What's a testimony in Church? Discover how and why to share your faith story
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Discover the power and joy of Christian testimonies
A testimony shared in church or other settings is a personal story of encountering God, shared to inspire and strengthen the faith of others.
A testimony is not a lecture, teaching moment, or sermon. Instead, it’s a heartfelt account of how your relationship with God has grown or changed.
Sharing a testimony in church continues to be an important way for the modern church to grow.
Faith stories and testimonies share hope with those who are curious about faith, encourage believers who may be struggling or having moments of doubt, and strengthen believers through the process of writing their testimony down.
How to structure your Christian testimony
Your testimony may include moments of doubt or unbelief, or it may include a spiritual transformation or revelation that drew you closer to God.
Put simply, a testimony has a beginning, a middle with spiritual change, and an ending that brings resolution.
The early church grew through testimonies. Believers like the Apostle Thomas shared what they saw and experienced with Jesus.
In John 20:28, Thomas, once doubtful, declares, “My Lord and My God!” after encountering the risen Christ.
Thomas’s story, as described in the “Faith Storytellers” book excerpt below, follows a simple yet powerful structure:
A beginning that sets up the story. In this example, Thomas is plagued by doubt.
A middle with change, such as a spiritual pivot point. In this testimony example, Jesus reveals himself to Thomas, which shifts how Thomas views Jesus.
An ending that brings resolution, which is typically the opposite of the beginning. In this story, Thomas proclaims his faith.
Story Anchor that shares one truth about God. Thomas declares the truth he discovered in his testimony: Jesus is God.
>> Use the Faith Storytellers Framework to write your testimony. Download a free chapter of the “Faith Storytellers” book, which outlines the five-step process of crafting a true, first-person story about your relationship with God.
In the book “Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story,” author Mackenzie Ryan Walters draws from her 14-year career as a newspaper reporter to weave a compelling guide for sharing personal faith stories.
With a gentle perspective shaped by covering education rather than conflict, Walters offers a unique lens on crafting testimonies that resonate. The following excerpt illustrates how a testimony in church mirrors a courtroom witness, using the biblical story of Thomas as an example.
Sharing your testimony, not testimonial
I covered a variety of stories in my 14-year newspaper career but only a handful of court cases. I steered away from the criminal justice system. I didn’t enjoy writing about violence and conflict, so I found a gentler beat: education.
Conflict is part of life, however, and the court system is one way to find a resolution. So when a Florida county sued its school district over closing schools, I was the reporter assigned to go. In the courtroom, the judge sat at a tall, elevated desk like on television.
To his left was a witness stand with an empty seat. In front of him were attorneys and the clients they represented.
During the proceedings, witnesses took an oath and were asked questions. Their answers were based on what they experienced or what they knew to be true as an expert.
They were giving their testimony. They weren’t asked to connect all the facts or draw a conclusion, that would be left to the judge in this particular case or a jury in a criminal case.
Instead, they were asked to share their story as they personally experienced it.
It’s not an accident the word “testimony” also describes a personal encounter with God. It’s how the early church spread. Believers shared what they witnessed.
How Jesus died on the cross, was buried for three days, and appeared to believers after rising from the grave.
Take the apostle Thomas, who was not with the other disciples when Jesus came to them as the risen Savior. Thomas didn’t believe their story.
The church nicknamed him “Doubting Thomas,” which seems a little unfair, at least to me. I think Thomas simply wanted the same experience the other disciples had.
I also don’t know why it took so long, but the book of John says a week passed before Jesus appeared to Thomas.
When he did, Jesus invited Thomas to touch his hands. To feel where the nails were. Where the spear thrust into his side.
In that moment, Jesus revealed himself to Thomas, and Thomas instantly knew it was God, saying to Jesus in John 20:28: “My Lord and My God!”
Because Jesus is a teacher and rabbi, he turned the moment into a lesson about God’s kingdom.
He says: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Faith Storytellers Framework teaches the same structure as Thomas’ story. At the story’s beginning, Jesus comes to the other disciples, but Thomas doesn’t believe their story.
In the testimony’s middle, Jesus appears to Thomas and invites him to touch his hands, which sparks a change in Thomas’s heart.
In the end, Thomas shares his beliefs about God and states his resolution: “My Lord and My God!”
The one difference is how the Faith Storytellers Framework approaches the ending.
Instead of standing in as Jesus the teacher — and sharing a lesson about belief — as storytellers, we end the story and allow the Holy Spirit to work.
If Thomas was telling this story using the Faith Storytellers Framework, he might end with a description of his revelation. He was overcome with a deep knowing.
His doubt was washed away in an instant. Thomas might describe what he was doing with a few key details: Tears clouded his eyes. His legs gave way and he dropped to his knees. Still holding Jesus’ hands, he said: “My Lord and My God.”
If he retold the story, he would need to signal that his story was over.
To friends standing close enough to read his body language, a simple pause would confirm it was over. But in front of a crowd — especially those too far away to see him clearly — he’d formalize his ending with a pause and a simple phrase: “Thank you.”
He wouldn’t belabor the point or spend another five minutes rehashing what happened.
He would go out on the most powerful note possible and let his proclamation — that Jesus is God, that he saw and believed — hang over the audience as they breathed it in and digested it with the help of the Holy Spirit.
When you end a story in such a poignant way, it resonates. It echoes through the room or in the reader’s mind.
You create space between you, the storyteller, and your audience, the story receiver. In my experience, the shorter the ending, the more powerful the story.
A testimony shares your personal experience
It’s important to remember that your testimony cannot, by itself, convince someone to believe in God.
Similar to a witness who is asked to share their testimony in court, it’s not up to the witness to decide the outcome; that’s for the judge or jury.
The same is true for your Christian testimony. You can share your personal experience — what you witnessed — but whether to believe in Jesus is ultimately up to the individual.
By sharing your faith story, you’re inviting the Holy Spirit to work in the listener’s heart.
If you feel led, consider praying for the people receiving your story, that their hearts may be open to the Holy Spirit’s work.
Remember, there’s no story too big or too small to honor God! Not all testimonies share stories of coming to faith; many testimonies share how God has worked in their lives in real and personal ways.
10 reasons to share a testimony in church or other settings
Sharing a testimony in church or with fellow Christians is a powerful act that strengthens both the storyteller and the listener. A testimony in church is more than a story — it’s a witness to God’s presence.
By sharing your faith journey, you echo the early believers who spread the Gospel through personal encounters with Christ. Here are 10 powerful reasons to prepare your Christian testimony:
Strengthens your faith community: A testimony in church fosters unity by connecting believers through shared experiences of God’s work, building a stronger, more supportive Christian community.
Inspires others to seek God: Your story of encountering God can encourage others to pursue their own relationship with Him, as Thomas’s declaration in John 20:28 inspired early believers.
Reflects God’s glory: Sharing a testimony in church glorifies God by highlighting His transformative power in your life, giving Him the credit for your faith journey.
Encourages connection through vulnerability: By openly sharing struggles and doubts, like Thomas’s initial disbelief, you create a safe space for others to be authentic about their faith challenges. I’m thankful that the gospel writer included Thomas’s doubt, as doubt is such a common experience among Christians.
Spreads the Good News: Testimonies are how the early church grew and spread. Before printing presses, radio, newspapers, or social media, there were stories. Sharing your personal encounter with Jesus or a story about how your relationship with God deepened in a meaningful way helps spread the Good News.
Invites the Holy Spirit to work: A concise, poignant testimony, as taught in the Faith Storytellers Framework, leaves space for the Holy Spirit to move in listeners’ hearts, fostering reflection and growth. A testimony isn’t a sermon and it isn’t a Bible lesson; it’s a story shared with an open heart.
Transforms the Faith Storyteller: Sharing your testimony in church or other settings helps you process and affirm your own faith, deepening your understanding of God’s role in your life. As many Faith Storytellers can attest, the act of praying through their story and seeking God’s fingerprint in their lives helped them grow spiritually.
Builds trust and connection: Sharing personal stories creates emotional bonds among Christians, making the church a place of trust and mutual support. When you share a personal faith story with someone, you’re likely to receive a story in return. If you ever want to start a conversation, share a story and see what happens!
Provides hope in trials: Your testimony of overcoming doubt or hardship, like Thomas’s shift to proclaiming “My Lord and My God,” offers hope to others facing similar struggles. Sharing an authentic struggle and how God used your situation to develop your faith acknowledges that the challenges are real and that God has overcome.
Honors Biblical tradition: Sharing a testimony in church follows the example of early believers who, as Walters writes, spread the Gospel through personal stories of witnessing Christ’s power.
How to write and share your testimony
There are many ways to share your testimony. Some churches invite members to prepare their testimony to share during service or at ministry events.
Others encourage believers to write their story down to share on their website or social media.
Here at Faith Storytellers, we share testimonies on our website, in our newsletter, and on Facebook and Instagram.
In addition, churches and organizations invite us to host Faith Storytellers Workshops or Storytelling Nights, which empower communities to discover and share their testimony with confidence.
Additional resources for sharing your testimony
At Faith Storytellers, our mission is to lift up and share the story God is writing in the world.
We do this by publishing true, first-person faith stories and by publishing free and low-cost testimony and Christian storytelling resources.
You might find these additional resources helpful:
1. Read testimony examples
It’s helpful to read a few testimony examples before writing your own story. Consider browsing the Faith Storytellers collection of testimonies online.
Some share the story of coming to believe in Jesus, while others share stories of how their relationship with God grew deeper.
A testimony doesn’t have to be a dramatic, “Road to Damascus” moment of spiritual transformation. Many Christian stories share gentler shifts in faith. Any story that recognizes a truth about God is a story worth sharing.
>> Read Christian testimonies.
>> Discover the best testimony books.
>> Receive free testimonies when you sign up for our newsletter.
2. Write your testimony
If you sit down to write your testimony and feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start, you’re not alone! One reason author Mackenzie Ryan Walters created the Storytelling Style Quiz is to give Christians confidence and direction before starting their story.
When you take the quiz, you’ll discover whether you’re a Story Builder (meaning you start from scratch and build your story) or a Story Carver (meaning you start with material and carve your story into shape).
>> Take the quiz to discover your God-given strengths
Next, we recommend downloading our chapter on the Faith Storytellers Framework (for free!). You’ll learn the five-step framework with teach to crafting your faith story, or testimony. The chapter includes prayer prompts and practical tips to help you share your faith story with confidence and purpose.
If you’re crunched for time, download our Story Structure Cheat Sheet, which will help you structure your testimony’s beginning, middle with change, and ending that brings resolution.
>> Download our chapter on the Faith Storytellers Framework (for free!).
>> Download a testimony outline with our Story Structure Cheat Sheet (also free!)
Many Christians realize they have more than one story to share. We encourage you to reflect and prepare stories and testimonies for friends, family, church gatherings, or to submit to websites such as ours.
>> Check out free Christian writing prompts for adults
>> Sign up for our newsletter to receive free writing prompts.
3. Share your testimony
You may never know — this side of heaven — how your testimony provides hope or inspiration to others. “Faith Storytellers” author Mackenzie Ryan Walters believes your story is a gift. For many, the joy of giving a gift is greater than receiving a gift.
When you share your testimony in church, with a small group, or here at faithstoryteller.org, you can trust the Holy Spirit is at work. To submit your testimony, use the Faith Storytellers Framework to prepare a true, first-person story about how your relationship with God changed or deepened. Make sure you have a beginning, a middle with change, and an ending that brings resolution, and that it’s between 900 and 1,200 words.
>> Learn how to submit your story at faithstoryteller.org/submissions.
>> Sharing your story on stage? Check out our top public speaking tips.
>> Sign up for our newsletter to learn about Faith Storytellers, events, classes, and workshops.
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