But, what makes a testimony good or bad? Keep reading for top tips on how your testimonies for the church can make a positive impact. But first, let’s start with the basics.
What is a testimony in church?
A testimony at church is when a person shares their personal spiritual witness from God. It could be their own experiences of finding Jesus and converting to Christianity, also known as a conversion story.
Or it could be the compelling stories from their life that have affirmed the presence of Jesus in their life. Perhaps you prayed for something you desperately needed, and God granted you that gift or led you through the darkness.
Telling this personal story about how you came to have God in your life reaffirms your relationship and strengthens your bond. It offers the chance for connection with other Christians and inspiration to those who haven’t yet found Him.
Church testimony examples.
Countless personal Christian testimony examples can be found online for your reference if you’re unsure what to include in yours. Your personal experiences growing and developing with God by your side are beautiful, so trust in His guidance.
Most testimonies follow the same framework of life before Christ, how you came to know Christ, and life after receiving Christ. Be specific, and hone in on the details of how He has transformed your world for the better.
Testimonies will vary in length depending on the situation you are preparing for. Make sure you stick within your allotted time frame, or other people risk zoning out or losing out on their time to share.
Testimony dos and don'ts.
Do:
Keep the gospel as the focus. Your story is just the framework used to present the power of God’s word to others, so don’t get sucked into over-focusing on yourself or expressing vanity.
Plan what you will say. Ad-libbing and relying heavily on filler words is distracting, and it takes away from the words you are trying to say. A testimony is important, so give it the time it deserves and practice it.
Be confident. Let the strength of God shine through you as your share word of His greatness. He will be there for you to give you the confidence you need, so avoid distracting ticks like playing with a pen in front of you or shaking your leg.
Be positive. Keeping positivity at the forefront of your testimony is essential. You may have experienced hardships in your life, but focus on what changed for the better through God’s presence and goodness, not the negativity.
Don’t:
Use Christian jargon. This can be alienating for non-Christians which essentially defeats the purpose of testimony. Your personal testimony should be relatable to everyone, so ditch words like ‘born again’ or ‘saved’.
Preach or talk down to people. If there is one way to make people switch off, this is it. Everyone has their own journey and their own experiences, and assuming superiority to them ignores God’s power and His plan.
Over-generalize. While your experience of finding God may have been a wonderful one, saying ‘it was a wonderful moment’ is vague and unimpressionable. Specifics and examples are the way to go.
Mention specific people or denominations. Mentioning specific doctrines or denominations creates a barrier between you and others. Ask yourself whether mentioning this detail serves a good purpose or is there for toxic reasons.
How to share testimony in church?
Now you have written your unique testimony, it's time to start thinking about sharing it. Most churches offer a regular slot for congregants to share their experiences, so you can take the chance to add your testimony too.
Most importantly keep it short, concise, and to the point. Shorter testimonies tend to be more powerful, as longer ones can get repetitive or focus too much on irrelevant details. Ask the pastor how long you have in advance to get clarity on your allotted time.
This is a chance to share your heartfelt experiences of God, so speak with joy and positivity in your voice. When sharing these powerful words, be genuine, confident, and personable. Let the power of the Holy Spirit flow through you.
Testimony sharing is a way to build bonds between church members while solidifying the depth of your relationship with God. If you are a church leader, make sure you thank people for sharing something that is so close to their hearts. A powerful way to make your church members feel seen and heard after sharing is by including a testimonies section on your website or social media page. Making your online presence more personal helps harness the essence of your church.
Starting a ‘Testimonies Tuesday’ trend or something similar on your church Twitter account would help individual stories get out. It could simply be a small summary or a quote from their testimony alongside a photo. And, this would help potential newcomers get a better idea of the church when browsing the social media accounts. It is crucial that you only do this with consent, as others may only feel comfortable sharing their testimony with their church directly.
Most importantly, share the words straight from your soul and feel the Holy Spirit soar within you.