Storytelling for Missions

The summer is upon us and with it many opportunities to share in missions projects in and around the local community as well as beyond. As with all missions projects, there is the opportunity to raise funds to cover the costs. Below is a fun project which will not only bring about the successful fund raising but also will give the children the opportunity to see how God uses their talents to bring this to a successful conclusion.
Advance Planning:

• Announce in advance that before and after church, there will be a Storytelling for Missions in the church narthex or vestibule on a designated date.
• Make up a display for the mission’s project with handout information.
• Prepare elevated decorated boxes or small platforms for the storytellers
• Select several capable children to be tellers. Assign different stories from the CBS4kids stories to learn for telling. (www.cbs4kids.org) Have children wok with parents or a responsible adult to memorize and dramatize each story. Remind each to come in costume the day of the event.
• Prior to the Storytelling Day have each practice telling the story to the Children’s pastor or leader.
• Gather one or more sets of the CBS4Kids Bible symbol cards. (free upon request at http://www.cbs4kids.org/)
• Gather the large Bible story symbol fabric panel painted and ready for display (see http://www.cbs4kids.org/Panel.htm)
• Find a willing person to prepare a flier explaining: mission plan, purpose, date, needs
• Plan with pastor(s) date, time and ask for their promotion of event on church website, newsletter, SS classes and from pulpit
• Seek parental volunteers to assist in collecting of donations, handing out fliers, helping actors

Day Of Event

• On the day of the event performers may choose to come appropriately costumed
• Set up platform for performers
• Hang CBS4Kids Bible Story panel (http://www.cbs4kids.org/index.htm)
• Display CBS4Kids Bible Symbol Cards (free upon request at http://www.cbs4kids.org/)
• Set up table(s) decorated with a donation basket or decorated box clearly marked “Storytelling for Missions”.
• Have fliers available for congregants to pick up
• Set a time for performances
• Involve the congregation by:
• Having a congregant select a card which names person or event in biblical history
• Have a storyteller or tellers tell that Bible story as if they were the person (Ex. Noah tells his story)
• Remind the congregation to donate at the end of each performance
• Extension idea: Ask the pastor for permission to include one of the children as a “worshiper presenter” on the day as part of the worship service when the mission’s project is highlighted

Rationale for this project:

• Including the children is important because:
• Offers children a way to demonstrate story skills
• Teaches spiritual truths through drama
• Reinforces principle that we must provide for the work of the ministry
• Inclusion of children reinforces the truth of 2 Tim 2:2 “And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.”
• Elevates the value of children in telling The Story of God as commanded by Moses
• Deut 6:7-9 “and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.”
• So that this promise comes true: Ps 78:4 “We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done.”

A side benefit is that it is a fun way to raise funds for a missionary or mission’s project.