{"id":5184,"date":"2013-11-20T14:45:40","date_gmt":"2013-11-20T19:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/ywupdate\/?p=5184"},"modified":"2013-11-20T14:46:22","modified_gmt":"2013-11-20T19:46:22","slug":"stories-permeate-student-ministry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/ywupdate\/2013\/11\/20\/stories-permeate-student-ministry\/","title":{"rendered":"Stories permeate student ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Kyle Thomsen\"tho_kyl\"<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

“…we are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony…”<\/p>\n

Stories permeate student ministry. We tell funny stories, Bible stories, and always challenge people to share “their” story. Everyone loves when a student shares their story, but how many times have you heard people say, “I don’t have a testimony.” *every youth pastor cringes*<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Our youth ministry developed a way for students to reflect upon and share their story. No one can say those dreaded words. Instead sharing our stories have increased:<\/p>\n

1. Students self-awareness and sense of how God is at work in their lives<\/p>\n

2. Intimacy in our small groups. When you hear someone’s story, you embrace their humanity. When people share vulnerably, we create intimate community.<\/p>\n

Here’s what we do:<\/p>\n

First, we give everyone an 11×17 piece of paper and a pencil.<\/p>\n

Second, we give everyone student 4 different colors of 1.5 inch Post-It Notes. Every color reflects one of four life events:<\/p>\n