarters in Waxhaw, North Carolina! The registration site is live! Check it out at www.visualstory.org/mobileconsult.

Mobile Ministry Training Course

Wahoo! The world's first Mobile Ministry Training is available online at http://www.cybermissions.org/mobilemin/. Great work by John Edmiston, Brian Ward, Antoine Wright and others. This is one of the projects that came out of last year's Mobile Ministry Consultation. Check out the Events calendar for this year's consultation.

Reluctant Convert

I felt "guilted" into getting onto the Mac platform after 20 years of being a PC guy (thanks Shane Sooter). I thought the transition was more painful (and costly) than it should have been. Now I do really like (not love) my Mac. I do love my iPhone. I'll never spend $500 on an iPad. Yet I was surprised how saddened I was by Steve Job's death. Death is the great "change agent."

First Art in Mission Forum ... Great to Connect

Thanks to Kirsten Borrer, Angel Ambrose, Marge Malwitz, Debby Topliff, Sean Olesiuk, the Carsons, Scott Howe and Ashley Lane for making the first Art in Mission Forum a great time of sharing, learning, and getting inspired. Look under the events calendar for the next forum on October 27.

Missional Art & the Artist's Witness

We’ll be hosting a one-hour “conversation” this Thursday that will feature artists sharing how they have used their creative gift to engage people in an encounter with their Creator. Together we’ll brainstorm on best practices of the artist seeking to witness. Come ready to learn and to share your insights. Look under the Event calendar for more info.

Mobile Ministry Forum Consultation

We are excited for the upcoming Mobile Ministry Forum Consultation. It will be held at the offices of JAARS (a ministry of Wycliffe) in Waxhall, North Carolina. It will take place December 11-13, 2011. Keep an eye on the events calendar for more information.

36 Parables and IMM Partnership

John Schimke (www.36parables.com) and Jerry Gibson (www.imm.edu) just completed a partnership production on the 19th of the 36 parable series. Partnerships are just plain smart. Check out the finished product at http://www.vimeo.com/28808392.

Fund Raising Training

The JESUS Film Project has generously offered to give a one-day training seminar on fund development. The training will take place in Southern California on December 5. We will also make it available online via streaming. Mark the date in your calendar. Check the Events calendar for more details.

Brian Bird's film screening on NBC Saturday

Brian Bird wrote the script for “Game Time: Tackling the Past.” This will air tomorrow night (Saturday, September 3, 8:00 p.m. / 7:00 Central) on NBC as part of Wal-Mart’s “Family Movie Night.” If you’re in the US and able to watch, check it out. Great work Brian!

Call2All Global Congress / Media Track

We will be serving with Carol and Calvin Conkey to organize the upcoming Media and Missions track at the Call2All Congress in Long Beach, CA on November 29 - December 3. This strategic gathering will focus on reaching the least-reached with indigenous media. Chuck Quinley will be joining us as well. Learn more by looking under the Event calendar. Let us know if you can come.

Launched a Kid to College

Shirine and I spent a few days this week taking our oldest child to college this week. We are sobered by the "letting go" process. We realize this is a huge part of life. May you experience God's grace when it is time to let go of something He has entrusted you with.

Left to Tell

I just got off the phone with Mary Beth Minnis. She is mobilizing prayer for the film, "Left To Tell." Already there are 50,000 who have "liked" the Facebook page. Check it out at "Pray for Left to Tell" on Facebook. They are hoping the film will be funded and filmed in the next year.

Mobile Ministry Forum Consultation

The Mobile Ministry Forum is making plans for a small gathering this December 11-13 in Philadelphia. If you are interested in getting more info, keep an eye out in the Event calendar.

2011 Edinburgh Summit Sessions

We've made available a handful of the sessions from the 2011 VSN Summit in Edinburgh, Scotland. Learn more about story, social media, advice from veterans and more. Take a look at the titles listed below and enjoy. Special thanks to Ted Cox and Jim Meyer for their able videography.

Visual Artist Community Growing

It has been very encouraging to see visual artists with a deep kingdom commitment join the VSN community. Kristen Borrer, Marge Malwitz, Debby Topliff and I had a great conference call the other day just getting acquainted. We're looking at hosting a forum on "Taking Missional Art to the Ends of the Earth" on September 29. Keep an eye on the event calendar for updates.

What is Your Role as a Leader?

Hat's off to Seth Godin (again) for crisply saying something we should believe. "Leaders lead. Is that too simple? Writers write. If you want to be a writer, write. And be sure to have people read what you write. And leaders? Leaders lead. If you want to be a leader, go lead." (I used to say the same thing to Shirine when she talked about writing).

Prayer for Rob Hoskins

Rob Hoskins is one of the co-founders of the Visual Story Network. He is a man of faith, integrity and a personal inspiration to me. He recently contracted e-coli only to find out he also has prostate cancer. Please join me in praying for God's healing and complete restoration of Rob.

VSN Overview Video Available

The VSN Overview video is available for viewing and free download at www.visualstory.org/overview. This 3:27 video combines the "Yuseff and Andrea: Why Visual Story?" video (2:40) and a brief explanation of the Visual Story Network.

All About Storytelling

"This generation coming of age in this digital society doesn’t see or perceive much difference in types of media...The actual tools used are irrelevant. It’s the end result – the storylines, the messages – that matters. This generation thinks in pictures, words, and still and moving images and is comfortable mixing them all in the same space." N. Bilton, I Live in the Future, p. 12.