The Craft of Storytelling- Kellie Bartley

Stories impact our lives and shape who we are. Stories have the ability to bypass our minds, go to our imagination, and then our hearts. Jesus was a master storyteller. He used emotions, and practical situations that related to His audience. 75% of the Bible is written in a story format and Jesus used a big idea, metanarrative, an overarching storyline that flows throughout all the books in the Bible. The Bible may appear to be just a random collection of stories, but there is unity. Knowing God’s big-picture helps effectively teach lessons to children. This breakout is designed to help leaders tell impactful, connecting stories from the Bible so that they will stick in the hearts and minds of children.

Speaker: Kellie Bartley

Bio: Kellie got her start in children’s ministry as a junior-high volunteer. She continued volunteering throughout high school and went on to receive her BA in Youth Ministry and Adolescent Studies. Kellie has been a practitioner in both children and student ministry for over 15 years. Before coming to Awana International, she served as the curriculum and content director for Promiseland, the children's ministry at Willow Creek Community Church. Kellie married her college sweetheart and they have three sons together. They love taking family trips to the ocean!