Storytelling is God’s idea. He gave us the good gift of imagination and the ability to tell stories of our own. And just as physical laws govern the universe, there are laws that determine whether our storytelling is effective. The following videos are the webinars I gave to our Cru creative media team about these principles.
Law #1 – Tell stories for the glory of God
Why create stories?
Why the glory of God?
Why do people consume stories?
Law #2 – Tell stories as an act of love
Make stories that people already want
Make stories that your “Timothy” wants
Make stories that love everyone involved
Law #3 – Tell stories full of creativity and order
Our creative media team made this video to illustrate the overall vision of Cru: the whole campus to the whole world in this generation. Zack wrote the monologue and Naomi cast and directed the voice actor. Several others on our team contributed to the shooting and editing. We love working for a ministry with such a bold vision.
Unsatisfied with atheism, Zisong started searching for the true meaning of life. The concept of the Dao appealed to him, but he found that this pointed to deeper truths found only in Jesus. Now a follower of Christ, Zisong helps train pastors in rural China.
Our VP of Global Leadership gave this powerful talk at the Cru22 Staff Conference. Key quote: “We can see the Great Commission fulfilled in our lifetime if all of God’s people use all of God’s resources to reach all of God’s world.”
Adejoke grew up in Nigeria, where she heard that you need a special calling to share the gospel. But she always wanted to talk to others about Christ’s love. She is, after all, a people person. Through her local Bridges ministry and the Vision conference, she learned how to share the gospel in-depth.
“Once you realize God loves me regardless of how I’m broken, it’s just a no-brainer, you just want to share with others.”
What would you do in the face of unspeakable horrors that befell your family and your country?
For Kent, an international student from Rwanda, he put his hope fully in the gospel. Growing up in the wake of the mid-90s genocide, he faced the specter of hatred and violence. But through the rebuilding process, he saw how the only way for one man to make peace with another is through the cross.
Kent saw the shared humanity of those who would otherwise be labeled enemies. And he saw how we all have the same problem of sin, that is solved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here’s Kent’s story:
Transcript:
My name is Kent Kamanzi. Well technically, my first name is Mugisha. That’s the first name I was given, back home. It means “blessing.” I think it’s easier to just say “Kent” as my first name because everybody actually knows Clark Kent.
I am from a small country in East Africa: Rwanda. I’ve been in America for about seven years now
The genocide happened 1995 and I was born in 1997. So I never got to experience it. But I got to experience the aftermath of it, and the rebuilding process.
The story of my country in a lot of ways exemplifies the extreme of humanity or how bad a person is evil.
Actually I struggled with that at first. I was like, “God how would you let that happen? Why would you let that happen?”
Some of these people that committed these crimes of violence were, they didn’t necessarily want to but the government said, “If you don’t do it we’ll kill your family.” What do you do then? What if I was put in that same position? What would I do? I could easily make that same decision.
I’ve been only part of Bridges for maybe the past year, and it’s just blown my mind how people just want to love on you.
I’ve come to a place of understanding that I’m no better than the person that committed that crime.
My grandparent’s killer are broken people as well.
So I would totally invite him for him to come and just experience and see what God does when he’s with international students from Thailand to Rwanda. He loves us both the same way and he’s invested in our lives.
Once you realize God loves me regardless of how I’m broken, it’s just a no-brainer, you just want to share with others.
We have faced a lot of difficulties, but yet we find a lot of ways to overcome it. We are one of the fastest growing countries in Africa.
In a lot of ways actually, I think that’s what God intended it for it to be. For each other to love each other regardless of the political differences, their ethnic differences.
Knowing God has no racial boundaries, it has no boundaries at all, period. Everyone was created in God’s image, and God breathed the same breath that he breathed into everybody.
So I can take that to my campus. Radiate that love again, and radiate the good gospel which is that God is our Lord and Savior. And that he cares about you regardless of skin color or ethnicity or wherever you’re from.
God died for my sins and he’s my redeemer. He gave me a better lens to look at life.
“There are a lot of hot topics in the culture right now. There are things that people want you to do. And if you’re not careful, you’re going to get snatched off and incrementally get pulled off course.”
So begins a recent talk given at our Cru Staff virtual gathering by our Vice Chairman of the Board, Dr. Crawford W. Loritts. He pointed us to Paul’s letter to his son in the ministry, Timothy, and led us through 2 Timothy 2:1-7:
‘You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. ‘ (2 Timothy 2:1-7 CSB)
You can listen to the full talk from Dr. Loritts below. I’m thankful for his clear message that we need to keep the gospel the main thing. “Everything else is secondary,” he said. “God has called us on staff with Cru to steward the Great Commission, to take to take the gospel, not only to this generation, but to generations around the world. To focus on the transgenerational impact of the Word of God.”
Joke (pronounced Joe-Kay) is a Nigerian student involved with Bridges. She and fellow African students shared their testimonies of hope in Christ. Watch it below. Please subscribe to Joke’s YouTube channel and share her videos!
Check out our newest video about the ministry of Bridges International. It’s in the style of an allegorical short film:
Our fellow Bridges staff will use this video when presenting our ministry to churches, partners, volunteers, and student leaders. Please pray for many new people to join us in the mission of reaching internationals!
Two students from India performed a beautiful, traditional-style dance to illustrate the gospel. Watch the story of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection unfold, and hear how he has changed their lives:
