The Story Project

The Story Project is a visual conversation starter meant to reach out to creative persons and artists through a mural display of art depicting the stories of Jesus and of artists creating story through visual art, writing, dancing, music, and more. 

Hosting The Story Project

Instead of a linear set of questions on panels, passersby are invited to take a look at a large picture and share what strikes them. The passerby guest is then asked one question: what conflict affects their story (or the story of their loved ones)? The host answers this question as well and then shares how the mural’s story or stories connect with the conflicts identified by the guest. This discussion of art leads to conversation about faith and the sharing of the gospel.

The pilot was tested on 10+ campuses across the country: state schools, arts schools, urban commuter schools, private liberal arts schools, and conservatories. We found that 

1. Arts students were proud to share the mural with friends as they invited them into spiritual conversation and
2. Arts and non-arts students readily engaged in exploring the mural and having evangelistic spiritual conversation. Because of the ethnic diversity of the persons in the art, it has helped draw a diverse group of students of every ethnicity, nationality, and faith background into conversation. With the right followup and training, it can lead to planting new small groups, campuses, and new believers.

The Story Project comes with a set of training documents and ideas for followup.  Use it on your campus to plant at arts communities, to reach new students with the gospel, and to develop your leaders.

Story Project Mural Description

A brief introduction to The Story Project mural.

Proxe Script

A script designed for guiding folks through The Story Project.

Graphics Pack

Utilize the following graphics along with The Story Project.

Follow Up

Follow up with the following resources.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Shin hails from Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He started seeing faces and profiles in knotholes 25 years ago.  His "urban-stained-glass" look is inspired from comic books, the pictures he sees as he prays for his community and the city, and video games.  He is currently a student at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston.  Shin has served as the artist in residence at campus ministry conferences across the country.  

ABOUT THE MEDIUM

This drawing was hand-drawn with ink and marker onto a paper.  The drawing was then scanned and converted into an electronic file in Adobe Illustrator, where the colors were added.

Graphic Design was provided by Gary Nauman & Sarah Shin.

First Time Running a Proxe Station?

If you have never run a proxe station, take this 30-minute Running A Proxe Station course to learn the purpose of these stations, how to set the panels up and how to coach students.

Note: This course is hosted by The Ministry Playbook, which is a free online learning space for students, interns, new staff, volunteers, and faculty, meant to offer the basics of campus ministry to anyone who feels called to it. This course is part of the New Student Outreach bundle in the Playbook. In order to take the course, you will need to create an account with The Ministry Playbook.