Images from Ministry as Storytelling 2026
From April 15 to 21, 2026, students gathered in Winnipeg to explore the role of story in ministry – story as education, story as preaching, story as evangelism, story as social justice, story as pastoral care, story as a tool for making meaning together. The circle included 7 CCS Diaconal Ministries students, 3 program staff people (Janet, Alcris, and Scott), Debra Lennox from the Lutheran Diaconal Association in the US as a continuing studies student, Jim Hatherly as our chaplain, and various guest resource people.
On our first day, professional storyteller Jamie Oliviero mesmerized us with his storytelling, and engaged us in collectively creating a story that was unique to this group in this time and place. (Our story involved a group of animals in a canyon threatened by a flood of sticky melted ice cream from a broken-down ice cream truck, ultimately saved by a river of cleansing tears from the remorseful truck driver and the compassionate animals.)
On our second day, vocal coach Heather Madill gave us some practical tips for breathing and speaking as we explored what it means to have a voice (pragmatically, personally, creatively, and politically) and how to empower the voices of others. In the afternoon we played with the Bible as story.
Our third day started with diaconal storytelling, as the students from the Integrating circle joined us to share profiles of diaconal heroes living and dead. We also got to hear from this year’s Companion of the Centre, Carol Stevenson-Seller, about her life as a “little swingin’ deaconess.” In the afternoon we consider the role of the arts in church and ministry, and had an online conversation with Jeff Goodes (former producer of CBC’s “White Coat Black Arts” and other shows) about the potential of podcasting in ministry and education.
On Saturday, the 18th we talked about stories that matter and need to be uplifted, in community and society, and heard from theatre artist and activist Daniel Thau-Eleff about his work using participatory Theatre for Living techniques to help marginalized people, in this case advocates for harm reduction, to tell their story.
A student-led session on the second-last day shared tools for telling stories of faith with confidence and invited us to expand our understanding of evangelism. In the afternoon, students shared stories – personal stories, children’s stories, bible stories, whatever – a received feedback on their telling. The stories were amazing and varied, and the feedback was constructive and encouraging.
Our final day, as is our custom, included time to reflect together on what we had learned and offer affirming and encouraging feedback to each other. We ended the day with worship as we prepared to return home changed from our learning journey.
