Telling Our Stories
By Rebecca Bowman Woods
Rebecca Bowman Woods does freelance writing, marketing and web design from her home near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a member of Tylersville Road Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is currently serving as Guest Co-Editor and Director of Marketing and Business Development of EcuMiniNet™ Online! This article is reprinted by permission from Disciples Today online magazine.

A few years ago, I became interested in life stories. Driving to a job interview with a prominent businessperson, I wondered what I'd ever say to impress him. I looked at the car beside me. It was a sensible mid-size vehicle driven by a man eating his lunch. I wondered what made his story/my story/ our stories, so unsought-after, compared to the person with whom I would soon be meeting. "Everyone has a story to tell," I thought.

Currently, in addition to serving as Guest Co-Editor of EcuMiniNet Online, I'm teaching a class on memoir writing at a local arts center. Gathering stories, particularly faith stories, has become a calling for me. I believe that remembering, recording and sharing our faith stories is a vital ingredient of Christian life for several reasons.

Remembering our faith stories can bring healing and renewal. "Re-collecting" those moments when we felt God's love and presence, of forgiveness and grace and calling, can provide the "spiritual manna" to continue God's work in the present and future. Sometimes, sharing these stories can help others who are experiencing uncertainty in difficult times.

As a faith community, sharing stories helps us to know each other differently. Introducing ourselves during Bible study and fellowship time, we discover that we are teachers, executives, real estate agents, engineers, professors and homemakers. But who are the healers? Who are the prophets? Who are the doubters who have been reassured or the ill or addicted who've been restored? Who is like Luke, Paul, Nicodemus, Aaron, David, Ruth, Naomi, Sarah, and Priscilla? What if we became intentional about sharing faith stories, in addition to talking about work and family?

Between faith communities, our stories can build bridges. Recently I read about a pastor who participated regularly in a local discussion group of clergy from many denominations, with the goal of fostering understanding and respect. He attributes much of their progress to their use of personal faith stories to communicate.

Faith stories are evangelism tools. Everywhere, people are searching frantically for meaning and a foundation on which to build their lives. Many know about the Bible and live near several churches, but don't include these in their search. As Christians called to share the Good News, statements like, "here's how God has worked in my life," and "this has been my experience of God's love," can open doors to talking about Jesus Christ, while "the Bible says" and "my church believes," may be met with ambivalence, even resistance.

Finally, sharing our stories helps us appreciate the journey itself. How would you sum up yours? Would you say "A journey of a thousand miles that began with a single step" or would you name it as "What a long, strange trip it's been!"

Everyone has a story, and the diversity of our experience tells us something about God's infinite love. What's your story?

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