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The My Story Project - by Urs Wolf |
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 The Name
Every day we encounter people. What do we leave with these people? Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you.” We need to find new ways to leave peace with the people we encounter. Originally we entitled this idea “Leaving Peace.” We are now referring to the same concept as “My Story” because it is easier to explain and remember the name.
You can join the facebook group “My story” in order to exchange ideas and tools for this new project.
Invite Urs Wolf as a friend on facebook and apply for joining this group.
The Idea
The idea is to share the gospel through personal stories—using creativity and art. You put your faith and experiences down in written word, film, or in a piece of art to touch someone else’s heart. People can disagree with facts, discuss and dismantle arguments about God—but they cannot refute your personal experience. “My Story” is something that can communicate who you are and how you encountered Jesus. You can show how Jesus meets your felt needs as well as provides for your deeper needs. It can provide links for further information for those who are curious and are caused to think after reading your story.
Partners
In this day and age, we are especially electronic people. “My Story” is a perfect opportunity to provide links to homepages such as www.lookingforGod, www.everystudent.com, facebook or many others.
From Connection to Movement
Build and Send
“My Story” is a project to help our staff and students share their faith more frequently and more effectively. Jesus asks us to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have. We want to motivate and train Christians to develop their own personal, creative “My Story” piece. In the printed realm, “My Story” can be put in postcard form with room for an artistic edge, as well as in simple booklets. In addition to personal encounters, “My Story” can be distributed in many other creative ways.
After holding an event, a seminar, or a conference, you can leave the postcards or pamphlets of your story out and available to be picked up. You can also distribute them after any type of evangelistic interview/questionnaire/survey.
Win
You can provide links to your ministry homepages as well as to your life/testimony webpages. This online communication can begin with a provided link from your story and then continue on into personal follow-up or e-coaching. The goal is to provide your story initially, but then allow people to see that there are links to many other such stories about the gospel message.
Example of a Personalized Website with “My story”
The same pictures and text I used for personalization in the production of the printed postcards are also on the website: www.everystudent.com
To create your page, go to http://www.everystudent.com/valueGod. This website allows you to create your own link. This URL is something that you provide to others. Your webpage will not be listed on the main page of everystudent.com. You can add your page URL (link) to already existing information you have such as your email signature, your facebook page, your blog, or Twitter.
Here are my examples:
http://www.everystudent.com/mypage/lost
http://www.everystudent.com/mypage/treasure
http://www.everystudent.com/mypage/identity
http://www.everystudent.com/mypage/urs
On www.Gottkennen.ch is a film in Swiss German with our whole family about how we cope with the handicap of our daughter, Nadja. The direct link to this film is:
http://www.vimeo.com/6604327
2 Experiences with People Who Received “My Story”
I have personal experiences of seeing God work through “My Story.” Heidi and I once struck up a conversation with a woman at the hotel swimming pool during our holidays. After some chit-chat we found out she was from Israel. We told her we were Christians and love Israel because God loves Israel. She was so taken aback, saying that not many people think highly of Israel. I gave her a little booklet of “My Story.” She soon emailed me and said, “I read the little book you gave me when we met. It was very interesting to meet people who are happy and have found the meaning in their lives.”
Also, at the end of a cruise my family went on we personally handed the housekeeping staff member a tip and one of the booklets. This started a conversation where the staff member explained how difficult it was for him to work so far away from his family. He also emailed me later saying, “It was very nice to have a person like you onboard the ship. I have worked for this company for fifteen years but have never met people like you. It was God’s gift to me.”
What Do We Need in Order to Further Develop “My Story?
We need an internet solution to making “My Story” a concrete and available tool. We could develop a homepage with easy access to an explanation, tools, tips, suggestions, and ready-made templates for anyone wanting to create their own evangelistic story.
Further needs include: E-coaches to provide feedback for written stories, easy and available methods of getting “My story” printed, and avenues of creating “My story” video clips. Partnership is also key to get the ball rolling. We need the knowhow, coordinators for various language groups, and financial support.
Your Feedback is Needed
What do you think about “My Story”? What are your thoughts and ideas? What could you contribute? Are you interested in using “My story”?
Please email Urs Wolf:
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NCD Switzerland, member of the Future Leader Priority Team of Agape Europe
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