1. A New Possibility
A global movement of visual story for the kingdom of God

2. Why Do We Need a Movement?
People live into stories too small (sports, celebrities, political
parties, private fears and pain)
People everywhere need hope
People need to find life in the
Greatest Story of all
We firmly believe that the truth of creation, fall and redemption revealed in scripture is the missing message in the stories shaping the lives of billions of people.

3. Why Do We Need a Visual Movement?
The world is increasingly visual
Have you noticed how kids are constantly in front of screens? It is one of the great challenges of our day. We constantly try to control the quantity and quality of content our 7, 12 and 15 year old are exposed to.
A new generation of youth is accustomed to “media multi-tasking” that increases the amount of visual media one digests. Youth in America are exposed to 8.5 hours of media per day even though they pack that into 6.5 hours of time (Kaiser Family Foundation Study, 2005).
We estimate that every day 2 out of three people on the planet are shaped by visual story.
Do we really need to watch TV while pumping gas?

4. Isn't visual media only a dominant influence in “developed” nations?
Not any longer.
Over 39 countries, even those that lack running water, have their own version of “American Idol.”
Teens in rural Swaziland watch 1 to 2 hours of TV a day. Jerry Springer is a favorite.
Many countries are leapfrogging over landlines and wired Internet to wireless devices. From 2000 to 2007, mobile phones in Africa jumped from 15.6 to 200 million.
More than half the world’s population has a cell phone

5. the 21st century world communicates
The language in which
the 21st century world communicates
is the language of ….
visual story
I had the privilege of working with the Jesus film for 7 years. Much of the impact is derived from the fact that there was a concerted effort to take a simple film and translate it into every language with 100k speakers or more. To date, it has been translated into 1044 languages.
We must understand that increasingly the world will communicate in a visual way. 58% of American high school graduates will not read a book in its entirety for the rest of their lives.

6. Paul Eshleman, founder of the JESUS Film Project:
For 1500 years the church preached.
For 500 years the church has printed.
Today we must portray Jesus and His kingdom in stories.
Visual story must penetrate everything we do in Christian missions. The success of the expansion of the Church will hinge on how well we personally demonstrate and visually portray who Jesus is and what impact He can have in our lives.”
Paul Eshleman, founder of the JESUS Film Project:
This is a tectonic shift we must be aware of.

7. We believe it is vital to …
Help God’s people connect and communicate in new ways
Identify, encourage and equip a new generation of visual storytellers

8. Visual Story: A Definition
Combining narrative and visual media in communicating the message of Christ and His kingdom.

9. Visual Story includes . . . Theater Television Computer Cell
Graphic Novel
Painting
Design
Flannel graph
We’re broad in our view of what visual story includes.

10. What Kinds of Stories Are Needed?
We believe seeking people will respond to stories that engage, inspire, challenge and ultimately evoke a desire for Christ.
Some stories will be subtle and will provoke. They will raise questions rather than answer them.
Other stories will be direct and seek to provide answers to the spiritual needs of the viewer. In all cases, a visual story should go beyond simple entertainment.

11. A Vision :: Achieved
When God’s people consistently create and share visual stories in culturally compelling ways with every person on the earth so people can experience life-change through Jesus a movement will have occurred.

12. A Vision
Feature films released, captivating audiences, revealing the kingdom, in every continent in the world
High school kids using iPods showing clips that speak to their peers at there level of need
An energized, connected, Christ-centered, visual story community of 100,000 that share ideas, projects, resources, best practices
Christians ready to respond regarding the hope within them through an authentic life, biblical truth and visual story that connects with people around them
Stories are shared that inspire people to live lives of integrity, humility, compassion and justice…for Christ and His kingdom

13. A Vision : Pathways
A Christ-centered visual story movement will occur when…
The Church embraces the visual storyteller in her midst
Innovators and early adopters connect to influence the early majority
We understand that story is at the heart of God, culture and the biblical narrative
We yield our lives fully to the caring, holy Creator who is bringing all things to an astounding close
The body of Christ synergistically works together on new tools and strategies

14. Visual Story Network : Who We Are
The Visual Story Network is a coalition of missional and creative Christians working together to fuel a global movement of visual story for the kingdom of God.
We sensed a need for a global, missional and strategic concerted effort
It began with a handful of organizations

15. Visual Story Network : What We Do
Advocate for the need for visual story
Provide opportunities to connect and collaborate
Equip God’s people to create and use visual story
4. Promote best practices and products

16. BIG opportunities before God’s people
Support and expand ministries that train and equip local believers to produce and distribute contextualized stories. Sharing of best practices and products at a global level. A wave of new models of effective visual story use at community, city, country and continental levels. Uncover and expand new methods of distribution to get kingdom stories into the homes and hearts of non-Christians. Helping creative Christians become more missional and missional Christians become more creative

17. Evangelism Process & Communication RolesD F E R K
B EL
IEVERS
Mass Media
Radio, TV, Print, etc.
Interpersonal
Implicit msg
Explicit msg
Stone Clearing
Sowing & Watering
Reaping
Discipling

18. Call to Action Organizational
Evaluate your organization’s ability to connect and communicate in a visual world
Find visually oriented partners ( to start)
Think beyond fund raising in your use of visual story. Think in terms of outreach, discipleship, leadership training (OneHope)
Develop your organizational and personal visual story toolkit
Encourage the emerging visual story teller in your midst

19. Call to Action Live fully into your own story with passion and abandon
Personal
Live fully into your own story with passion and abandon
Become a story teller and story user
Be able to connect with the stories that are popular in current culture