Why storytelling is a vital skill for everyone in ministry

October 17, 2019

Paula Gooder and Bob Hartman tell us about their latest book The Tell-It-Together Gospel: Mark, and why storytelling is a vital skill for everyone in ministry.

1. Why is Storytelling a vital skill for everyone in ministry?

Bob: Storytelling is vital because that is essentially how we communicate with one another. Yeah, we use other forms, but the most natural way we speak to one another is through story. So it’s no surprise that the bulk of the Bible is narrative in nature, or that God reveals himself to us through the life of his son. For what is a life, but one person’s story? So it’s key that we tell that story and that we tell it well. - that we honour the story God has given us (and invited us to join) by telling it with the passion and creativity and wit and joy that it deserves.

2. Why did you choose to translate Mark’s Gospel?

Paula: When we first started talking about this project, one of the issues was that there wasn't a translation that was 'quite right'. We were looking for something that was fresh and easy to understand but also as accurate as possible. There are so many translations out there but nothing quite did justice to the dynamism of Bob's storytelling. So we thought that the best thing to do was to do a bespoke translation - one designed just for this.

3. What were the difficulties of translating this?

Paula: The challenges of translation are the same whatever project you are engaged in. Keeping a balance between faithfulness to the original language and being understandable in modern language is never easy. Some translations go one way (to accuracy but are harder to read); others go the other way (to readability but lower accuracy). Keeping the balance is tricky and you just have to do the best you can, knowing that some people will like it and others not.

4. Who is this book for?

Paula: It's for anyone - in church or at home - who wants to read the Bible interactively. If you want to join in with the story, do actions and shout responses this is the book for you! It will be most useful in all age services and for reading the Bible as a family at home but I wouldn't want to limit it just to those people.

5. How do you envision this book to be used? And where?

Bob: I think the book can be used in a lot of settings. Paula has suggested all age services and families, and I think she is right. But I think it also has the potential to be used as a different way of doing the gospel reading in a regular Sunday service - something out of the ordinary that might make the congregation sit up and take notice. I think the actions might also be an interesting way of introducing the passage in a Bible Study on Mark. The leader might ask how the actions add to (or take away from!) our understanding of the passage. Many of the actions are playful - and I don’t mean that in a childish way. Playfulness - holding the passage lightly, enjoying it, relaxing into it - can open us up to the truth of the passage and help us to see it more clearly, as we experience it through word and action.

A fresh new translation of Mark's Gospel by renowned Biblical scholar Dr Paula Gooder, with interactive storytelling tips from well-known children's author and performer Bob Hartman. Ideal for use in churches, in all-age worship, in children's groups and at home. Buy now >>