What Is It?
More Than Fables is a platform for telling short stories that demonstrate biblical principles for kids of all ages. These stories are perfect for bedtime, family devotion time, or anytime, and can serve as a catalyst for gospel conversations.
Why “More Than Fables”?
Jon Azzarello is a Worship Pastor at a large church in North Carolina, but his first ministry is to his family. He is a dad of six kids. When they were younger (some of them still are), they would always ask him to tell a bedtime story. “Tell us the deer story,” became a common phrase at bedtime. He would make up fantastical tales in the moment that would usually have a hidden moral or meaning which pointed to the gospel. Eventually, these got tired; so he would write new ones. Jon would read these tales for his own kids, but he wondered how many other parents were out there looking for the same thing. Out of his love for storytelling and writing, and his desire to help raise the next generation for Jesus, this site was born.
What if the other storytelling moms and dads out there could contribute their short stories and share them among a community of Christian parents? There would be new adventures for our kids that are safe, clean, fun, and most of all—point to Jesus.
Jon has a passion for stories and songs that have double or even triple meanings to them. Much of the Bible was written this way. Jesus, of course, often taught in parables; and so did the prophets. Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in all of humanity, and our hope is simply to make a lasting impact on our children for the glory of God.
Who Is It For?
These short fables are written for children of all ages, especially in the range of 6-10 years old. For the younger kids, these will serve as a great option for bedtime stories. They take approximately five minutes to read, and can serve as a great tool for teaching biblical principles. For the older kids, these stories might be useful for family devotionals or sparking deeper conversations. Asking them to find the gospel “Easter eggs” within the stories can be a fun exercise to do together.
Who Can Contribute?
Anyone can contribute to the short stories as long as they meet the criteria. You can learn more here.