Hi! Thanks for clicking on my site.
First let me introduce myself. Justyn is my name. Just incredible - my grand kids call me! Just in time - my wife says when I’m late home. But I’m just a storyteller, not a scholar or theologian, yet my favorite book is the Bible. I have to confess that I’ve always been a little baffled by that big black book full of unpronounceable subsections, endless speeches and repetitions; and somewhat threatened by the rules and consequences for non-compliance. But when I get past that and recognize that this ancient book is brimming with wisdom fleshed out in the lives of heroic characters then I get drawn into the story and the hidden secrets of life that they reveal.
So I have been telling the story and more recently writing the story so that the characters come to life and so that ordinary people can get into their skins.
Christmas Tales
There are a couple of things that I love to do most.
I love to tell the story of Christmas so for the past twenty odd years I have teamed up with my buddy Russ Rosen, an amazing songwriter and musician and together we travel, weaving a tapestry of story and music, bringing to life the ancient story in theaters, prisons, schools and churches. Having grown up in the UK I have a slew of characters and dialects I can draw on to make the innkeeper a thrifty scot, Zachariah an Irish priest who when confronted by an angel, takes him for a leprechaun, Joseph, a normal working man furious that his fiancé should get pregnant with no contribution from him. I love a good laugh so humor plays a big part in the story.
I love to tell the story of Christmas so for the past twenty odd years I have teamed up with my buddy Russ Rosen, an amazing songwriter and musician and together we travel, weaving a tapestry of story and music, bringing to life the ancient story in theaters, prisons, schools and churches. Having grown up in the UK I have a slew of characters and dialects I can draw on to make the innkeeper a thrifty scot, Zachariah an Irish priest who when confronted by an angel, takes him for a leprechaun, Joseph, a normal working man furious that his fiancé should get pregnant with no contribution from him. I love a good laugh so humor plays a big part in the story.
The other thing I love to do is to join a group of friends and neighbours breaking bread round a table. There’s something about sitting round a table that is inherently friendly, especially as you share a meal and a glass of wine. That was where Jesus chose to tell the story to illustrate the essence of his mission to his followers. And that is where I love to tell the greatest love story of them all.
Why do I do what I do?
I am gutted to see broken people and broken lives, especially those I love. I am glad for the doctors and therapists and all the good and wise people to do their best to throw a lifeline to floundering people. Glad for the police who do their best to stop us from killing and stealing and raping each other. Glad for our political and community leaders who seek to lead us towards a just and fair society. But what can I do, a simple storyteller? From my reading of the Bible I find that the person who did more than anyone else in history to promote love and justice was a storyteller. So if it worked for him it should work for me. I’ll tell his story. And so I do, and proud of it!
What can I do for you?
I’d be honored to come and do what I love to do most for your neighbours in your home, community centre, church etc. I’d love to come and tell my stories round your table and offer my books to your friends. How much do I charge? Well nothing. My joy to come. This is the one thing I can offer to a hurting world.
books
You can purchase books from Amazon or contact me.
Music and more is available at Big Tree Publishing.
Price (Does not include shipping):
That One Thing - $10
To Make An Old Story New - $20
To Make A Long Story Short - $20
Love Your Neighbour For God's Sake - $20
Honest Doubt, Real Faith - out of stock
about
History
I was born and raised in the UK but have lived the second half of my life in Canada. I love Canada. More than the UK? No. It’s not a competition. I love them both. Wherever I am today I find myself a little home sick for the other place. But now I live in the province of British Columbia, the little town of Chilliwack atop Chilliwack Mountain with a jaw dropping view across the green Fraser valley of snow capped mountains. My kids, grandkids and greats all live nearby. So what’s not to love about it?
I won’t bore you with my life story but since this is intended to be an introduction, let me highlight some of the fun things I have done. In the 60’s I founded and led one of Britain’s first Christian Rock bands. We made half a dozen albums and toured the UK for years. Fun. But we grew old, so life moved on.
I directed a retreat centre called Hildenborough Hall in the south of England.
I had a couple of unsuccessful attempts at leading a church congregation, but I couldn't hack the politics and besides I was no good at it. I told stories in the sermon slot declining to chop the Bible up into sermon fodder, reducing the stories to three moral lessons each beginning with the letter “P”.
When Canada was threatened to come apart at the seams with Quebec poised to pull out of the union, Joy and I ( that’s the wife by the way) teamed up with Russ and Sandy Rosen to lead a team of young musicians, actors and dancers to travel from coast to coast telling the story of forgiveness and reconciliation. We built a mobile theater by marrying four semi trailers with a set of school bleachers and, over the course of five years travelled from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland. Our conviction was that if you want to get a divorce, get a lawyer, but if you want to be united as one, you need God’s help. Politicians are basically lawyers so if we leave the future unity of our country in their hands we were hooped.
Soon after the genocide we led 40 church leaders to Rwanda to address the need for reconciliation. Those dear people who had experienced the horror of seeing neighbours hacking neighbours to death taught us more about forgiveness than we will ever know.
I won’t bore you with my life story but since this is intended to be an introduction, let me highlight some of the fun things I have done. In the 60’s I founded and led one of Britain’s first Christian Rock bands. We made half a dozen albums and toured the UK for years. Fun. But we grew old, so life moved on.
I directed a retreat centre called Hildenborough Hall in the south of England.
I had a couple of unsuccessful attempts at leading a church congregation, but I couldn't hack the politics and besides I was no good at it. I told stories in the sermon slot declining to chop the Bible up into sermon fodder, reducing the stories to three moral lessons each beginning with the letter “P”.
When Canada was threatened to come apart at the seams with Quebec poised to pull out of the union, Joy and I ( that’s the wife by the way) teamed up with Russ and Sandy Rosen to lead a team of young musicians, actors and dancers to travel from coast to coast telling the story of forgiveness and reconciliation. We built a mobile theater by marrying four semi trailers with a set of school bleachers and, over the course of five years travelled from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland. Our conviction was that if you want to get a divorce, get a lawyer, but if you want to be united as one, you need God’s help. Politicians are basically lawyers so if we leave the future unity of our country in their hands we were hooped.
Soon after the genocide we led 40 church leaders to Rwanda to address the need for reconciliation. Those dear people who had experienced the horror of seeing neighbours hacking neighbours to death taught us more about forgiveness than we will ever know.
My Family
Joy my lifelong sweetheart. We met as young teens, got married at twenty-one and have lived happily ever after. Sorry guys. The best one is taken!
In the following years we have raised three wonderful children who we love very much and of whom we are most proud. And now they have raised their own families giving us seven grandchildren. But that’s not all – Breeding like rabbits, us Reeses… Five great grandchildren! Who knows where it will end.
In the following years we have raised three wonderful children who we love very much and of whom we are most proud. And now they have raised their own families giving us seven grandchildren. But that’s not all – Breeding like rabbits, us Reeses… Five great grandchildren! Who knows where it will end.
CONTACT
Want to know more? You can contact us by this form.
CONTACT ADDRESS
Justyn Rees
43620 Bracken Drive
Chilliwack BC V2R 4A3
Canada
tel. 604 807 1215
justynrees@gmail.com
Justyn Rees
43620 Bracken Drive
Chilliwack BC V2R 4A3
Canada
tel. 604 807 1215
justynrees@gmail.com
send
©2016 - OPENELEMENT. TEMPLATE directed by SENSODE
