How to Give a Testimony Other People Will Want to Hear

by Janet Birkey
Published September 9, 2005

Peter says that we are to be ready always to give an answer to the question, “Why do you have hope?” That means whether we are visiting with a co-worker, or are in a more formal setting such as a Sunday School or Bible study setting, be ready to share your testimony of how Christ has affected your life . Most Christians shrink with fear when asked to give their testimony. They know that it’s the right thing to do, but wonder how a person who is not a skilled speaker or pastor stands in front of people to talk about something so personal. Even if your story is not overly private, you might believe that there is really nothing special to tell about your life. Au contraire, my friend! I believe God has placed adventure and a touch of mystery in the journey of each of His children, and you are no different! It’s all a matter of how you present your story.

There are a few very simple things you can do to prepare yourself for when that time comes--not if it comes, but when. You can and should prepare your testimony even if you have not been asked to give it in front of a group. Coupled with Scripture, it is the most effective tool we have for sharing Christ with others. People want to hear what Christ has done for you--not just what the Bible says He can do for you.

TIPS AND TOOLS
First, your testimony does not have to be solely about your salvation experience. That will probably come in the course of your telling, but it may not be the “big” thing. Yes, salvation is the greatest and most important, but if you became a Christian as a young child (like I did), you most likely may not have a dramatic story or turn of events in your life to tell about concerning your salvation experience. Instead, you might tell about the difference Christ has made in your life--being your help, showing you the path that you should take, maybe times when you were not as close in your relationship with Christ as you should have been. You can share how you were drawn closer. Everyone relates to that. Like a diamond, a testimony can take on different facets, so don’t put the Holy Spirit in a box and dictate how you think a testimony “must” go in order to be done the “right” way.

Everyone has heard many testimonies that begin with, “I was born on June 6th, 1949 in Somewhere, USA. I had three brothers, two sisters and we just barely got by.” While that is certainly one way to begin a testimony, if you want people to remember your testimony, give them something to remember! How would it sound if the same information were reworded into something like the following:

“Summer of 1949 was hot and dry. Farmers across the country spent all day working in the hot sun and all night worrying in the cooler moonlight. John Smith and his sweet wife Bessie were no different. With three rambunctious boys and two girls not old enough to help, John and Bessie had no idea how they would feed another mouth. But I was on the way, whether they could feed me or not. I made my appearance right as summer started in the month of June. The weather was hot and forecasted to get much hotter.”

Do you hear how the speaker got the attention of the audience at the beginning? Instead of giving only sound bytes of information, give a personal touch. Work on a fantastic beginning paragraph. People are hanging with you from the very beginning, or they usually end up not hanging with you at all. Our God is a creative God, so make your testimony as truthfully creative as you can. Pray and ask God to help you use your imagination. Also keep in mind that there are plenty of aspiring speakers and writers who would jump at the opportunity to help you craft your testimony, and you can allow them the blessing of helping you if you get bogged down.

When telling your story, be sure never to embarrass anyone. Hurting other people will do more harm than your testimony will do good. If you have a story that involves others and is sensitive in nature, make sure to get their permission to use the story with their name attached. If the person does not live near you, and there is no way to speak to them, then you might consider changing their name for the use of your story. You will still retain the integrity and point of what you are telling with no chance of someone being hurt. You can also inform your audience that you are changing the person’s name. Most people will appreciate your sensitivity to make sure that no one is embarrassed.

Along these lines, we are sometimes tempted to tell things about our family members. Check with spouses, children, and family members before using their story in your testimony. While an adult audience might find it cute that you had to chase naked Suzy down the road when she was two years old, 16 year old Suzy may not find the story very cute.

When you are going over your salvation experience or other area of your testimony, be sure not to inflate your experience to add drama. When I was growing up, we had a friend who often told people that her son was legally blind. She had people hurting with her when she told this story. The problem was, while her son had very poor eyesight, and maybe he was legally blind, he functioned as anyone else who simply needed a pair of glasses. As children, we played together, he learned to drive as a teenager, made tons of money mowing lawns for other people, married and had children and still drives everywhere he goes! There was no need for pity in this case, but our friend used this diagnosis as a way to gain the sympathy of other people. That is not playing fair! If something in your story is sad, and you want to use it, fine. These things often add that personal touch and color, but be responsible with the things you tell. Do not over-inflate to sound more dramatic.

On the other hand---if you speak of painful circumstances, don’t downplay them. My husband and I used to be house parents to teenage girls. Some of the events in their past were very sad, very painful experiences, but you would hear them laugh about those things and make statements such as, “It doesn’t matter anyway” or “I don’t care.” Those things do matter, and you do care. You can be honest without being morbid and depressing. You can also tell many experiences without going into detail. If your father walked out on your mother and all the children when you were very young, you can say, “There are many things about my father leaving my mother and us kids that you could only understand if it happened to you. It is an experience that a person never fully recovers from.” Anyone in the audience would know that this was extremely painful for you and your family, but by not going into detail, you are now spared the pain of reliving it in front of everyone.

You will probably want to include a verse or two of Scripture, but your job is to show and tell what Christ has accomplished in your life--not a preach a three-point sermon. If you continually quote Scripture, you may end up sounding pious and religious rather than thankful and redeemed. If you quote Scripture too much in your testimony, it may cause you to sound like you were able to simply trust Christ in every situation and never struggled with the faith element. People want to hear the stories of those who struggle like they do, not someone who always “has it all together.“ Do use some well-placed verses or Christian quotes, but be careful to remain sincere.

I would advise you to practice. Even seasoned speakers, teachers and preachers practice! I speak and teach often, but did not practice as I should have for a recent lesson, and am here to report that I learned to never rely on what I know just because I have done it before. Practice! When you practice, use appropriate gestures, but do not “talk” with your hands (a habit I am working to break!) Eyebrows raised can indicate surprise, but don’t keep them raised or you’ll look scared. Use voice inflection and work on your talking speed. Don’t sound like it was a great time when the crops dried up and there was nothing left in the summer of ‘49. When you come to a more dramatic part of your testimony, slow a bit and then speed up somewhat when things get happy or exciting!

Above all, smile when you can. You may not be a seasoned speaker, and you may not feel comfortable in your role, but when you smile, you connect with your audience. Others will root for your success even more and will they become an interactive audience through their expressions, and nodding, making it much easier to speak in front of them!

OUTLINE YOUR STORY
Now that you have the do’s and don’t’s in mind, you can focus on what you want to say. Keep all the tips you have read in mind as you begin the practical work of putting your testimony together. A simple tool I use to prepare most of my material for teaching or speaking to groups, is the acrostic, P-I-E-R, developed by speaker and author Marita Littauer.

The P in PIER stands for the point you want to make. Ask yourself, “What do I want my audience to know?” This is your main point and could be could be something like one of the following:

God is my provider.
God loves me.
God is my strength.
God is my joy when I have lost my joy.

In order to figure out your point, complete this sentence, When__________________ gave her testimony in Sunday School, she said, “_____________________.” If the audience forgot everything you said except for one thing, what do you want them to remember?

After you know what your point is, you can then decide, “What do I want my audience to do with the information I am giving them? How will the audience make what I am telling them a part of their lives?” This will be the I in PIER, your instruction to your audience. Your answer to that might be:

I want my audience to set aside a daily time for prayer.
I want my audience to think how God is also their strength.
I want my audience to realize they can have joy when they have lost their joy.

Now that you know what your point is and what you want your audience to do, be or feel, you will add the personal touch. Do this through the E in PIER, the use of examples. An example can be an illustration, a poem or hymn, or anything that expands and clarifies your point. Examples might be the easiest part of your testimony. Littauer states, “This shows the audience that you know what you are talking about, that you’ve been there.” Examples add the color and interest that will capture your audience and cause them to want to hear how God has worked in your life.

The final element before you put it all together is the R in PIER, standing for reference. Give your testimony some facts. Not too many, but one or two that help support what you are saying can help. A reference can be a Scripture verse, a statistic (The 1950 Almanac reported that the summer of 1949 was the hottest and driest in 20 years), an article (“The Clovis News Journal reported that moms and dads are leaving their homes at the fastest rate ever. Children are feeling the affects. I would like to tell you the story of a child who knows exactly how they feel. That child is me.”) Anything that lends proof to what you are saying is a good source for a reference.

When you have these four elements in your testimony, you have the basis to not only go beyond the bare facts, but to also create an interesting story. You can arrange these elements in any way that tells your story effectively. When you are preparing your testimony, do not write it down word for word. Instead, write the four elements of PIER as a bulleted list and then embellish each item with a touch of humanity and that personal touch. If you have more than one point, do a separate sheet of paper for each PIER acronym. You are on your way! By not having to read or memorize your testimony, you can have more eye contact with your audience.

Finally, remember that you are giving an account of the hope that is within you. You want to leave your audience better than they were before you came. The world, even the Christian world, is looking for hope. If you cannot relate your experience so that it has a joyous (if not happy) ending, you might consider not using that example. While your story may have some sorrowful elements in it, let it end on a joyous note, with everyone saying, “Yes! He is alive and He changes lives!” He is alive! He does change lives! Tell it again, and again, and again…now you know how and you are one your way!

P.S. You can read more about the PIER method in Talking so People Will Listen: you can communicate with confidence by Marita Littauer. if you would like to know more about polishing your speaking and or writing skills, please contact CLASServices at 1-505-899-4283 or go to their website at www.classervices.com.

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