How to Bring Story Work to Your Faith Community with Petra Malekzadeh

What does it take to cultivate real transformation in a faith
community? Not just busier programs or better Bible studies, but
real change – mind, body, and soul?


In this episode, Dr. Dan Allender and Rachael Clinton Chen talk
with Petra Malekzadeh, Facilitation Development Manager at the
Allender Center, about what it looks like to bring story work
into the life of a local church. 


Drawing on her years of ministry leadership and her training in
Narrative Focused Trauma Care, Petra shares both the challenges
and beauty of inviting people to engage their stories as part of
discipleship. Listen in to explore:




Why story work belongs at the heart of spiritual formation




The importance of leadership buy-in and shared language




How to navigate resistance and build trust




What becomes possible when vulnerability is honored




This conversation invites you to imagine a church where story
work isn’t a side ministry—it’s how we grow into the people God
is calling us to be.