What is Fast Tracking the Gospel?
Fast-tracking the Gospel is telling the Bible stories in a continuous sequence from some beginning point (typically Creation) through the story of Jesus. It can be done in varying amounts of time from an hour to several days depending on how many stories are used and how much detail is kept in each story. In Fast-tracking the story teller does not stop to conduct a typical teaching session with dialogue and questions. Instead the impact is brought through the continuing stories which flow from one to the next.
How is Fast-tracking helpful?
- First, it can be used to test for interest and potential response to the Gospel. It moves quickly and does not give time for hardening against any one story to really set in. If well done the listeners are usually willing to stay tuned even if they do not agree with what they are hearing or if it is challenging their beliefs. If the listeners are moved by the stories or interested to hear more, then arrange for a normal storying strategy.
- Second, Fast-tracking is helpful for testing worldview assumptions when putting together a model set of stories. It keeps one from having to use many weeks or months in working through a set of stories to see if they are hitting home.
- Third, Fast-tracking over a day or several days can be used with people who are inaccessible for longer periods of time for whatever circumstances.
- Fourth, Fast-tracking can be used to redeem the time if asked to spend some time in a community following some ministry activity. One typical example is to story while waiting for food to be cooked and served when asked to stay for a meal after praying for a family or community members. Always use the opportunity to tell the people that someone could come and tell more of the stories so they could understand them better. The people generally like to hear the stories repeated so they can relax and hear them better.
- Fifth, Fast-tracking the Old Testament is an excellent way to prepare a people to view the Jesus Film. Even better is to Fast-track on into the Luke stories following the Jesus Film storyline so they are prepared to hear and understand the film better.
- Sixth, Fast-tracking in a modified short session can be used bedside in a hospital or shared while traveling, or used in a home visit.
Written by an IMB missionary whose identity will be protected
