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Writing Your Testimony

 

As we implement our new vision, we were tasked with coming up with a few things over the next year that we could get the majority of the church to do. One thing that came to mind was to have the church write out their testimony and share it with someone. We thought this would be a great way to grow as witnesses, but we also thought it would draw our church family closer together as we get to know each other and what God has done. 

We are doing a Testimony Workshop on June 17, but I also wanted to give some pointers on how you can begin working on it now.  Your testimony may be about how you came to Christ, but it doesn't have to be that. It could be a way God has provided for you (1 Kings 17:2-6 ), met you in a challenge (1 Sam 17:37), healed you (2 Kings 5:15), called you to a task (Isaiah 6), or something else. Regardless of what it is, here are some steps to take to better share what God has done in your life.

Step 1- Getting Started: Reflect on what God has Done

  1. What did God do in your life? (Just start writing as best you can. Don’t feel like the words need to be perfect).
  2. What was your life like before God moved (Be specific where you are able)
  3. How did the work and promises of Jesus change your life? (Jesus is the Savior and hero of the Bible, so our testimonies should point to him and his work for us).
  4. How did God draw you into a closer relationship with him (What sins, behaviors, or beliefs did you turn from or how did God bring you to a place of trusting in and submitting to him)?

Step 2- Putting it all Together:  Write your testimony

Here are a few things that will help you make your testimony clearer and more concise and more powerful.  

  • Audience: Who do you feel like God is calling you to speak to? Could be a people group, ethnicity, specific interest like athletics, issues such as a condition (depression, anxiety) or experience (divorce, addiction, injury, sickness, family).
  • Purpose: Write a fifteen second testimony. This succinct version is easily sharable with others and draws your testimony to a sharp point. This point can also work as a thesis for your longer testimony. Let me provide a template and then explain it:

There was a time in my life when I was 

______ and _____

But then I made Jesus #1 

and now my life is

______ and _____.

First, state what your struggle was. I like to start with the phrase “there was a time in my life” to mark out what life was like before Christ or when you were not looking to him. It can refer to when you knew nothing of Christ, but it can also refer to a pivotal time in your life as a believer. Even believers go through ups and downs so if a big change happened after trusting in Christ you can use this to share it. 

The main thing is that the description you share in your testimony should reveal what life was like without Christ or what you were missing when you were not walking in the fullness of what he has for you. For me to share my story I say, “There was a time when I was angry and confused.”

Second, the next part is the key change that came about. Some say I trusted in Jesus or made him my Lord and Savior. I say “made him #1” because it cuts through religious jargon that many people seem immune to. Make this your own, but also make sure it gets at the core change you experienced.

Third, is the resolution of the tension in your life. This is where Jesus brought you. It’s what people are looking for. For me its, “I found peace and joy.” My confusion and anger were healed. I could rest in him and who he made me to be. He changed my life, and I want people to hear that if he could do that to me then he can certainly do it to you. 

  • Write a finalized form of your testimony in about 250 words. Some of you will need to add more details. Some of you will need to pair back the words. This word count will give you a testimony you can share in a compelling way with the church or people you encounter as you go through life.
  • Go share! Like anything, the more you do it the better you will get. Take time to intentionally share it with someone. Perhaps look for way to speak hope to those who mention struggling with the thing you struggled with. Or simply reach out to someone and say, “My church wants me to share my testimony and I’m looking for someone I can trust to help me with it. Will you let me share it with you and help me make it better?”

We would love to hear your testimony and also help you craft it. You can submit your testimony here and a staff member will get back to you on it.