Storytelling at Timberlake 

What's the vision for Impact Stories?

We share a lot of information and stories in written (blogs, website, email, or social) and video format (content filmed for Sunday mornings and other avenues). We do that in a mixture of ways: reporting about various ministries (seniors, kids, students, LifeGroups), informing people about important dates coming up (for events, sign-ups, deadlines), and then telling about (logistically focused) various community-driven missions we participate in as a church (The Fillin' Station, Meals on Wheels, mission trips, etc.). Our goal is that Timberlake's Mission Moment Videos would STILL include these same types of events (missions, ministries)….but they would be more focused on what God HAS done and what we anticipate God WILL do within them. They would be more impact story-driven rather than reporting the logistical details as the majority part. We want to make God the hero of the story, of the content.

Why does Timberlake need stories?

The overall goal in sharing stories is for our members to be inspired to live out Timberlake's mission to reach, feed, and release people to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We also share stories for our members to "hear, do, and repeat" the gospel message in practical and tangible ways. It can be shared in various forms, and telling stories is one of those ways.

What makes a story “good?”

The most compelling stories teach a life lesson through others' experiences. (Take the gospel and the power of personal testimony, for example). A story is "good" if it has the potential for its lessons to be applied and retold by the listener. Every story has the potential to be applied and retold if it's presented in the right way. (That's where the assistance of your editor/storyteller comes in.) 

How Can My Ministry Find Stories?

You want to share stories about your ministry...that's great! But how can you find stories that will inspire others to live out our church's mission?

A simple way is to ask these two questions to the people in your ministry: 

What is God doing in your life right now?
How are you sharing God with others?
 

If you present these questions within your ministry, you can gather many stories. Some story examples include loving our neighbors, having gospel conversations, reporting on current events, or updating others on ministry work. 

What are we going to do with our Impact Stories?

We plan to share our impact stories in various avenues via WRITTEN or VIDEO content.
Written: Email, social media, and print are a few examples.
Video: Sunday service, social media, YouTube, email