Sharing Your Faith Story
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 ESV
Her name faded from memory years ago, but her story stuck with me.
I heard Susan, let’s call her, speak at the first women’s ministry event I remember attending. Her story wasn’t flashy or dramatic, but it resonated deeply with me. Susan spoke about growing up in the church and realizing as an adult she didn’t have a personal relationship with Christ. She knew who God was, but she didn’t know Him personally.
Susan admitted that she previously struggled to share her story of coming to faith because it lacked the drama and action of so many other faith stories she had heard. There was no earthquake moment. No tragic circumstance. No story that would bring an audience to tears. Little did she realize that her story had me fighting back tears!
As she spoke God connected the dots of my conversion in a new way. Hearing her story finally helped me put into words my own story. I, too, grew up in the church but lacked that personal relationship with God. I thought because I knew who Jesus was and I was a “good girl”, I was headed to Heaven when I died. It wasn’t until I was a young mom that I realized there was more to being a Christian. Knowing who God is and knowing God are two completely different things.
If you’ve ever struggled to put into words how God has been at work in your life, this article is for you! I’d love to be your Susan – to help put your faith stories into words so that other people in your life can hear about God’s faithfulness.
I heard Susan, let’s call her, speak at the first women’s ministry event I remember attending. Her story wasn’t flashy or dramatic, but it resonated deeply with me. Susan spoke about growing up in the church and realizing as an adult she didn’t have a personal relationship with Christ. She knew who God was, but she didn’t know Him personally.
Susan admitted that she previously struggled to share her story of coming to faith because it lacked the drama and action of so many other faith stories she had heard. There was no earthquake moment. No tragic circumstance. No story that would bring an audience to tears. Little did she realize that her story had me fighting back tears!
As she spoke God connected the dots of my conversion in a new way. Hearing her story finally helped me put into words my own story. I, too, grew up in the church but lacked that personal relationship with God. I thought because I knew who Jesus was and I was a “good girl”, I was headed to Heaven when I died. It wasn’t until I was a young mom that I realized there was more to being a Christian. Knowing who God is and knowing God are two completely different things.
If you’ve ever struggled to put into words how God has been at work in your life, this article is for you! I’d love to be your Susan – to help put your faith stories into words so that other people in your life can hear about God’s faithfulness.
If you’ve ever been asked to share your “testimony”, you may be familiar with that feeling of dread and fear that often accompanies such a serious request.
A testimony is often defined as the personal retelling of the moment of conversion. It’s a story of an encounter with Christ, the moment of salvation. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a religious testimony as “a public profession of religious experience.” While a testimony is and can be about the singular point at which we accepted Christ, a testimony can also communicate any experience we’ve had with Christ.
I’ve found swapping out that scary word “testimony” with “faith story” relieves a lot of the pressure we place on ourselves. Stories are familiar and stories are relatable.
Faith stories:
Sharing our stories can inspire other people to look for God’s fingerprints on their current situation and circumstances. While we may be tempted to keep our stories of God’s faithfulness and love to ourselves, scripture is clear that we are to tell our story to others.
A testimony is often defined as the personal retelling of the moment of conversion. It’s a story of an encounter with Christ, the moment of salvation. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a religious testimony as “a public profession of religious experience.” While a testimony is and can be about the singular point at which we accepted Christ, a testimony can also communicate any experience we’ve had with Christ.
I’ve found swapping out that scary word “testimony” with “faith story” relieves a lot of the pressure we place on ourselves. Stories are familiar and stories are relatable.
Faith stories:
- Give hope
- Provide encouragement
- Create connection
- Model obedience
- Provide testimony of God’s faithfulness and love
Sharing our stories can inspire other people to look for God’s fingerprints on their current situation and circumstances. While we may be tempted to keep our stories of God’s faithfulness and love to ourselves, scripture is clear that we are to tell our story to others.
We are to make known what God has done.
“Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” 1 Chronicles 16:8 NIV
People cannot believe in God if they’ve never heard about God.
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14 NLT
Our stories give the reason for the hope that we have in Christ.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 NIV
We can offer an eye-witness account of God in action.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NIV
We can comfort others with the comfort we received from God.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3–5 ESV
Yet, our minds often overcomplicate the sharing of our faith stories. What do I include? How many details do I share? How long should I talk?
John 9 offers a simple recipe for sharing our stories. Here we find the story of Jesus giving sight to a blind man. When asked what had happened, the blind man replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” John 9:11 NIV.
While our faith story might not be as short as those three sentences, the format is one we can easily follow.
The story consists of three parts:
In John 9 we see:
As we think through what happened or changed in our life, we want to make certain our story focuses on what God did. And then as we share how we are different, we want to include the transformation God did in our life.
John 9 offers a simple recipe for sharing our stories. Here we find the story of Jesus giving sight to a blind man. When asked what had happened, the blind man replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” John 9:11 NIV.
While our faith story might not be as short as those three sentences, the format is one we can easily follow.
The story consists of three parts:
- How I was
- What happened
- How I am now
In John 9 we see:
- The man was blind.
- Jesus made some mud, put it on his eyes, and told him to wash it off.
- Now he can see.
As we think through what happened or changed in our life, we want to make certain our story focuses on what God did. And then as we share how we are different, we want to include the transformation God did in our life.
Read a devotional series about giving testimony in Issue 4 of Sweet To The Soul FAITH Magazine
I find these three C’s helpful in shaping what I am sharing:
Faith stories that are current, concise, and Christ-centered will ensure the words we share give glory to God.
I’ve heard it said that we should speak from our scars, and not from our wounds. I’ve found these to be wise words as I’ve watched women share on a couple of occasions faith stories that were more about their feelings than God’s healing.
Here are a few other things to consider when sharing your story:
- Current - Our stories should be current, focusing on a recent lesson (within the last year, if possible). Keeping it current reminds others that God is always at work!
- Concise – Our stories don’t need to be lengthy. Even if we’re sharing our faith story publicly, we’ve not been asked to be the keynote speaker or teach a Bible lesson. What we share should last between five and ten minutes, no more. Practice sharing it. Record yourself and listen to make sure your story is coming across as intended. If you’re speaking in front of a group, jot down a few notes so you don’t lose focus.
- Christ-centered – Our faith stories should be focused on what God has done, not on dramatic details. It’s about Him, not about us. We want others who hear our story to remember what God accomplished through us or the circumstance. When our eyes and words are focused on God, others see that and can learn by our example.
Faith stories that are current, concise, and Christ-centered will ensure the words we share give glory to God.
I’ve heard it said that we should speak from our scars, and not from our wounds. I’ve found these to be wise words as I’ve watched women share on a couple of occasions faith stories that were more about their feelings than God’s healing.
Here are a few other things to consider when sharing your story:
- Please do not share anything that would embarrass someone or lead to gossip.
- Protect your spouse, your family, and anyone who is a part of your story.
- You want to be more general than specific, especially when sharing with a group.
- Be prayerful and careful with details you share.
- Whenever possible get permission and input from anyone that is a part of your story.
For example, if you are sharing about a hard season in your marriage, your spouse needs to be completely aware and on board with what you are sharing. The specific details of that hard season are for you, your husband, and God to know. Hearing someone reflect on God’s faithfulness in difficult circumstances can be an encouragement.
What story is it that you sense God wants you to share? Do you need to tell how God has provided for you or your family? Is there something God has rescued you from? Has God healed a relationship or helped you to overcome a loss?
You may find it helpful to write down your story. Journal all the nitty-gritty details and then decide what parts are for public consumption and which stay between you and God.
I pray we’ll embrace the opportunities God gives us to be a witness (Acts 1:8), offer comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3–5), proclaim God’s power (1 Chronicles 16:8), and give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15).
Blessings Soul Friends,
What story is it that you sense God wants you to share? Do you need to tell how God has provided for you or your family? Is there something God has rescued you from? Has God healed a relationship or helped you to overcome a loss?
You may find it helpful to write down your story. Journal all the nitty-gritty details and then decide what parts are for public consumption and which stay between you and God.
I pray we’ll embrace the opportunities God gives us to be a witness (Acts 1:8), offer comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3–5), proclaim God’s power (1 Chronicles 16:8), and give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15).
Blessings Soul Friends,
Cyndee
Diving Deeper
- What keeps you from sharing your faith story?
- Which of Cyndee’s recommended 3 C’s do you need to focus on in order to become more comfortable sharing your faith story? Share your answers in the comments.
- Then let’s all read through the comments and offer our prayers for all those who are struggling. Just imagine how joining together in these prayers can help multiply God’s Kingdom!
Resources
Read: A Bible Study Plan for Unpacking God’s Word
Designed to help you study God’s Word on your own using a simple four-step process – Record, Explore, Apply, and Do. In less than 20 minutes a day, you’ll develop healthy Bible study habits and go deeper in your time with God. Includes over 6 months of READ Worksheets.
LEARN MORE
Designed to help you study God’s Word on your own using a simple four-step process – Record, Explore, Apply, and Do. In less than 20 minutes a day, you’ll develop healthy Bible study habits and go deeper in your time with God. Includes over 6 months of READ Worksheets.
LEARN MORE
Cyndee Ownbey, author of Rethinking Women’s Ministry, serves as a mentor to thousands of women’s ministry leaders through her website, podcast, and Facebook community, Women’s Ministry Toolbox. Pulling from over twenty years of ministry experience, Cyndee shares tried-and-true women's ministry tips and ideas equipping leaders to cultivate a Christ-focused community.
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6 Comments
Believe like a little child
I would like to share my story and am all for suggestions 8n my circumstances first of all I would like to say I have always believed in the good Lord I was saved and baptized in 1994 and used to attend church regularly. I have always prayed but my life has become difficult to attend. church for years . Recently God has revealed himself to me through thunder and lightning events I used to be afraid of storms thunder and lightning until recently I had two trees struck down by lightning right beside my trailer and lughrning struck a power tool inside my trailor and next thunder rumbling circling my trailor It had me scared to death so much it seemed to be stalking me i was afrI called my mother and asked hee if i had been struck by lightning before in my life she told me i had not si i heard thunder which sounded in the distance so i prayed to god to please present himself to me through the thunder To my amazement thunder traveled straight to my trailorr going off right next to me the next day i was alone and thunder sounded off above me it was a sunny day My life has been different than ever before since i had a divine revelation witb god i have seen tbe world as i have never seen before i had this experience witb the good lord for he is good i had to share. my story thank you God I love him very much amen
I found out about this amazing truth the early church believed, and also it’s what the first language of the New Testament says, The original language of the New Testament confirms the truth is Universal Restoration, 1 Timothy 4:10 shows “savior of all men, especially of believers” this means we receive salvation from judgment in Jesus if we are born again and worthy, but everyone else will be saved and live forever as well, God reconciles them through the judgment, the reason the lake of fire is called that is because God called the slavery in Egypt an “iron smelting furnace” and it actually means pool of fire, like a crucible for refining gold, this is the fate of all mankind, if they are not born again and walking straight into life, they need to be refined but no one is lost forever, God said He will be all in all, and there is a New Heaven and a New Earth on the outside of the New Jerusalem, there are cities of people, Jesus speaks about giving someone 3 cities in the scriptures, and another 5 and 10, of course we want to go His way it will be more rewarding, but again everyone lives forever, as in adam all die so as in Christ all will be made alive, there is no forever separation from God, in large a big misunderstanding came from the Greek word “Aionon” it means an age for punishment and was never supposed to be understood as forever with punishment, and God’s punishment’s are always rooted in His nature of love and goodness they are also seen on the “Outside” of the Kingdom after the lake of fire, God is Love, Google Universal Restoration
Testimony
I learned that when you ask God for something, you better be prepared to receive it.
God blessed me with a lengthy prison sentence instead of a death sentence.
TANYA GLESSNER
I grew up in Kansas City, Kansas in a home filled with chaos. Home was an ever-changing address with the only constant being my parents fighting. My dad enjoyed his plethora of drugs, and my mom enjoyed pushing his buttons and being the victim. They finally decided to call it quits when I was 11 years old, but not before finding out that he wasn’t my biological father.
My grandma had broken the news to me in an angry, drunken stupor right before presenting me with the news of the divorce. It was absolutely crushing. My mom and the man I thought was my dad had two sons, both younger than me. I came to find out that I also had two younger half-sisters on my biological dad’s side also. The message being sent at this point was that I was unwanted and didn’t belong. Hence my series of poor choices that led me to the foot of the cross.
My biological dad made minimal effort to see me before he died of cancer in 2008. After my parents’ divorce, I lived with my mom and two younger brothers. She continued to choose men struggling with addiction and violence. When their violent attentions turned on me, I decided it was better to become the monster than to be the one subjected to it.
I started beating girls up at school and being rewarded at home for my victories. I was eventually expelled from school and had to complete my schooling that year on the mental health ward of a hospital. Once I returned home, I ran away repeatedly and would stay with friends until their parents would turn me away. My mom had enough of me and sent me to live with my grandma in Fort Scott, Kansas to start my freshman year of High School.
I was kicked out of school my freshman year for a confrontation with my teacher and finished the school year out at another school. I moved back home with my mother my sophomore year, and we got along like rabid dogs. When my 16th birthday came along, I went to school, dropped out, went home, packed my bags, and moved in with a friend in Fort Scott. This lasted about two years before I started bouncing back and forth between Kansas City and Fort Scott.
I am my mother’s daughter
Over the next twenty years I gave birth to two sons of my own, and married a man that was the sum of every man I had ever known. He was wild, abusive, addicted to anything that made him feel good, and promiscuous. I became the mirror image of my mother. I knew how to push his buttons and play the victim, always convincing myself that I could change him. It took over a decade for me to realize it was a war I was never going to win. I finally filed for a divorce and decided to leave him for good.
At first, I did well. I went to work, raised my boys, and occasionally had a girl’s night out on a weekend the kids were with their dad. I kept myself busy to keep my focus off the unbearable emotional pain I had pushed far below. Eventually it made its way to the surface, and I began to unravel. Girl’s night turned into every weekend. Every weekend turned into a meth addiction, which in turn caused me to lose my job. Now bills were piling up and I had to find a way to make money without interfering with my addiction.
Head first
I made a phone call to a friend I grew up with in Kansas City, and decided to get my own source of meth so I could sell it and make some money. Everything moved quickly from there. Within a few months I was making a few thousand dollars a day and spending it just as quickly. My house was a revolving door of addicts, boyfriends, guns, and drugs. I started using the needle and decided it was best to send my children to live with my grandmother.
After a boyfriend had broken both of my wrists, I had a lawyer draw up papers leaving my children to my grandmother in case something more permanent happened to me. I knew I was either going to end up dead or in prison. My addiction took precedence over everything in my life. At this point all I wanted to do was die, but that was all about to change.
Three years into my addiction, I found myself at a complete stranger’s house, suicidally depressed, injecting a needle filled with a large amount of meth into my vein. As the needle fell to the floor and landed in the old carpet like a dart, I collapsed to my knees on the verge of losing consciousness and cried out to God to save me. I wasn’t prepared for the manner in which he would choose to respond.
A few weeks later I made a stop at a house to drop off some drugs. When I arrived, there was a woman there that I had bad history with, so I confronted her and put her in the hospital. I was arrested a week later and found myself facing 21 years in prison, so when I was offered a plea agreement of eight years, I gratefully accepted the offer.
Receiving God’s answer
As I sat in county jail for several months, my mind began to clear from all the drugs. I found myself overwhelmed with remorse for what I had done, and I wanted the opportunity to make amends with the woman I had hurt. I slid my back down the cold, white cinder block wall and adjusted my orange jumpsuit. I pulled my knees into my chest, clung to my bible, looked up with tears running down my face, and asked God to make the way.
The next morning an officer pulled me into the hallway to inform me that the woman who was my victim had just been arrested, and because of my good behavior they didn’t feel it was fair to ship me to another county to be held until I was sent to prison. They were giving me the choice to decide if I wanted to be housed with her or to be farmed out. My head spun in disbelief because this is not something that happens normally! I knew right then that God had heard my prayer, and this was my opportunity to put up or shut up.
As she entered the jail pod, you could see the fear all over her face. She went straight into her cell and crawled up into her bunk. I gave her a few minutes and then made my way over to her door. I told her she was safe and invited her to eat with me. Over the next few weeks, I made my amends, and I was shipped off to begin my prison journey. I experienced God’s presence over those few weeks in a way I will never forget.
I spent the next seven years in prison, earning all my good time. The experience was overwhelming, but I used the time to grow closer to God, and I established a godly reputation among the prison staff and my fellow inmates. I became a leader of a women’s Christian ministry inside the prison, and I started prayer groups on the dorms. Women sought me out for guidance, friendship, and prayer. I also tutored women for their GED’s, filed their taxes, and cut their hair. God used me in countless ways and continued to grow me in the process.
I was released in 2020, and married my High School sweetheart who is a paramedic. Adjusting to his schedule took some getting used to, as well as being a stepmother. In May of 2021, my brother was found dead in a hotel room in Colorado from a fentanyl overdose. He was a Millwright worker and traveled all over the world for work and was away on a job. He turned 38 on May 13th and was expected home a few days later, but now instead of planning a party, we were planning a funeral.
After dealing with the initial impact of my grief, I decided I wanted to do whatever I could to help make sure no other family ever had to go through this. I began mentoring incarcerated men and women, as well as recovering addicts in my community. I sponsored a fundraiser to bring awareness to mental health issues because I believe most addictions stem from there. I also wanted to help put an end to the stigma attached to seeking mental health services. We seek medical help when our bodies fail, so why wouldn’t we seek help when life seems to be too much?
In 2023 I published my first book The Light You Bring, and in 2024 I published my second book Stand Up Eight. I am currently working on my third book, a daily devotional for every day of the year with an anticipated release date of November 2024. I recently accepted the position of President on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army and Compassionate Care Ministries in Fort Scott, Kansas. God never wastes a hurt. He is using my past to brighten others’ futures. God uses my words to give voice to those who need it. When God pulled me out of the darkness, I used one hand to cling to him, and one hand to pull someone else out.
I would love to share my Love story with GOD..But it's been a long rocky road with more downs then ups. A story of a child Only GOD loved..out cast unwanted deformed uneducated and vision inparied. AND GOD was the only one who cared. But she was blind .
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