AMERICAN PATHWAYS
CLASSIC STORYTELLING PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS, TIME REQUIREMENTS, AND SCHEDULING DETAIL
All programs may be structured to fit into your specific time schedule.
The following dramatic storytelling presentations have been told in a variety of settings. Community Outreach Programs, Sunday Services, Church Family Camps, Youth Camps/Programs, and Men’s retreats. AMERICAN PATHWAYS is a ministry to adults that children enjoy as well and is an extension of RUSS AND CHER SCHALLOCK MINISTRIES. Every presentation is different yet has the common thread of Jesus Christ woven into each service. All are evangelistic by design.
1. REUBEN TREDWELL, MOUNTAIN MAN: In the Ohio Valley of 1840 the Tredwell family meets tragedy leaving twelve year old Reuben to continue on through life alone. Or story leads us through the years of trial in his life. We are reminded through this powerful story that, “Jesus Christ will never leave your or forsake you.” And how important it is to listen to the Holy Spirit when He speaks to you.
Special Family Closeness . . . “Run Reuben! Run like you never ran before!” . . . an old stump hole filled with tears . . . you can turn your back on Jesus but he won’t turn his back on you . . . tomahawk, rifle, and knife are tools of the trade . . . a fight with a grizzly bear can spoil your day . . . soothing ointment . . . Meat sizzling over an open fire . . . Meeting a friend of an old friend.
Your heart will go out to this small boy as you share his anguish and understand his hate through storytelling. You will feel and experience the trials of frontier life. The challenge to the audience will be to listen to the Holy Spirit as the closing opportunities to receive Christ are offered. (1 hour)
2. LEEEDOWHAN, THE BUFFALO HUNTER: In the mid 1840’s the Buck family from Illinois meet disaster in the white-water rapids of the Snake River. Young Toby, when separated from the family, continues to head West through the life-threatening trials of the great American wilderness. This is an action-packed story of a lost little boy and his experiences with a rugged, dirty, old buffalo hunter who is bubbling over with his love for Jesus Christ.
Keep a close watch for those red rags . . . hanging on like a wood tick on a sweet dog . . . “Swim Grandpa! Swim!” . . . an enraged river of snarling brown water . . .60,000 buffalo . . sweat, don’t really smell so bad . . . four lead balls . . . deadly poison . . . me and my friend Jesus.
This story will make you laugh, cry, gulp, and grin. The challenge to the audience will be the same challenge given to generations of people. The one that changes lives for Christ. (1 hour)
3. JASON BENTLEY, MID 1800’S TRAIL DROVER: This is an intense story of hardship on the American frontier. Young Jason struggles through the toughest of circumstances. His childhood years are heart-wrenching, his adventures intense, and his experiences with an old, black, trail cook will change his life forever.
A dirty, ragged little boy . . . a vicious hate-filled farmer . . . reading can change your life . . . a fresh apple pie smells so good . . . a cook with a book . . . 50,000 cranky cows . . . a tin bathtub with water thick as mud . . . there is no greater love.
These thoughts will fold together into a story that will tug at the heart-strings of all who listen. The challenge to the audience will be for acceptance of the fact that Jesus Christ loves us with an unconditional love and it His desire that we seek eternal life through Him. (1 hour)
4. PRUNES THE MULE: A heart-warming message about a family traveling the Oregon trail through hardships that few have endured. Wioth dead and dying on all sides, Ned Westley has to make the hardest decision of his life. Will it be certain death or a miniscule chance that may keep his children alive. Through a hurried prayer and anguished sobs he places his full faith in Jesus Christ to meet his need. This wonderful story leads the audience to a thought provoking question. “Is Jesus in the bag with you (in your life) or not?”
A Christian family . . . trials of a wagon train . . .arrows from the sky . . . fight to survive . . . tear streaks on dirty faces . . . a nasty mule . . .a welt on a rock . . .two feed bags . . . 50 pounds of flies . . . an ugly mountain man . . . a mule in the clouds? . . . Yeeeehaaw!
This message is requested more than any other story in my portfolio and will stay with your audience for a very long time. Many have received Jesus with it’s telling. (1 hour)
5. AX HANDLE OLEY: A little boy in an 1865 logging camp is prompted by the Holy Spirit to invite Christ into his life. Unfortunately he waits instead of reaching out to Jesus. The story continues through a life of trial, misery, and pain, until a tangle with a nasty bear brings the story to a dramatic close. The message to the audience is one that Oley would like to have had the opportunity share himself.
A logging family . . . a big toothy grin . . . a dust covered mule . . .under the big old oak tree . . never, never, never, wait when the Lord calls . . . an ax handle across the ribs . . . a waste of good skin . . . a slobbering, red eyed, mamma bear . . . the old widow-maker tree . . . “Goin down the road for Jesus.”
This story has one of the most powerful salvation messages in my storytelling ministry. Hundreds have made decisions for Christ through the message this story brings to your audience. (40 minutes)
6. SCREAMING RIVER: A five year old boy disobeys his mother and finds himself being swept into the rapids of the Snake River. Fifteen years later he re-appears as a mighty Blackfoot warrior. The central theme and the turning point in the story is in the reality that our mind retains what we feed it whether it be good or bad.
A wagon train . . .don’t be late for dinner . . . a big maple leaf . . . the raging rapids of churning water . . . screaming river . . . a blackfoot warrior that looks like grandpa . . . down in the dirt . . . this little light of mine . . . tears . . . joy . . .praise.
This story leaves the audience to contemplate the kind of material they are allowing to infiltrate their minds. The challenge to the audience will be for salvation, rededication, and commitment through new growth in Jesus Christ. (20 minutes) May be used in conjunction with other short stories.
7. (THE PIG STORY) THERE AIN’T NO FREE LUNCH: Ann old man in a creaky old wagon loaded with lumber and a few bags of corn arrives in a dusty little town in the Ozark hills. He announces that he has come to catch a herd of legendary wild pigs that have avoided capture for the past 20 years in a huge swamp..
Pigs in the thicket . . . money for the taking . . . quiet but very wise . . . laughter at an tired old man . . . sometimes the best hunters fail . . . pig track soup . . . a one board fence . . . taking your sweet time . . . pork chops go good with apple sauce.
This story will awaken the Christian that has become ineffective in their witness for Jesus Christ. A reminder that Salvation is free to all who would ask, and a further reminder that a tremendous price was paid so we could receive it freely. This is a story of wisdom, laziness, greed, and victory (25 minutes)
8. TALL FOX OF THE PONCA INDIAN NATION: Many American Indians displayed their bravery by attempting to get close enough to an enemy or dangerous animal to “touch” them and still escape with their lives. The called it “counting coup” (coo). A young Indian boy by the name of Tall Fox has a reputation for being the bravest of the brave and has counted coup on the fearcest enemy and the most dangerous animals. This story stirs the Christian to realize that they may be counting coo in their own lives by continually toying with sin or neglecting to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The story is thought-provoking and uncomfortably close to the way many Christians live.
Becoming a man . . . a handful of feathers . . . Pull in a Grizzly Bear’s hair . . . the pride of the nations . . . enemy in the camp! . . . red clay and old leaves . . . the white stallion . . . yap! yap! yap! . . . hot, searing pain . . . spitting and dirt kicking . . . a new song . . . today’s hero, tomorrow’s fool.
This story shares a message filled with raw courage and the pitfalls of pride. The audience will be left with an opportunity to confront the areas of their own lives where they have been “Counting Coup” (coo) either negatively or in failing to realize that they may also be failing to “Count Coo” positively. They will be challenged with an opportunity for Salvation, rededication of their life to Christ, and committed new growth through Jesus.
9. OBADIAHA MULDOON: An old tired mountain man is captured by the Indians in the early 1800’s. Broken, bleeding, and buried in a hole with just his head sticking out, he prays and asks the Lord for; “just one more job to do before I meet you face to face.” No matter how old you may get, you must never assume that the Lord does not have at least one more job
10. OLD SCRATCH THE INDIAN TRADER: An evil old trader deceitfully takes a young Indian boy away from his people. The years pass while he is chained to the traders wagon being forced to do the back-breaking work of a slave. At night he is forced to fight (to the death) all those that would be challenged against him as large sums of money is being waged on whether he will win or lose. One day a skinny little man with a red beard shows up and issues a challenge like no other.
Scratchin’ and pickin’ fleas . . . Running Dog . . . a frying pan across the face . . . rusty chains on a broken spirit . . . “Kill him or I’ll kill you!” . . . mouth full of marbles . . . skinny, wiry, and full of Jesus . . . ain’t that a kick in the head . . . a bloody knife . . . a bag of gold . . . into the sunset.
This story will make your knuckles go white as you witness Jesus, in all of his glory, bring victory into the strangest of circumstances. An opportunity will be given for those in the audience to reach out to God and experience the freeing of a captive heart. Chains will be removed in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. (45 minutes.)
11. OLD DOC BROWN: It is 1949 and an old man comes to the front of the church to give his Christian testimony. A story unfolds from the memory of this man that encompasses three main areas in his life that an old country doctor had great spiritual impact. A raging forest fire, a humorous recollection of a father and son visit to Old Doc Brown’s office, and a quarter and a penny in the vest pocket of that wonderful old physician. One day old Doc didn’t answer when he knocked upon his door.
Next to poor folks we was poor folks . . . makin’ cookies . . . wood smoke? . . . “We gotta get to the river!” . . . the heat . . . the roar . . . an old horse named Ruby . . . Run Ruby run! . . . A Tennessee Trotter . . . whats a Carbunkle? . . . my daddy tap danced . . . Jesus the Great Physician . . . sand bags . . . a big old fat leg . . . fervent prayers avail much . . . filling out the ledger book . . . “Nice sunrise.”
This story will have you cheering and laughing one minute and crying the next. It is one of the most requested presentations for Sunday morning church services or special family night presentations. It has had great impact in refreshing the lives of Christians that have grown dry in their spirits and in their commitment to spreading the good news of the gospel. With the close of this message, many have come to the altar with many different needs that only the Great Physician could fulfill.
12. AMAZING GRACE
13. THE DELTA COUNTY JUNE BUG
14. OLD THREE TOES
15. PEG-LEG ANNIE
AND MANY OTHERS
