Kingdom Journalism

Kingdom Journalism in the Local Church

• Posted by Steve K. on February 12th, 2009 filed in General
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Nick Charalambous is Internet Pastor at NewSpring Church in South Carolina. He recently wrote some challenging thoughts that capture my own heartbeat for kingdom journalism quite well and apply them in the local church context:

The Bible commands everyone everywhere to tell the story of God.

So why isn’t storytelling part of everything we do as a church, not just part of a preacher’s anecdotes?

That makes no sense when we structure our reality as humans through stories we hear.
And when we shape our identity through the stories we relate.
And when we see God’s heart and will for us communicated through the stories in his word.

Stories are everywhere in our congregations. But up until now, we’ve boxed them in as testimony, as evangelism. I think we can easily overlook how important it is for stories to be told and heard by believers within a congregation.

Everyone needs a reminder about the great and mighty God that we serve. The Bible itself is one glorious and perpetual reminder … And our experiences of affliction and Christ’s overcoming grace are meant for others to be strengthened and encouraged. …

But the strategy tends to compartmentalize the role storytelling can play. It becomes “something for others.” Rather than a part of our faith journey together as a church in discipleship and sanctification.

The wonders of our God? They are how he has romanced, rescued, comforted and healed us and other people among us. The “greater things” Jesus promised we would do after him? Those are the things happening among us right now if only we knew about them.
[emphasis added]

continue reading “We rob God when our greatest stories go untold”