I read Michael Novelli’s book, Shaped by the Story: Helping Students Encounter God in a New Way a few months ago when it released. I’m finally getting around to posting about it. Don’t let my tardiness be a reflection on his wonderful work. After all, there were nearly two months when my blog was dark.
Before you read my review you need to know that Michael and I worked together for nearly three years when Sonlife still had its operations near Chicago. So, needless to say, I am a bit partial to the way that Michael thinks and writes. I’ve really grown to miss Michael’s talents and gifts as he now works for the organization he founded called Echo The Story, LLC and I now work at Youthfront some 500 miles apart.
Michael is a rare mix of creative genius and operational guru. I’ve met few people who can create wonderful ideas and at the same time find a way to get them implemented. He’s a freak. Michael brought many great ideas to Sonlife and helped cultivate a great environment for creativity and learning. Much of what we did in reculturing Sonlife was done through Micheal’s leadership and organization. Today, much of what I do through Youthfront is in some way influenced by Michael.
I read his book having known him as a person, watched him lead and having witnessed first hand the impact of what Michael refers to as “Storying”. I confess my personal connection with Michael makes me approach the book through the lens of belief and optimism as opposed to a sense of immediate criticism — as I often find myself approaching most books.
Let’s start at the very beginning:
Title: Great title and true to the content of the book.
Cover: Sweet! In my opinion, one of the best covers YS/Zondervan has done in a while.
Part One: True to the nature of the book — narrative. I especially like Michael’s transparency. It’s easy to see his passion for the spiritual formation of students drive his desire to create new ways of helping students encounter God.
Part Two (chapters 5-7): In my opinion, these three chapters are probably the most helpful for the reader. Michael does a great job helping the reader know the why’s and how’s of storying. His attention to topics such as statistics of literacy and media, the shift from oral to digital communication and a few pages on the helpfulness of storying as opposed to reading straight from the Bible give great insight into how storying can be helpful with our students.
Part Two (chapters 8-11): In these chapters Michael clearly explains the process of storying. First, he helps the readers with great reminders on the divergent learning styles of our students, the means of creating learner-centered environments and using experiential learning methods with our students. I especially like how Michael has adapted a proven method of applied learning (read: Kolb) and overlaid his process of storying onto it; giving the reader greater clarity to the implementation of the storying process. Second, Michael helps the reader understand the opportunities for spiritual formation in our students through the articulation of a process comprised of several stages that foster within students a sense of illumination and and active engagement in the imagination. Finally, in chapters 10 & 11, Michael gives practical helps on storying essentials and facilitating dialogue that will allow for vast and immediate impact.
Conclusion and Resources: Michael provides a plethora of resources that will assist you in your storying experience. These resources include a DVD that I hear (I didn’t actually look at it) is a complimentary tool that will allow the reader to use the book as a training guide for their teams of youth workers. Michael calls it a “mini-workshop”.
I think this book can be a very helpful tool for you as you help your students more deeply engage in God’s narrative and mission. Shaped by the Story is a great tool to help you shift your teaching methods and practices without leaving the power and purpose of God’s narrative behind.