Don't be afraid to get personal with your testimony
When sharing your faith, have you ever asked someone about their spiritual life only to have them say, “That’s too personal”?
Sharing your testimony — your story of how God has changed your life — is a great way to get personal in your spiritual conversations. As Christians, our testimonies are like salt tablets. They can make non-Christians thirsty for the water of life. And when others see our willingness to be open with our story, they will be more comfortable to share their stories.
People may debate Scriptural principles, but no one can argue with your personal experience with God: how He blessed you, changed you, encouraged you, and transformed you. The Bible says, “whoever has the Son has life” (1 John 5:12). If we have eternal life, we should share that with others.
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Think about it. Our personal story is the most original contribution we bring when witnessing for Christ. It’s often the first thing that’s shared in a spiritual conversation because it’s familiar. After all — it’s your story.
Don’t try to put your whole life into one story. Most conversations are limited in time, so it’s best to shape your testimony to be about three minutes. Simply talk about an area of your life where you saw God working — a new job, a family situation, or dealing with death.
Allow me to share a brief version of mine: Before I had eternal life, I was absolutely afraid of dying. Then someone shared with me the greatest news about how I could have eternal life, and it changed me. I no longer feared death. I’ve had that confidence ever since, and I know that if I died today, I’d go to be with God in Heaven.
The key is to focus on the positive benefits of knowing Christ. Stories that belabor negative experiences tend to turn others away from wanting to accept Jesus. And as Christians, our job is to attract people to Christ!
Ann told us that before she had eternal life she had no purpose or hope. When her mom died it threw her into depression. But after someone shared with her how she could have eternal life in Christ, despair and depression were a thing of the past. Ann has shared her testimony with countless people and with wonderful results. And you can too.
Start now. Write your testimony down. Practice it, so it’s ready at a moment’s notice. Then, once your story is complete, share it with others! Post your testimony or parts of the Gospel on Facebook or other social media channels and allow God to use them.
One church member shared with us how she connected with a cousin she learned was living in Japan. They hadn’t seen each other in more than 20 years. Once they connected on Facebook, she decided to share the Gospel, and to her delight, her cousin made a profession of faith. They even prayed together online. With your story firmly established, the ministry possibilities are endless.
If you need help writing your story, visit our free testimony-building tool at whatsmystory.org.
Rev. John B. Sorensen, D.D. is the President/CEO of Evangelism Explosion International, headquartered in Arden, N.C. EE has been a leader in equipping Christians to share their faith for more than 55 years. For more free tips and resources, visit evangelismexplosion.org.
