Story Telling

Stories Work!

Good stories captivate the imagination and attention of a child and provide an excellent way of getting the Gospel across to them, and in communicating values and ideas in an easy to understand way. Stories teach about life and persist in the memory. Some people are born story-tellers, but others have story telling thrust upon them. If you are suffering from lack of experience, all you need to become a good story-teller is a suitable story told in accordance with a few ground rules. You can develop a story-telling ministry with the help of God.

Make It Alive!

The don't just read the story, but make it come live because the Bible is real and true! Make your story descriptive so that the audience can visualise the story. Know the story by heart and then rehearse it until you can tell it with confidence. Picture it in your mind to make it real to yourself.

Be Expressive!

A monotonous delivery drains the life from the best story. Aim to know your story well enough so that you to maximise its dramatic and emotional appeal. Work out where atmosphere and excitement could be built up by a pause or by speeding up your story, and suspense can be created by dropping your voice to a whisper.

While you speak, use your body to act out the story with gestures and facial expressions. To be vivid and convincing, your characters need to speak for themselves. Where possible, use different voices or accents for various characters, for example use a deep voice for a giant.

Create Interest!

Create interest with historical details and place settings. Approach your story from a fresh angle. For example, in the story of Feeding the Five Thousand, tell it from the point of view of the boy who gave his food to Jesus, or an ant who collected the crumbs!

Visual aids are important too. Today's children expect to see as well as hear. Use pictures and props if appropriate, or even dress up as the main character in your story. Your visual aids could take the form of household objects mentioned in the story.

Use the Audience!

Include in your story events, people or circumstances that children will relate to their lives or to their culture. Involve the children by letting them make sound effects. For example bangs, crashes, hoof-beats, telephones and footsteps. Prepare the children beforehand if you want them to participate by letting them rehearse the sounds or phrases when you say a key word. This makes them feel a part of your story and helps them to remember it.

Pray for God's Annointing!

Story-telling skills improve with practice, so practice often! Finally, know the story well so that you can concentrate on driving home the spiritual truth. Pray for God's anointing and tell it for the children's response and action. The key for results is to be:

Prepared, Prayed-up and Empowered!

God bless.