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Story Trails are a great way to share the Gospel with unchurched members of your community as well as lots of fun as people get outside, get active, and get reading! Here at The Good Book Company we’ve got various engaging Easter story trails, all linked with one of our popular kids books. Here’s more information on what they are, why they’re great, and how to use them.
A Story Trail takes the pages of a children’s picture book and enlarges them, then posts them in consecutive order around a yard or walking trail for families to read and enjoy as they stroll. We currently offer several of our Easter books as Story Trails, ranging from 4 to 11-year-old reading levels, and all with stunning illustrations. Some churches have included a Story Trail around another Easter outreach event, such as an egg hunt or a kids’ fun fair, while others simply created a Story Trail as a weekend “open house” on their lot for community members to walk through at their leisure.
In Romans we read: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? … So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:14, 17). God designed that people come to faith in him by words, spoken and written. For families who might feel intimidated going to church and have never been given a Bible or aChristian book, Story Trails offer a great way to share God’s words. They are also lots of fun and invite families to be active outside, walking and talking together.
All our trails are based on our biblically faithful books and will point readers to Jesus. As they walk along a trail, families and children's groups can engage with a gospel story in an active way. Plus, research shows that comprehension and memory are better when kids are physically active while reading or listening to a story. There is no better story for children to remember than the Gospel! “
While your outreach event can be as elaborate as you’d like, the process for creating a Story Trail is simple. You will want to begin about a month in advance to be sure you have all the materials you need by the date of your event.
1. Order and download the hi-res images of the book you want from thegoodbook.com/story-trails/.
Your order doubles as a license to display the book images publicly so that you do not have to get special copyright permissions.
2. Print the images
3. Set up your Trail area.
Be creative! The Story Trail could wrap around another part of an event, circling a pancake breakfast or a craft fair. It could zig-zag through your church’s parking lot, using traffic cones to guide the participants to an activity at the end. Or, if there isn’t enough space on your church’s lot, perhaps you could host the event at a local park (just be sure to obtain permission as necessary), or a member’s backyard. And in the case of inclement weather, the hallway of your church building might be a good option.
Another way to utilize Story Trail images is to create a permanent fixture on your church’s playground, featuring a new book every so often. Incorporate reading and engaging with God’s Word in the place your children play every week, and imagine the excitement when they discover a new story laid out for them to enjoy!
4. Offer Follow-up Resources
In the planning and preparation for your Story Trail, don’t forget the primary purpose: to share the Gospel with those who may not yet believe it, and to remind and encourage those who do. Be sure to have church members available at the Story Trail so that Gospel conversations can occur with visitors. You may want to consider giving free copies of the book, a related resource like a coloring book, or another evangelistic booklet, in a welcome gift bag to those who engage.
The Good Book Company is happy to offer a special ministry giveaway discount for a bulk purchase of the book corresponding to the Story Trail you purchase,or a related product, such as a corresponding coloring book – just send us an email! We’d also be glad to create a special discount code for your event for participants to purchase a resource online later themselves.
If you’re looking for a new way to share the Gospel this Easter, try a Story Trail! Bring the families of your church together and draw in unchurched community members around the greatest story ever told – Jesus’ death and resurrection!
Calista is one of the friendly customer service associates here at The Good Book Company. She enjoys reading, writing, and cooking, and has a minor obsession with houseplants. She resides in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and three children, and they are members of Oakhurst Baptist Church.
