How to Write Your Testimony

Skeptics may debate the validity of Scripture or argue the existence of God, but no one can
deny your personal experiences with God. If you tell someone how God worked a miracle in
your life, how he blessed you, transformed you, lifted and encouraged you, or perhaps even
broke and then healed you, no one can argue or debate it. When you share your Christian
testimony, you go beyond the eld of knowledge into the realm of relationship with God.

Tips to Remember as You Write Your Testimony

• Stick to the point. Your conversion and new life in Christ should be the main points.

• Be speci c. Include events, genuine feelings, and personal insights that clarify your main
point. Make your testimony tangible and relevant so others can relate to it.

• Be current. Tell what's happening in your life with God right now, today.

• Be honest. Don't exaggerate or dramatize your story. The simple, straightforward truth of

what God has done in your life is all the Holy Spirit needs to convict others and convince
them of God's love and grace.

5 Steps to Writing Your Testimony

These steps explain how to write your testimony. They apply to both long and short, written
and spoken testimonies. Whether you're planning to write down your full, detailed testimony or
prepare a quick 2-minute version for a short-term mission trip, these steps will help you tell
others with sincerity, impact, and clarity, what God has done in your life.

Realize Your Testimony Is Powerful

First and foremost, remember, there is power in your testimony. The Bible says we overcome
our enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony:

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and
power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our
brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our
God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their
testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. (Revelation
12:10–11, (NLT)

Many other Bible verses reveal the power of sharing your testimony. Spend a few minutes
looking them up: Acts 4:33; Romans 10:17; John 4:39.

Study an Example in the Bible5-Part Testimony: Paul’s Model

There are many accounts in the Bible of people sharing about how God transformed their lives.
One of the most well-known testimonies is told by the apostle Paul. Paul went from
persecuting Christians to following Jesus, starting churches, and writing over half of the New
Testament. Take a look at his testimony before a crowd in Acts 22:1-21 to understand the
essential parts of telling your story.

1. Paul opens with a brief history of his life (vv. 1–3) 

2. Paul tells about his life before Christ (vv. 4-5)

3. Paul explains how he came to know Christ (vv. 6-13)

4. Paul tells about his life after coming to know Christ (vv. 14-18)

5. Paul closes with his obedience to Christ (vv. 19-21)

Spend Time in Preparation and Prayer

Here are a few things to consider before you start writing your testimony: Think about your life
before you met the Lord. What was going on in your life leading up to your conversion? What
problems or needs were you facing at the time? How did your life change after knowing Jesus
Christ? Pray and ask God to help you share what he wants you to include.

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How to Write Your Testimony
Use a 3-Point Outline
A three-point approach is very e ective in communicating your personal testimony. This outline
focuses on before you trusted Christ, how you surrendered to him, and the changes in your
life since you began walking with him.

• Before: Simply tell what your life was like before you surrendered to Christ. What were
you searching for before coming to know Christ? What was the chief problem, emotion,
situation, or attitude you were dealing with? What motivated you to seek a change? What
were your actions and thoughts at the time? How did you try to satisfy your inner needs?
(Examples of inner needs are loneliness, fear of death, insecurity, etc. Possible ways to ll
those needs include work, money, drugs, relationships, sports, sex.) Remember to use
concrete, relatable examples.

• How: How did you come to salvation in Jesus? Simply tell the events and circumstances
that caused you to consider Christ as the solution to your searching. Take time to identify
the steps that brought you to the point of trusting Christ. Where were you? What was
happening at the time? What people or problems in uenced your decision?

• Since: How has your life in Christ made a di erence? How has his forgiveness impacted
you? How have your thoughts, attitudes, and emotions changed? Share how Christ is
meeting your needs and what your relationship with him means to you now.

Words to Avoid
Stay away from "Christianese" phrases. "Churchy" words can alienate listeners/readers and
keep them from identifying with your life. People who are unfamiliar or even uncomfortable with
church and Christianity might not understand what you are saying. They may mistake your
meaning or even be turned o by your "foreign language." Here are some examples:

Avoid using the term "born again." Instead, use Avoid using "sin." Instead, try one of these
these words:
expressions:

• spiritual birth
• rejecting God

• spiritual renewal
• missing the mark

• spiritual awakening
• falling away from the right path

• come alive spiritually

• a crime against God's law

• given a new life

• disobedience to God

• my eyes opened
• going my own way with no thought of
God

Avoid using "saved." Instead, use terms like:

• rescued
Avoid using "repent." Instead, say things like:

• delivered from despair

• admit I was wrong

• found hope for life

• change one's mind, heart, or attitude

• decide to turn away

Avoid using "lost." Instead, say:

• turn around

• heading in the wrong direction

• make a 180 degree turn from what you
• separated from God
were doing

• had no hope
• obey God

• had no purpose
• follow God's Word

Avoid using "gospel." Instead, consider saying:

• God's message to man

• the good news about Christ's purpose on

earth

• God's message of hope for the world

Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/how-to-write-your-christian-testimony-701445
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My Testimony (strive for 3 minutes)

• Before: Simply tell what your life was like before you surrendered to Christ. Identify a
theme you can use to frame your story. What were you searching for before coming to
know Christ? What was the chief problem, emotion, situation, or attitude you were dealing
with? What motivated you to seek a change? What were your actions and thoughts at the
time? How did you try to satisfy your inner needs? Remember to use concrete, relatable
examples. What did your life revolve around that God used to help bring you to Him? Brie y
illustrate how that in uenced your life. Do not dwell too much on, or brag about, past sins.
Share only the details that relate to your theme — just enough to show your need for Christ.

Think through these questions:

• What about my life before Christ will relate most to the non-Christians I know?

• What did my life revolve around? Where did I get my security, identity or happiness from?

• How did those things begin to let me down?

—————————

State in a sentence one negative concept of what your life was like before you received eternal
life. Example: “Before I received eternal life, I was afraid of dying”

Illustrate that concept with a story out of your life experience. Example: “I remember facing
surgery a few years ago. All I could things about was, “Where will I end up if I don’t make it?””

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 • How: How did you come to salvation in Jesus? Simply tell the events and circumstances
that caused you to consider Christ as the solution to your searching. Take time to identify
the steps that brought you to the point of trusting Christ. Where were you? What was
happening at the time? What people or problems in uenced your decision? Communicate
in such a way that the person you are talking with, and anyone who overhears you, can
understand how they can become a Christian too.

Think through these questions:

• When was the rst time I heard the gospel? What were my initial reactions?

• When and why did my perspective on Christ begin to change?

• What were the nal struggles that I went through before I accepted Him? Why did I nally
decide to accept Christ (or give Him complete control of my life)?

—————————

Make a simple statement that you received eternal life. Example: “Then I discovered how to
have eternal life and began to live di erently.” Or “Then someone shared with me how I could
receive eternal life.”

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• Since: How has your life in Christ made a di erence? How has his forgiveness impacted
you? How have your thoughts, attitudes, and emotions changed? Share how Christ is
meeting your needs and what your relationship with him means to you now. Share some of
the changes that Christ has made in your life as they relate to your theme. Emphasize the
changes in your character, attitude or perspective, not just changes in behavior. Be realistic.
We still struggle as Christians. Life is far from perfect, but what's di erent about your life
now?

Think through these questions:

• How is my life di erent now? List some speci c changes in your character, attitude and
perspective on life.

• What motivates me now? What do I live for?

• Even though my life still is not perfect, how does knowing Christ help me deal with that fact?

End with a statement that summarizes your story and connects everything back to your
theme. If you want, close with a Bible verse that relates to your experience.

—————————

State in a sentence a positive result of receiving eternal life. This is the opposite of the negative
concept you used in your “Before” section.

Example: Now that I have eternal life, I no longer fear death.”

Illustrate this positive concept with a story out of your life experience.

Example: “One rainy night I was riding in my car with my older brother when we had a serious
accident. We slid sideways o the road. Even in the midst of that ordeal, I had an incredible
peace about dying.”

https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel/what-is-a-christian-testimony.html, https://www.sharelife.today/2022/02/04/whats-my-story/
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