In the Beginning

In 2005, Jim Green (Executive Director, JESUS Film Project) and Rob Hoskins (President, OneHope /Reach the Children Foundation) were waiting for a plane together in Bangkok, Thailand. Both shared a deep desire for the body of Christ to be more effective in leveraging visual media for the Gospel. Several conversations followed that led to a May 5, 2006 meeting in Orlando between leaders of the OneHope (formerly Book of Hope), the JESUS Film Project, Bearing Fruit Communications (“The End of the Spear”) and the Caleb Group. Amidst the voices of the 20 people gathered, one Voice emerged.

There was overwhelming agreement it was critical to expand a movement of “visual story” for the kingdom of God. The outcome was a consensus to begin a partnership that would research, advocate and collaborate on new ways to reach people in our increasingly media saturated world. Clyde Taber (Director of Multimedia Design within the Jesus Film Project at that time) was asked to lead this new initiative. Clyde gave part-time leadership to the next phase of developing the network. This consisted of establishing a leadership team, organizing roundtable forums and beginning to think through strategic direction.

In January 2008, Clyde began to focus full-time on the development of the network. Visual Story International, a non-profit 501c3 was created to be the legal platform to support the Visual Story Network. Visual Story International is a non-membership (no dues required) organization. Clyde’s salary is provided through individuals, families and churches who believe in his calling and ministry.

Below are the members of the VSN Leadership Team (L-R). Clyde Taber, Bailey Marks, Jr., Stephan Tchividjian, Rob Hoskins, Jim Green, Paul Konstanski, Rich Sheeley, Bill Sunderland (missing: Jeff Holder, Mike Zender).