Some NCD enthusiasts are hesitant to tell the story of NCD churches. They might say, "Stories are about models and NCD is about principles, so we should stick to teaching the principles." Some of this is true. Though the mistake they are trying to avoid relates to sharing just one specific model. They are correct to avoid this. However, NCD is all about models (plural). Everything we've ever learnt through NCD research we have learnt from models. So the secret to telling NCD stories is to share about many different models that each illustrate something of the principles.

Telling stories is a very motivating and instructive means of communication (Jesus did it all the time!). So alongside teaching the principles of NCD, it is very important that we continue to look for creative ways of sharing the many stories that emerge from the process. Over the history of NCD, stories have motivated new churches to get involved in the process (Expansion), they have given churches the insights and confidence to improve their results (Progress), and many times stories have encouraged churches to come back and continue with the process, sometimes simply because they heard that NCD is still going (Consistency).

The simplest way to share the stories is to remember to pass them on whenever you hear them. Here are quite a few you can share if you haven't yet collected your own.

• What encouraging or instructive stories have you encountered recently in your NCD ministry?
• Who do you know that would benefit from hearing one of those stories? How will you share it as soon as possible (gaining permission to share it if need be)?
• How could you share those stories with more people?