To share the unique stories of its parishioners, WestSide Lutheran, Sioux Falls, S.D., created “WestSide Stories,” online video vignettes of its members sharing their faith and passion for the congregation.
“From the beginning, WestSide has been infused with story,” said Heidi Binstock, pastor. “The purpose of doing these videos is to tell our stories for the sake of faith. Our stories are confessions of God’s extraordinary work in our ordinary lives. They are stories of good news, and when good news is shared, it works faith.”
The videos start with members introducing themselves and saying, “This is my WestSide story.” Those featured then tell a little about their faith journey, how they found WestSide and what they like about the congregation. The videos help members get to know more about each other and introduce the culture of WestSide to those who come across the videos on the church website.
“When we get used to seeing someone in the same place, we start thinking we know each other when we really don’t,” Binstock said. “Telling our WestSide stories is a reminder that there is more to know and keeps us curious about one another. Being known is an important aspect to community, and we want to create an environment in which we gather as real people, with real stories to share.”
