Human words have been formed into stories for millennia. Biblical ancestors understood the power of stories and passed them from one generation to another. Second Isaiah used story to motivate God’s people back to Jerusalem. The Israelites experienced benign captivity in Babylon and questioned whether to follow the prophet’s call. Similarly, churches can find themselves in a status quo environment where stagnation develops. Research shows that a period of relative stability is the prime time for intervention. Twenty years after its inception, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church has the potential, albeit unintentional, to maintain the status quo. Following the rallying call for reformation, a process of collecting stories using Appreciative Inquiry transpired. From narratives provocative proposals were created for lasting change in ministry and mission. This article speaks to a congregation-wide project whose outcome is a God-inspired vision. The project successfully created momentum and energy toward the vision established and an appreciative culture is unfolding.
