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Crossway Church

  • What's your story?

    We’ve all heard the gospel called good news. But another way to translate that term is “the good story.”

    Every one of us has a unique story to tell. One no one else can tell. Yet the hero in all those stories is the same — Jesus!

Your story is authentically and uniquely you.


It’s versatile and can be used in a variety of situations—from sharing with an individual to addressing a group. It’s not a debate, it’s not pushy, it’s not fake, and it doesn’t feel like religious propaganda, since it’s coming from your heart. Very rarely will people argue with you about your story. In fact, they’re more likely to engage and ask clarifying questions, which in turn pushes the dialogue about Jesus to a more personal level.

In 2020, during COVID, our church worked to spread God's love to those on social media during a dark time in our world. Here is an example of individuals at that time sharing their testimony.

What does sharing your testimony look like?

There's really no right or wrong way to share your story of how Jesus changed your life! But here are a few things to keep in mind as you sit down to prepare your story.

Keep it short.

Communicating too many details about your life can distract listeners from the central point: how you met Christ. Keeping it short can help with that. Three minutes is a good target. Remember that the purpose of telling your story is not about you; it’s about God. Clearly and succinctly communicate what he has done in your life. Listeners today have a very low tolerance for long-windedness. Being concise helps keep people engaged.

Clearly present the gospel.

Your testimony should show people that God loves them, they’re sinful, Jesus is the payment for the penalty of their sin, and they need to trust Christ as the payment for the penalty of their sins in order to have a personal relationship with God.

Have a before, how, and after.
There should be a pretty clear timeline and logical flow to your story. Talk about what your life was like before Christ, how you met him, and what your life’s like now. This timeline is different for everyone, of course, but it brings a sense of structure to what you’re saying and helps keep your listener tracking.

For those who’ve been Christians since childhood, be vulnerable about your struggles as a growing Christian—the “how” may be a time when the gospel really sank in, and you understood it at a deeper level. Everyone’s story is unique, and there’s flexibility in how to share it, but thinking in terms of a timeline can be very helpful.
Practice, practice, practice.

You should know your testimony by heart without having any notecards or outline in front of you. If someone asks about your life at the public swimming pool, you won’t be able to whip out a piece of paper for reference—so have your story memorized and ready at a moment’s notice. It’s a good idea to write it out or make an outline, then practice it aloud on your own or with a friend. Eventually you’ll know it by heart.

Your Story as a Part of God's Story

Remind yourself as you prepare that it’s not just about how God and the gospel fit into your story, but also about how your story fits into the greater story of the gospel. God will use your testimony to affect those around you if you’re faithful to speak up. How he has changed you can change someone else. Isn’t that amazing?

Your testimony is significant because it’s the personal miracle of how God transformed your heart of stone into a heart of flesh, and only you can uniquely bear witness to that miracle. He has been behind every detail of your life, even using the ugly and terrible things to form and shape you with the utmost care and attention. He is still working on you right now. What a joy to tell others of his miraculous work!

THE CHALLENGE

We want to hear your story! We challenge you to share how Jesus changed YOUR life by recording a video and sharing on your social media - whether its Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok, or other methods of communicating digitally.


When you share, make sure to tag @visitcrossway on Facebook and Instagram so we can see your stories! You can head to the link below and record your link that you shared it at so we can make sure we see it!


Don't have social, that's ok! We'd love to see your testimony video as well! Head to the link below to upload your video to us!

SUBMIT YOUR TESTIMONY HERE

Important practices when shooting your video!

When shooting your video, use these guidelines to help make the best video possible!

  • Simple, clean backdrops are ideal – Avoid distracting backgrounds or crowded spaces.
  • When using natural life, avoid backlighting. The main source of light should be facing you, not behind you.
  • When using artificial light, avoid standing directly below an overhead light or anything else that creates hard shadows. Consider using a stand lamp several feet away for good indirect light.
  • Shoot at eye level – Shooting from above or below will make you seem diminished or imposing. Eye level communicates accessibility.
  • Clean your camera – Make sure the lens of your selfie camera is clean before shooting.
  • Shoot portrait setting – Align your phone vertically.

Need help with your story?

Having trouble putting the story together? Need help uploading your video? We'd love to help! Just send a message to Kelli Lafferty, our Executive Pastor, and she'll connect with you to get you set up!

EMAIL KELLI