“They’re not even listening to what you’re saying…”

That thought hit me mid-sermon one Sunday in 2010. I was pouring my heart out from the pulpit, convinced that what I was sharing could change lives.

But they weren’t with me.

Some were nodding off. Others sat politely. No one looked engaged.

I went home discouraged. Why weren’t they listening? The information was solid. I had data, stats, dictionary definitions, and even a crisp, alliterated outline. But still…nothing! They just weren’t getting it.

That night I started thinking about the people who had most influenced me growing up. My dad came to mind. He’d also been a pastor. I thought back to his sermons. When did I really lean in? When did I pay attention? What did I remember most?

It was when he told stories.

I looked back at my message. I hadn’t told any. Not real ones. Maybe an anecdote or a weak illustration, but nothing with emotional weight, movement, or tension.

No story.

So I made a change.

I come from a family of storytellers. It’s in my blood. So I started re-learning how to craft stories: not just as illustrations, but as the actual method of delivery. And I saw the shift.

People leaned in when I spoke. They remembered what I said. They resonated with it.

That was the key. I’ve been honing that craft ever since.

Now, I help individuals, businesses, and nonprofits do the same. Because I believe that if you have something worth saying…a message, a mission, a product, or a service, you need storytelling. Not just to sound good. But to be heard. To be remembered.

I started building Master Story Craft in 2024 to help make that happen. We’re just getting started.

I’d love to help you tell your story.