Pre-Interview Guide

Kingdom Stories is a service dedicated to telling the
stories of Jesus’ redemptive work in real people’s lives all over the world. We want to help the Church testify of all that Jesus has done and is doing. Your story plays an important role in that process.

What Can You Expect

Your story is important, your story has gospel implications, and your story can be used to change other people’s lives. Kingdom Stories is a platform where you can share your story with the world. God is constantly transforming lives, and your story is a part of that redemptive work.

During an hour-long conversation, we’ll have you share 2-3 stories. We want to hear your initial salvation story and 1 or 2 “sanctification stories”. Since the moment you said yes to Jesus, He has been reconciling you to Himself, making you more like Him, but that work is not void of challenge, struggle, wrestling, and steps of faith. We want to highlight those stories as well.

As you prepare for your interview, reflect on those significant moments in your walk with Jesus. We’ve outlined the basic structure and the questions we’ll follow (below) to help you tell your story. You can use these questions to start thinking through your story and how you might answer these questions.

Most of our interviews take place using a digital platform called Riverside (similar to Zoom or Google Meet), and you will receive a link for the call via email or text message. If you can find a quiet place that is free from distraction, and a mic for recording purposes, that would be helpful. For video purposes, find a place with good lighting (next to a window works great), but if you are calling in from a computer/desktop that is stationary don’t feel obligated to move your setup. We will be recording both audio and video files during the call and your story will be shared across digital media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. You can follow along with all of the stories we tell on our social platforms (linked below).

Now, we realize that the idea of sharing your story might be a little scary. Here’s how we would encourage you: Regardless of your past, your story is significant and it has eternal implications. If you are a follower of Christ, a disciple of the King of Kings, you have been called to testify of His redemptive work in your life. Be encouraged by the women at the well and the man possessed by the demon Legion. Both people were uneducated, had not attended seminary, and simply told their communities what little they knew about the Messiah that they had interacted with for a short period of time. In both cases, Jesus told them to “go and testify of what you’ve seen and heard here today,” and in both cases, the next time Jesus and His disciples pass through those communities there are more than 4000 people, in each case, who are ready to hear the gospel. Our goal is to help you share your story, to go and testify of what Jesus has done in your life, and share those stories with the world.

Pre - Recording

We will begin the call with introductions and a sound check. The interview is NOT live, and any mistakes can be edited in post-production. If at any point you would like to pause, or re-answer a question for any reason, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Once you feel comfortable, we’ll hit record and start our conversation. We will always try and let you know when we start recording.

Recording

Zach (the host of the show), will provide an introduction to the show and then introduce you by name. The questions we’ve provided below will guide the conversation, but there is potential for the interview to go slightly off-script if there is an “organic” opportunity to do so. We are pursuing a conversational approach to the show.
Once the interview is complete, Zach will close out the conversation as if the call is ending, but please stay on the call. If you close the browser before the recording is stopped, it could cause issues in the export process.

Post-Production & Distribution:

Once the interview is complete, we will spend a couple of minutes debriefing before we end the call. Once the call is complete we will start working on post-production on our end. If there are things that you said that you would like removed, please let us know once the recording has finished.
Upon request, we can send you the final video file before we publish it publicly. Once we‘ve published the episode, you will be given the promotional creative in order to distribute the show on your own social channels, if you so desire. This is up to you, and it is not a requirement. But, it could be a cool opportunity to share your story with a greater audience.

Notes and Considerations

As you prepare to share your story, spend some time in prayer reflecting on why
you love Jesus. What was it about Jesus that intrigued you?
Reflect on His work on the cross on your behalf.
As you prepare to share your story, reflect on what you’ve been saved out of AND what you’ve been saved into.
Jesus has absolutely given you eternal life in Him, but He’s done so much more than just rescue you from your depravity. He’s also invited you into a relationship with Him, He’s invited you into a partnership with Him in His redemptive work. He’s saved you from something, and He’s saved you for something. Reflect on that truth as you prepare.
Regardless of your past, your story is significant and powerful, NOT because of your past sin, but because you have experienced a death-to-life transformation. You are a new creation! Romans 6 says that we get to share in Jesus’ death and resurrection as followers of Christ. You are born again, and the death and resurrection we get to share in because of Christ’s work make all of our stories significant and powerful. The idea that your story isn’t significant is a lie!
We’ll want to focus on one story during your interview. You can choose from your salvation story, or what life like before and after Christ? Or you can tell a sanctification journey story. What has Christ done in your life as He has continued to make you more like Him?
If at all possible, try to avoid telling multiple stories wrapped into one. It’ll make the storytelling process more difficult to follow for your listeners.

Safety & Security Questions?

If you’re concerned about sharing your identity for any reason, there are steps that we can take to ensure your anonymity. Please don’t let that concern keep you from testifying of what Jesus has done in your life.

Questions

Salvation Story Questions

Every follower of Christ has a salvation story. What was life like before and after Christ?

What is your name and can you quickly summarize your background?
When did you realize something was wrong in life, and what did you place your hope in prior to knowing Jes.us?
When did you first start to experience Jesus pursuing you, and inviting you into relationship with Him?
What challenges or struggles did you face as Christ began opening your heart?
What was so compelling about Jesus and why did you finally say yes to His authority and Kingship in your life?

Did saying yes to His invitation to follow Him cost you anything?
How would you define how your identity has changed since saying yes to Jesus?
How does your relationship with Jesus affect your life now?
Who is Jesus to you?

Sanctification Journey Questions

Every follower of Christ has a salvation story.
What was life like before and after Christ?

What is your name and can you quickly summarize your background and how you came to know Jesus?
As you’ve followed Jesus, what has been an area of your life where you felt He was calling you into greater intimacy, obedience, or Lordship over your life?
When did you realize that Jesus was asking you to lay that at His feet, or that He was calling you to something better in your life?
What challenges and struggles did you run into as you walked through this experience and as He guided you through this process?

What happened as you walked in obedience to this call? What did you find out about yourself, and what did God reveal about Himself through this process?
Did saying yes to this journey cost you anything?
What have you learned through this process?
How is your life different after answering this call and walking in obedience to King Jesus in this area?
Who is Jesus to you?