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J.R.R. Tolkien, from On Fairy Stories:

"Fantasy is, I think, not a lower but a higher form of Art, indeed the most nearly pure form, and so (when achieved) the most potent... In such stories when the sudden “turn” comes we get a piercing glimpse of joy... The peculiar quality of the ”joy” in successful Fantasy can thus be explained as a sudden glimpse of the underlying reality or truth. It is not only a “consolation” for the sorrow of this world, but a satisfaction, and an answer to that question, “Is it true?”... The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories... There is no tale ever told that men would rather find was true, and none which so many skeptical men have accepted as true on its own merits... But this story is supreme; and it is true. Art has been verified. God is the Lord, of angels, and of men—and of elves. Legend and History have met and fused."

We Believe...

1. Part of the appeal of pop culture storytelling is how it uniquely communicates (in the words of one writer) "signals of transcendence," pointing us to an even bigger Story.

2. This bigger Story is the real, epic, fantastical, otherworldly, good-versus-evil story that lies behind human existence, and to which every person (in one way or another) longs to connect.

3. That otherworldly Story (of our ultimate, happy ending) has broken through most clearly in the person and work of Jesus, the most significant person in all of human history.

Therefore, We Aim To...

1. Not only enjoy pop culture storytelling as fans, but also experience it thoughtfully, thinking carefully about the important feelings it stirs, and the important ideas it contains.

2. Challenge fans to ask big questions about something as big as human existence, and about the possibility of an even bigger Story, one that makes sense of every other story... including your own.

3. Plainly (and faithfully) present the ancient truth about Jesus, but do so in a way that connects with today's fans, using the stories they already love to point them to God's own Story of love.

"Instead of the choppy narrative of the single-person play, the gospel invites us into God's great story, of which our singular part contributes to the great mosaic of salvation beauty, in which we are invited to partner with the Creator Himself in the redemption of the world and the marriage of heaven and earth. This story, even whispered between people on a suburban train, is grander and more resonant than [even] the biggest-budget Hollywood blockbuster..."

-Mark Sayers

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