Share your story
People need to hear that God is real and what difference he is making in your life.
They need to hear stories that answer:
Why are you a Christian?
Is God real? Caring? Loving? Forgiving?
Can he provide? Heal? Heal broken hearts? Empower? Comfort? Answer prayer? Give security?
Help in difficult times? When we are anxious? Guide? Release from addiction?
Can he give purpose? Peace? Freedom from fear and anxiety?
You could ask them what they are currently pursuing in life, and it’s likely that they will ask you the same in return, and you can share what you are working on and how you are asking God to help you with that.
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Prepare SNIPPETS (short parts of your story) that are about 2-3 mins each, so you feel ready to share when they are relevant to someone.
When preparing:
Be clear and succinct, with no Christian jargon
Use bullet points (you don’t need to write out in full)
Check for clarity and timing
Practise with friends: Request feedback on clarity, timing, if the main point was clear, avoidance of jargon, unnecessary details that could be left out, ideas for improvement.
Try to think of a relevant open question that is respectful and thought provoking (e.g. Have you ever experienced anything like that? Do you have a God story? Have you ever felt God’s peace before?)
When you are writing about your decision to become a disciple of Jesus, include:
why you chose to become a Christian
what you did to become a Christian (e.g. believed in and chose to make Jesus in charge of your life, committed to put Jesus at the centre of my life, prayed asking God to forgive me)
what difference it has made to your life.
Julie’s examples: (written in full so you get the idea)
Example 1
Snippet main point: I know God is real
Intro (15 seconds of who, where, when): On my wedding anniversary in 2010, I was staying at my in-laws. I was supposed to be out kayaking with my husband while his parents watched our kids, but I got really unwell, and had to dash to the bathroom all day. I was so disappointed!
Story:
The ‘dashing to the bathroom’ stopped, but for months my stomach got sorer and sorer every time I ate. My doctor couldn’t find what was wrong and said I had IBS.
I tried stopping various foods to stop the pain. I ended up only being able to eat potatoes, carrots, kumara, unmarinated meat, herbs, apples, bananas and chickpeas.
I couldn’t have yeast, dairy, green vegetables, or anything acidic which included tomatoes which were my favourite.
I went sceptically to a healing meeting while up north for a block course. The sermon was done in 3 parts so I thought the prayer time would be too, so I prayed for a guy whose shoulder got healed. And then it was testimony time, and I was guttered I’d missed the opportunity. But I felt to go up and tell my story. So, crying, I shared my desperation to get better. The visiting preacher said, “There’s your healing.”
The next day we were shouted to a café. I hadn’t been able to eat anything at cafés for the last 7 months. I ate a chicken, cranberry, and brie panini, which had dairy and yeast, and I had a ginger beer which was lots of yeast! I remember thinking, ‘I’m either going to be ok, or miss my 4-day block course sitting in the bathroom.’ I was fine!
Final sentence of conclusion: I know God is real because I got healed.
Possible question to ask (if relevant): Have you or your friends ever had anything happen that makes you think God is real?
Example 2
Snippet main point: I know God is real
Intro (15 seconds of who, where, when): On my wedding anniversary in 2010, I was staying at my in-laws. I was supposed to be out kayaking with my husband while his parents watched our kids, but I got really unwell, and had to dash to the bathroom all day. I was so disappointed!
Story:
The ‘dashing to the bathroom’ stopped, but for months my stomach got sorer and sorer every time I ate. My doctor couldn’t find what was wrong and said I had IBS.
I tried stopping various foods to stop the pain. I ended up only being able to eat potatoes, carrots, kumara, unmarinated meat, herbs, apples, bananas and chickpeas.
I couldn’t have yeast, dairy, green vegetables, or anything acidic which included tomatoes which were my favourite.
I went sceptically to a healing meeting while up north for a block course. The sermon was done in 3 parts so I thought the prayer time would be too, so I prayed for a guy whose shoulder got healed. And then it was testimony time, and I was guttered I’d missed the opportunity. But I felt to go up and tell my story. So, crying, I shared my desperation to get better. The visiting preacher said, “There’s your healing.”
The next day we were shouted to a café. I hadn’t been able to eat anything at cafés for the last 7 months. I ate a chicken, cranberry, and brie panini, which had dairy and yeast, and I had a ginger beer which was lots of yeast! I remember thinking, ‘I’m either going to be ok, or miss my 4-day block course sitting in the bathroom.’ I was fine!
Final sentence of conclusion: I know God is real because I got healed.
Possible question to ask (if relevant): Have you or your friends ever had anything happen that makes you think God is real?