International (MNN) — Every ministry story is strengthened by a few essential tools in its toolkit.
The ministry journey you share can change lives — if it carries two powerful ingredients: the story and the number.
Dr. Jenn Murff from MENA Leadership Center says, “When you share stories, it allows relationships to be restored. It allows discipleship to take place because people can relate to those stories.”
The power of a story lies in its ability to connect a person to their own experiences — both good and bad — to the emotional side of life, and to an example they can apply to their own journey. Jesus knew people needed that bridge in order to accept the Gospel.
He was a master storyteller: “Jesus uses stories to make the kingdom relatable. He uses stories to make the kingdom approachable. He uses stories to be able to connect the hearts and the minds of His people to His kingdom.”
A simple story can guide a person to their Creator (photo courtesy of Eduardo Braga via Pexels)
Numbers are equally important. They help measure the expansion of God’s kingdom — whether through miracles, healings, souls saved, or symbolic figures. Moreover, they help us grasp the power of the Gospel in a practical way!
The apostles ensured that future generations would have this tool. Jesus spoke to the multitudes; the twelve disciples caught one hundred fifty-three fish; five thousand people were fed with five loaves of bread and two fish, and so on. Yet, separated from the story, a number can steal the spark from the testimony of God’s work.
Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, Bartolomew, Philip — just a few of the lives He transformed through His personal, one-on-one attention.
“He sees the one, he sees the multitude. And so it’s important that we don’t lean so heavily just in one area, but we remember both, because Jesus remembered both,” says Murff.
This principle is vital both in personal evangelism and in the work of ministry. “You have to be able to share those stories in such a way that it connects with the human heart,” Murff adds.
Visit MENA Leadership Center to discover how the Gospel is transforming lives through ministry stories in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.
The Gospel is a tapestry of stories woven into one grand narrative. Find your place in it!
Header photo courtesy of Matheus Bertelli via Pexels
